Mark Allum, centre, holds one of the new jackets, surrounded by members of the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association. Photo: Sara Spillet
Rescuers in the Yorkshire Dales will be better kitted out thanks to a grant from the national park authority.
Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association received £4,200 to provide newer team members with waterproof jackets and overtrousers for its surface missions.
The Grassington-based team’s volunteers carry out rescues both on the fells and in the caves of part of the Yorkshire Dales and beyond.
The grant for the clothing came from the park authority’s sustainable development fund.
Mark Allum, head of access and engagement at the Authority visited the team on Monday. He said: “We are so fortunate to have rescue teams in the Dales.
“These highly professional volunteers are on call every day of the year and go to the aid of people and animals in all weather conditions.
“They make a huge contribution to keep visitors and local communities safe. We salute the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association and it gives us great pleasure being able to give some financial support.”
The association’s chairman Peter Huff, said: “We have always had a splendid working relationship with the authority and we are most grateful for their generous support.
“We have taken the opportunity with the new jackets to have ‘Mountain Rescue’ printed on the back to ensure members are readily identifiable by other members of the emergency services at incidents.”
The sustainable development fund supports projects by individuals, businesses, community groups or voluntary sector organisations. It helps those contributing in some way to looking after the national park’s natural beauty, wildlife or cultural heritage, and as such providing some local economic or community benefit.
A total of 14 projects have benefitted from the fund since April. In this financial year, £175,000 is available. The authority said it welcomes ideas from people who have either a project and need a kick-start or have a scheme that is up and running and needs a bit of help.
