Mountain Rescue appeal launched

Swaledale Mountain Rescue is campaigning for a new Incident Command Vehicle and raising the funds via crowdfunding.

The rescue team say a new vehicle will enable them to respond and manage operations more effectively and ultimately provide better care for casualties.

Ian Speirs, Chairman Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team say its time to upgrade their equipment: "The new Incident Command Vehicle is a vital piece of equipment for the team. Recent callouts at Middleham, Bedale and Tan Hill have all shown how critical it is that we have a modern command and control centre with communications, mapping and IT resources readily available to assist use.  It also allows the team to ensure that we can effectively integrate with partners in the multi-agency environment”

Inspector Mark Gee, North Yorkshire Police, Neighbourhood Policing Team Richmondshire says Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team regularly works with North Yorkshire Police and the other emergency services assisting them in remote and inaccessible areas: "We call on their services dozens of times a year at all times of day or night. Their skills and resources are invaluable to the local community. The Incident Command Vehicle is an important piece of kit. We wish them well with their fund-raising and encourage people to support their vital work”

Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team is run by a dedicated group of over 40 local volunteers. We are available 24/7 to save life and limb across 750 sq miles of predominantly upland fells. Our unique skills and capabilities enable us to assist all the North Yorkshire Emergency Services across a wide range of life threatening situations including search and rescue above ground, underground and in water. We are a registered charity and receive no regular government funding and rely almost entirely on donations from the public.

The team responded to about 34 callouts so far in 2020.  To provide these services we not only rely on the dedication and skills of our volunteers but also on a wide range of specialist equipment and vehicles. Our Incident Command Trailer has been one of these vital pieces of equipment for over 15 years. It is the operational nerve centre on call outs and houses our communications and IT equipment but time has taken its toll. It is difficult to manoeuvre, requires specialist driving skills, is time consuming to set up and is requiring more and more maintenance. After careful consideration they have concluded that the best solution is to replace their trailer(pictured) with a new Incident Command Vehicle which will offer greater operational flexibility and reliability and help with our life saving work.

The team has talked at length with suppliers, vehicle converters and other mountain rescue teams and have found a vehicle and conversion specification that will best suit our needs for now and many years into the future. We have fully costed up our project and will require £80,000 to turn it into a reality.  

They are looking to purchase and convert a Volkswagon T32 van into a new Incident Command Vehicle. The vehicle will act as a communications and IT hub and liaison point with other emergency services.  It will transport team members to call outs and have built in welfare facilities for team members.  The vehicle will carry additional equipment when required. and be fully liveried as a Mountain Rescue vehicle with blue lights and sirens.

Make a donation

The Crowdfunding site to make a donation is: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/smrt-vehicle-appeal

More information and contact

• go to www.swaledalemrt.org.uk
• email appeal@swaledalemrt.org.uk