West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team has been voted as a winner of our Surprise Supplies initiative and now has £1,000 to spend on materials at our Porthleven branch.
We invited charities from across the region to get in touch and explain how a donation of materials would help to complete a project. Alongside West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team, Hector’s House, a cat rehoming charity based in Torquay, received the most votes following a public poll and each winner has received a donation of £1,000.
West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team’s unpaid volunteers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to support the emergency services in their search for lost, missing and injured people. The charity is completely run by the volunteers and all equipment, vehicles and its base are funded through donations.
This means that donations go to keeping the team running and not into investing in developmental projects. The charity is building a drying room at its base, which would provide a purpose-built space where the team could properly dry wet kit, especially the water and rope rescue equipment. This is safety-critical kit which needs to be properly looked after and cared for and the lack of proper drying facilities is of great concern for the team.
The £1,000 to spend at RGB Porthleven will be used to purchase the necessary materials for the project.
Andy Brelsford, Chair of West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team, commented: “We are very grateful to RGB and everyone who voted for us. As a small charity, these funds will make a big difference to our work and the team can’t wait to get stuck into the project which will transform how we store and manage our lifesaving equipment."
Jules Curnow from RGB Porthleven visited West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team’s base to learn more about their plans. Jules added: “This is exactly the type of project that we want to help with Surprise Supplies. The charity does a vital job in helping our emergency services protect local people and visitors to the area. Congratulations to West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team and good luck with the project. We look forward to helping with materials and ensuring their £1,000 goes as far as possible. I can’t wait to return to see the completed drying room.”