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They’re here to help you:
Are you ready to help them?
Did you know that The Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team, Plymouth: Is a voluntary organisation funded by donation? Provides a vital all year round search and rescue service throughout South West Devon? Provided the Police with nearly 1,000 man hours of search resources in 2006? Helps provide safety cover for numerous public events? Oversaw the safe evacuation of over 1000 children during the 2007 Ten Tors event? Provides a valuable search resource that regularly helps the elderly, infirm and mentally ill? Needs to raise £75,000 to replace its vehicles?
In return for your donation, we can offer the opportunity for your organisation to:
Develop its profile within the community Be associated with a well known and respected charity Fulfil a social responsibility Use its corporate branding on our vehicles and clothing Gain valuable press coverage
If you think you can help us to help, please contact: John Babb Tel: 01752 691119 E: jrhbabb@dsl.pipex.com
Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Plymouth
Registered Charity No 1106095 Funding Prospectus www.dartmoorsartplymouth.org.uk Introduction.
The Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Plymouth, a registered charity, is seeking to raise capital to finance the renewal of its’ principal control vehicle, and acquire a four wheel drive all terrain vehicle.
We seek sponsorship from both the corporate and public sectors, and can offer an opportunity to be associated with a voluntary organisation that is hugely respected within a wide community. We will also provide sponsors the opportunity to use their corporate branding on the vehicles and team clothing so as to maximise the publicity potential.
This prospectus seeks to provide potential sponsors with information on the principal activities of the team, and the financial constraints under which it operates. We’re extremely excited about our team, and hope that this document will allow you to be part of our future.
Nigel Stainer Chairman Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team, Plymouth
History
The Dartmoor Rescue Group was formed in 1968 in the Tavistock area, when a small group of local moorland enthusiasts started helping the Police with search and rescue operations on Dartmoor. The increasing popularity of hill walking saw a steady growth in the role of the Group, whose stated objectives are:
“….. to relieve suffering and distress amongst persons endangered by accidents or natural hazards primarily within moorland areas and to provide and or assist with the arrangements for the secure and efficient search and rescue of any person or persons so endangered and to encourage moorland safety, instruction and awareness through all sections of the community.”
The Group provides search and rescue resources to the Police, on Dartmoor and the surrounding rural and urban areas. It has a combined current membership of around 200, and is affiliated to The Mountain Rescue Council (England and Wales), via the South West England Rescue Association.
In view of the geographically diverse nature of the area, and in recognition of the manpower required to effectively provide a service, the Group formed a total of four teams, centred on the geographical areas of Ashburton, Okehampton, Plymouth and Tavistock. The teams operate on an individual basis, albeit with common operating procedures, training standards and equipment. Whilst teams can and do operate as single units, it is more common to respond to a callout in pairs, thus allowing the remaining two teams to be held in reserve.
At the request of the Charities Commission, the Group is now composed of five independent charities, namely the main “original” Dartmoor Rescue Group (no 286680), as well as the four teams, of which DSRT Plymouth is one.
Function
The Plymouth team currently comprises a total of 32 Rescue or Callout Members. All are volunteers, who, if available, respond at any time of the day or night to take part in search and rescue operations. The team is initially contacted by a telephone call-out system, and it is normally possible to assemble within 45 minutes. A search team may comprise of up to eight people, with a designated Team Leader, and individuals nominated as Radio Operator, Navigator and First Aider. Several teams will be deployed at each search, under the command of the Controller.
The Controller is trained in search management through The Mountain Rescue Council, and a number of other members are also endorsed to undertake this function. During a search The Controller co-ordinates the activities of the search teams deployed, and is the point of contact with all other external agencies. DSRT Plymouth currently has a single Control Vehicle that is located at the optimum position from which the search parties are deployed.
The Team is equipped with a suite of vehicle mounted and handheld radios operating in the VHF High Band. To enhance the capability of this equipment, DRG funds commercial licenses to operate three automatic radio repeaters located strategically on and around Dartmoor.
To achieve callout status each team member must have demonstrated a minimum level of competence in the following core skills:
1. Navigation over featureless terrain and in all weathers. 2. First Aid and casualty handling. 3. Dealing with the deceased. 4. Radio operation. 5. Stretcher handling 6. Use of ropes for security on steep ground. 7. River crossing. 8. Search techniques. Working with military and civilian helicopters.
