NORTH Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team has launched a crowd funding appeal to raise £10,000 to help create a much-needed training room.

The appeal went live on May 1. David Stoneman, team leader, said: ‘We’re really hoping our friends and the public will help us raise the £10,000 needed to create a training room in the industrial unit we bought three years ago. As a team we train every week practising first aid, search management, rope and water rescue techniques. We often train on Dartmoor but sometimes we need to be indoors.’

The team of 35 volunteers has been involved with 24 rescues in the last 12 months, including five over the Easter period. These ranged from a missing elderly person in rural North Devon, a lady with an injured leg who couldn’t be reached by the ambulance service, to a group of young people who requested assistance while on a moorland expedition. A team of five volunteers also went to York over the Christmas period to support the local Mountain Rescue teams with the flood relief efforts.

The team’s efforts are always much appreciated. One person, after getting back home thanks to being rescued by the team, said: ‘Thanks to everyone involved. I’m home safe and sound now, recovering at my friend’s house. The leg is much better but my pride is still slightly bruised. Very professional and witty group of rescuers, thanks for all the chocolate and hot juice.’

David added: ‘Although all our members have a day job and family commitments, give their time to train regularly and to help others, like all charities we have to fund raise.

‘We’ve recently received a grant from the Big Lottery’s Awards for All and donations from Devon County Council’s locality budget, The Norman Family Trust and Eaton Aerospace Ltd which is fantastic and has meant we’ve been able to start building an equipment store and a drying room and are in the process of arranging for a mezzanine floor to be installed.

‘Unfortunately we don’t have enough money at the moment to create a training room, which is why we have launched a crowd funding appeal. Anyone can visit our website www.crowdfunder.co.uk/training-room-north-dartmoor-search-rescue-team to find out more about our work and our project and decide if they would like to help. We’ve got loads of options from donating as little as £5 to larger sums with rewards, including a day out with the team on a practice exercise, a talk to an organisation of your choice or a gift of a cuddly rescue teddy. Whatever people feel able to give, we will be very grateful. It all makes a difference.’