A Conservative MP has pledged to look into funding for mountain rescuers after a visit to his local team.
David Davies, who represents Monmouth in Parliament, was strapped into a stretcher and also tested carrying the heavy kit the volunteer members have to carry during a visit to Longtown Mountain Rescue Team in Abergavenny.
He called in on the team, which covers part of the Brecon Beacons, following a week-long campaign by the umbrella body Mountain Rescue England and Wales in the Palace of Westminster.
Teams south of the border are calling for equal treatment with their Scottish counterparts, who receive an average annual grant from government of £13,926 per team. Welsh volunteers get only £3,246 a year towards running costs, which are an average of £25,000. The shortfall has to be made up by fundraising by volunteer team members.
Luke Lewis, deputy team leader of Longtown MRT, said: “The team is attending more callouts than ever before and members respond 24/7, day or night, whatever the weather.
“We are all volunteers and all have jobs and families.
“Team members are also expected to help in fundraising activities to pay for the service we provide. Over the next few months our fundraising will include collections in Abergavenny town centre and in Hereford.
“We’d like to call on the UK Government to increase our funding to give us level pegging with our Scottish counterparts, who receive almost four times as much as us, and ease some of the burden on our members at a time when our service is more vital than ever.”
MREW head of fundraising Mike France said: “Volunteer rescuers, about 3,600 of them in England and Wales, are available throughout the year for local callouts and they have to train for many different situations and needs.
“So it seems crazy that they also have to find time for fundraising just to keep their teams going.
“We’re hoping that our visit to Westminster will have shown MPs the huge discrepancy between the financial support given by government to Scottish rescuers – about £14,000 per team – and the much more limited funding to Welsh teams of just over £3,000.”
Mr France said if government could guarantee a level of funding from the public purse closer to the Scottish figure, teams would be able to underwrite investments in vehicles and essential kit and subsidise essential training and insurance.
“Our volunteer rescuers would be able to focus on getting the job done rather than having to worry about money,” he added.
Mr Davies said: “Longtown Mountain Rescue Team does such a fantastic job and I want to pay tribute to the volunteers who give their time and effort to both fundraise and help people in trouble.
“They really are the extra emergency service and I believe it is important to acknowledge how they put their lives at risk for the safety of others.
“I was pleased to be able to learn more about the team’s history, how it operates and the challenges which it is facing.
“I will certainly continue to work with my colleagues in Parliament to move this important campaign forward and explore the options for future funding.”
There are 10 mountain rescue teams in Wales, made up of volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day.
Margaret
16 November 2013As I posted last week:
Mountain and Cave Rescue should spend a lot of time considering the long term implications of "...regular and significant funding from central government."
"...rather than having to worry about money”, they may have to worry about their independence.
That being said, teams presently have a huge work load, in large part caused by vigorous commercialisation over the past decades.
Sheepy
18 November 2013It is also why some of us get very annoyed by people who waste their (MRTs) time/resources through their (the publics) own stupidity/ineptitude/laziness etc etc.
Non outdoor types may also ask why their general taxation should be used to support activities in which they have no involvement. A valid point to some degree.
I feel that voluntary fund raising and support is still the answer but with a potential for some sort of levy charge/compulsory donation for those who have had to use the service. (I'm talking a nominal amount of say £5 per person rescued).
It is also worth debating whether some sort of differentiation is applied to "emergencies" as opposed to those who require a lift or don't have the appropriate equipment etc.
Lest should anyone forget, the Coastguard and RN Search and rescue helicopters are soon to be replaced by private companies. As time goes by, private companies will cut corners wherever they can to save money and therefore increase their profits. It might not be long before they start asking lots of questions before sending a rescue helicopter.
A former member of an MRT
19 November 2013I understand the feelings of both correspondents but Sheepy ignores the fact that many teams now do more jobs for the Police in searching urban areas for missing persons than they do attending genuine MR incidents. So tax payers don't have to be outdoor people to benefit. Also it is interesting to note that the RNLI get VAT relief whereas MR doesn't. This means that all money gained through Gift Aid and more is repaid to the government through VAT.
Margaret
22 November 2013Shouldn't the police have their own resources to undertake searches in urban areas for missing persons?
Margaret
22 November 2013Following on from the previous comment; an appropriate use of teams in 'exceptional circumstances' can slowly lead to it becoming the norm to call on a rescue team when assistance is required; after all it must be a great saving for the authorities.
Exceptional circumstances does not include assisting a motorist who can't get moving because they are stuck in 6” of snow and the police find it convenient to call on the team!
No need to remind everyone that team members are volunteers, have to undertake fundraising to cover at least some of their costs and into the bargain, some if not all of them, may lose wages.
I'm sure teams are happy to help as long as team members don't lose too much on wages, but unintended consequences should be considered. How long before a Politician decides that Mountain Rescue should come under the control of Fire and Rescue.
Margaret
26 November 2013The appropriate use of teams in exceptional circumstances can slowly lead to it becoming the norm to call on a rescue team when assistance is require.
A motorist needing a help to get moving in 6 inches of snow does not need a recue team! Using teams in this way must be a great saving on the police budget for the authorities.
No need to remind everyone that team members are volunteers, have to undertake fundraising to cover at least some of their costs and into the bargain, some if not all of them, may lose wages.
I'm sure teams are happy to help as long as team members don't lose too much on wages, but unintended consequences should be considered. How long before a Politician decides that Mountain Rescue should come under the control of Fire and Rescue.