Rescue Teams Pressing For Government Funding

Mountain rescue teams in England and Wales are pressing for government funding with a decision due later this year says Maria Clegg.

Writing in voluntary sector magazine, Third Sector, Clegg dissects the funding problems besetting MRTs pointing out that far from just plucking climbers from cliff faces, teams are increasingly involved in more general rescues, such as abseiling down to help in appropriate road traffic incidents or searching for missing people.

Each of the 53 MRTs in England and Wales costs between £20,000 and £80,000 annually with the volunteer teams depending on voluntary contributions from bequests, donations, fund-raising events and so on.

That puts a huge strain on team members, who are not only on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but on top of regular training sessions, must also find the time and energy to to organise and attend fund-raising events. As many of the UK's 3,500 rescue team members are settled people in their 30s and 40s, the pressure on their time and families adds up.

Now though, the Mountain Rescue Council of England and Wales, the national charity representing MRTs, the British Cave Rescue Council and the Search and Rescue Dog Association are pressing for government funding to support mountain rescue.

Scottish teams are already funded to the tune of £400,000 per year, but in England and Wales there's only a minimal £30,000 per annum which goes towards medical equipment and, in Wales, just £18,000 per year from the Welsh National Assembly.

The MRC is adamant that the service will remain free but hopes that the Government will follow the lead of the Scottish Executive and provide funding without restrictions on how it's used. The likelihood of support will become clearer later this year when The Department of Transport Select Committee on Rescue Services, chaired by Gywneth Dunwoody, presents its findings.

According to one team member, as little as £5,000 per team would make a huge difference. Until then though, the collecting tins will still be the main source of funding.

You can find the full story at the Third Sector web site.