Team member Mike Bottomley puts some of the new CRO kit to the test
A grant from a national park’s fund has helped a Yorkshire Dales rescue team update its radios.
The Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation needed to switch from an analogue to digital communications system, in line with other teams across the country.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s sustainable development fund provided £7,500 to the volunteer team to help with the cost of putting up a new base station repeater network.
The CRO which, despite its name carries out mainly fell rescues in the Three Peaks and Malhamdale areas as well as underground operations, secured other funds to pay for new radio handsets and associated kit. The organisation has 60 volunteers on call to help those in distress in the area around its base.
CRO spokesperson Jonty Rhodes said: “We are incredibly grateful for the national park’s authority’s SDF grant towards our new digital radio infrastructure.
“The contribution has gone directly into equipment that will both keep CRO team members safe while out in the field and enable us to work more efficiently towards helping us save lives above and below ground in the Yorkshire Dales.”
Member champion for sustainable development with the national park authority Chris Clark said: “The Cave Rescue Organisation offers a vital service and we are delighted to be able to support it.
“The volunteers receive around 70 callouts a year – some of them complex operations – and it’s important that they can rely on complete communications coverage across the area they work in.”
The authority said the project contributes towards achieving the Yorkshire Dales national park management plan’s ambition to make the park a friendly, open and welcoming place with outstanding opportunities to enjoy its special qualities.
The SDF has a budget of £175,000 for 2019-20. The fund is open to any individual, business, community group or voluntary sector body. So far this financial year £94,300 has been allocated to 16 projects across the national park.
Anyone interested in applying for a grant can get in touch by phone on 01969 652337, or by email. An application form, set of guidance notes and case studies can be found on the authority’s website.
