West Midlands Search and Rescue members in a ropes training exercise. Photo: WMSAR

A search and rescue team has launched a crowd-funding campaign to buy gear for its members.

West Midlands Search & Rescue covers Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and wants to equip its latest volunteers with clothing and other items to help them operate in winter weather.

A spokesperson for the team said: “WMSAR believes that this is the first time crowd-funding has been used to help a UK search and rescue team fund their equipment, and hopes that it will ease the burden on its operational members having to devote as much unpaid time towards fundraising.

“The registered charity, which is a lowland rescue member team, does not receive the same annual grant from Government as mountain rescue, and thus all equipment and training is paid for by charitable donations and the members themselves.

“The average operational member of the team gives over 80 hours towards fundraising per year, on top of their commitment to training and callouts.”

Ten new volunteers joined the team recently, boosting numbers of the 30-member team, and the appeal is to help equip them.

The team has set up a Crowdfunder page, hoping to raise £5,000 for items such as waterproof jackets, hats and gloves, batteries for their torches and Blizzard bags for protecting casualties.

The target has to be met by 2 February under the Crowdfunder scheme.

Those pledging larger cash amounts will receive certificates and, for the top amount, a chance to join the team on a training exercise.

WMSAR has two bases: Telford and Worcester and a mobile team in the Shropshire Hills.

The Crowdfunder page can be accessed via the West Midlands Search & Rescue website.