The Government will launch a national public awareness campaign later this year to prepare households for emergencies and improve understanding of state-based threats, as part of a wider effort to develop a “whole-of-society” approach to national security, the Ministry of Defence has said.
The plans were set out in two written parliamentary answers to Conservative MP Stuart Anderson, who asked how the Government intends to conduct its national conversation on defence and security and what steps are being taken to establish a whole-of-society response to emerging threats.
Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones said: “This Government is committed to strengthening national preparedness and improving public understanding of the threats we face through our national conversation on defence and security. Addressing the challenges of an increasingly volatile and contested world requires a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach.”
She continued: “Our security depends not only on strong Armed Forces, but also on a society that is informed, prepared and able to respond with confidence when it matters most. The national conversation will help increase public awareness of the most serious risks facing the UK and the role that government, industry, communities and individuals can play in strengthening national resilience.”
The public campaign was previously confirmed in a Written Ministerial Statement on 14 July and is due to begin later in 2026. Sandher-Jones said it would seek to educate households on preparing for emergencies while providing more information about threats posed by hostile states.
She said: “As confirmed in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 14 July, the Government will launch a national resilience public awareness campaign later this year, aiming to educate households on preparing for emergencies alongside increased information about state-based threats.”
The MOD will contribute to the programme alongside other government departments and is engaging organisations outside central government as part of the preparations. Sandher-Jones added: “Alongside cross-Government engagement with key stakeholders, the Ministry of Defence is playing a key role within this programme of work; connecting with industry, local resilience fora, the voluntary sector, and working with our active reserves and local cadet groups to facilitate a whole of society approach to defence and security.”
A separate answer from the minister said the work is also being taken forward through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme, with an emphasis on bringing civilian and military planning closer together for serious national risks.
Sandher-Jones said: “The Strategic Defence Review emphasises a whole-of-society approach to strengthen resilience against threats. The Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme, in which the Ministry of Defence plays a key role, is working to increase engagement with the public to improve familiarisation on the role everyone can play in national security and resilience. The programme has a strong emphasis on aligning civil and military planning for serious risks.”
The approach is intended to cover threats both below and above the threshold of an armed attack, rather than focusing solely on preparation for conventional warfare.
She stated: “The Government is clear on the importance of implementing a whole-of-society approach to strengthen defence and our resilience to the threats we face, including those below and above the threshold of an armed attack. In support of this, the National Conversation is a key tool in creating a more informed, and aware public of the evolving nature of the threat environment.”
The campaign will sit alongside the Government’s existing Resilience Action Plan and the GOV.UK Prepare service, which provides guidance to households on steps they can take ahead of emergencies.
Sandher-Jones said: “This campaign aims to improve public understanding of threats and overall national preparedness in the event of crisis.”
She added: “Through the UK Government’s Resilience Action Plan, we outline how we will enable the whole of society to increase their resilience, including taking action to prepare for emergencies as set out on the GOV.UK/Prepare website.”