The Team operates a comprehensive programme of training throughout the year. Training is held every Tuesday night, as well as occasional weekend events. Callout Members must attend a prescribed minimum number of training opportunities.
There are no significant capital assets. Our present control vehicle is a 1990 Mercedes410 D, which was acquired by the team in 1992, and fitted out by the members for its present use. The vehicle transports the team equipment to a rendezvous point and then becomes its operational headquarters for the duration of the search.
It is stored within a rather cramped garage at Widewell Junior School, Plymouth. This site is rented from Devon County Council under the terms of a licence agreement at a modest ground rent. It affords no security of tenure and is specifically excluded from the terms of the Landlord and Tenant Act.
The Workload
The nature of the workload undertaken is diverse. Our callout statistics (Appendix 1) illustrate an increasing workload in non-moorland situations, particularly when searching for missing persons. The number of true moorland callouts has undoubtedly fallen. There are a number of reasons:
1. In technical terms, the advent of Gore-Tex, fleece, GPS, and mobile phones have all served to improve physical safety for the hill walker. 2. The Team has noticed a sustained improvement in navigational and hill craft skills and has taken a leading role in educating the public. For a number of years we have, uniquely within the DRG, promoted skills weekends, during which hill craft is taught under expert supervision. 3. The Devon and Cornwall Police helicopter, and the Royal Navy SAR units have been able to undertake many of the more routine functions that would have historically required physical searches to be made.
Despite all of these factors, there continues to be a recognised need for a traditional land based search facility. A number of recent callouts have occurred in places and circumstances in which helicopters were unable to fly (e.g. fog). There are also situations, particularly in searches of wooded areas where the use of thermal imaging equipment is not fully effective. Such circumstances clearly illustrate the capability and effectiveness of the Teams’ resources.
Such flexibility has increasingly been recognised by the Police, and we are classified as a Category 1 Responder. We are commonly called upon to search for despondents, suicides, vulnerable adults and children, encompassing urban, suburban and rural locations. Given the variety of demands made upon Police manpower, the Team is an essential additional resource.
The Team also provides safety cover for participants in the annual Ten Tors Challenge. Whilst the Army supports this event in logistical terms, DRG provides a full search and rescue facility covering all participants. This is one of our biggest annual commitments, involving significant manpower and resources. |
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In recent years we have been kept extremely busy, and in 2007 were instrumental in evacuating over 250 teams of walkers during a period of appalling weather. We fully endorse the aims and ethos of Ten Tors, and continue to provide our support and goodwill. |
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Our training with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force search and rescue units came to the fore in 2007, and we were able to help evacuate 115 participants in a record 55 minutes, from one of the most remote locations on the south moor. |
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Funding
In common with all of the other mountain rescue teams in England and Wales, DSRT Plymouth is an entirely voluntary organisation, which receives no funding from local or central government. A payment of 40p per mile is made by the Police to members, for their travelling expenses when attending a callout. However, due to the vagaries of charity law, we are unable to use such monies to support the day to day expenses of the team. The funding is entirely generated through the efforts of the members and by donation.
The Team has traditionally promoted three annual moorland walks as its main fundraising activities. Each typically generates profits of between £500 and £800. In addition the Group as a whole is occasional the recipient of “one-off” bequests and donations, with such monies normally being distributed amongst the four individual teams. Various other activities are promoted, including skills weekends, the sale of guide books, collection boxes, and attendance at other events such as the Abbot’s Way Walk and the Lions Walk. The Team has the support of the wider community.
For a number of years the balance between income and expenditure has been rather delicately balanced, and a copy of the Teams’ most recent audited accounts is attached at Appendix 2. The 2006 accounts await endorsement and ratification, and can be made available upon request. It will be seen that a cash balance has been generated which the Trustees regard principally as a contingency against unforeseen vehicle maintenance and other costs as well as to meet the increased overheads of rent and running a future second vehicle. The team is not required by the Charity Commission to produce a formal balance sheet.
The approach to finance has been based largely upon prudence, but is unable to make provision for significant capital projects.
Photographs Courtesy of South West Media Group Ltd. |