A LOCAL search and rescue team will be better equipped to deal with flooding and other emergency situations thanks to a government grant of more than £36,000.
West Midlands Search and Rescue, based at Clevelode, near Malvern, was this week announced as one 16 organisations sharing a total of £823,000 from Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
The funding will allow the volunteer organisation, which was formed in mid 2007, to train up and kit out a further 24 members, bringing the team up to some 40 people in total.
Founder member Richard Bailey said he was overjoyed by the funding announcement.
“It will allow us to enhance the team that we have already got and sustain it for the future,” he said. “It is the culmination of three-and-a-half years of hard work to get to this point. We are extremely pleased.”
Announcing the grants, Environment Minister Richard Benyon said: “In the event of a large-scale flood, it is important that we can call upon manpower and equipment from a wide range of emergency services and voluntary groups.
“I am pleased that we have been able to announce further funding to buy vital flood rescue equipment helping to improve England’s flood response.”
The latest grants from Defra are part of the £2.7 million Flood Rescue Grant Scheme to improve flood response in England and Wales. A total of 45 organisations have benefited to date.
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