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The Wainwright Society Forum :: General :: The Sharp Edge :: What price Mountain Rescue?
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derek
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What price Mountain Rescue?
« Thread Started on Nov 25, 2007, 6:12pm »
This is the latest of The Sharp Edge debates. Please send your ideas for future debates to me via a Personal Message on the Forum.

To send a PM, click on derek and then click Send Personal Message.

This week, David has selected the subject for The Sharp Edge Debate – What price Mountain Rescue?

David will put up the first post after which the soapbox is yours!

Over to you, David ...

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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #1 on Nov 25, 2007, 6:22pm »
Thanks Derek,

I’m sure we all admire the work of the Lake District Mountain Rescue Teams and have opinions on how they should be supported and funded. Here are a few questions to get us going on the subject:-

Are the teams’ services limited by lack of resources (are there more things they would like to be able to do)?

How should the teams be funded?

Should we, as individuals who are potential (or actual?) beneficiaries, support them (financially or in other ways)? If so, how?

Should and could we as a Society do more to support them?

Has anyone had first hand experience of teams in action?

Are there team members reading this who would like to air their views and concerns (after all, it’s not for us to tell them how to operate!)? Or do you know a team member who you could ask to comment?

On your marks, get set, GO!
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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #2 on Nov 25, 2007, 6:52pm »
good choice david ... in my opinion the rescue teams do a fantastic job ... not just in the lakes but the whole country ... i own my life to the skills of these teams ... about twenty years ago now i dislocated my knee whilst out solo walking ... this was in the days when mobile phones weren't a popular as they are today ... i ended up spending a very cold and wet 24 hours on the hill before been rescued ... not a very pleasent experience ...

gary
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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #3 on Nov 25, 2007, 7:00pm »
David,

I think I mentioned on another thread that I recently went to the Keswick MRt HQ to hand over a cheque following the death of a friend. The team were marvellous people and spent some of their precious time giving us a tour of the HQ before they went out on a night exercise. In conversation with the team, I was amazed that they have to buy their own radio equipment. This used to be suppied by the local police but this arrangement has come to an end. The team use GPS radios now to assist but these are obviously expensive.
To relate to one of your questions, I think that the funding will always be from donations, not that I wish it came from central government. I read recently that one of the MRT's applied for a lottery grant but were turned down because they did not meet the necessary criteria in that they did not rescue enough disabled nor ethnic minority people. Surely they can only rescue who happens to be in need on the fells??
Finally, I personally always give to the LDMRT as I feel a consciencious desire to do so. as to us supporting them, I propose we put up our yearly subs from £10 to £12 with the extra £2 going to the LDMRT. would anyone object?

Lindsay
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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #4 on Nov 25, 2007, 7:05pm »
lindsay ... no i wouldn't object ... in fact i think its a very good suggestion ... i'm not bothered if £2 or £5 pounds i would be happy to contribute to a very worthy cause ... and with gift aid it will be worth a lot more ...

gary
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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #5 on Nov 25, 2007, 7:23pm »
Thanks Gary,

It would show the power of being a large group. £2 x 1000 members would buy alot of GPS radios. £5 x 1000 members would buy alot more.

Lindsay
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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #6 on Nov 25, 2007, 9:29pm »
I wouldnt object to the membership going up by £2 to help fund the LDMRT.

They do a fantastic job and should be supported.

Caroline :)
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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #7 on Nov 26, 2007, 9:04am »
I totally support what the MRT's do and was involved with Lower Wharfedale MRT for a number of years. Keswick MRT received good funding from us last year from money raised on the "Everest" Challenge and the Cockermouth MRT will hopefully benefit likewise from the 2008 challenge.

With regard to increasing subscriptions, this will need to be debated at the AGM and I would suggest that David or Lindsay write to the secretary to have this included in the AGM agenda.

I know the treasurer has already prepared a paper about subscriptions as at the moment our basic running costs are having to be subsidised by profits from the memorial lectures and other items. This is due to the fact that the subscription income has remained unchanged since the society was founded 5 years ago but a number of costs, postage, printing etc. have increased over this same period.

Can one of you, therefore, write to Peter on this and suggest it is included in the financial section of the AGM?

John :)
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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #8 on Nov 26, 2007, 11:10am »
Firstly I fully agree with the idea of an amount from the subscriptions going towards the MRT.
I imagine it must be very frustrating for a team to be called out to an incident where the casualty is totally unprepared. Despite AW's opinion, accidents do happen but to arrive at a casualty who has not taken the conditions or terrain into account must take a certain amount of "patience"
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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #9 on Nov 26, 2007, 11:26am »
John,

I'll conclude this thread with a summarising post at the weekend. If (as it seems so far) there are a number in favour of the Society providing support to the MRTs (for example via increased subscription fees), then I'll be happy to convey this, as you suggest, to the Committee for possible inclusion on the AGM agenda.

David

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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #10 on Nov 26, 2007, 12:02pm »

Clearly the work of the various MRT are important, and the task they undertake is one that is essential in such isolated areas. i do remember reading about the Langdale/Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team, a few years ago opening a new base and some of the funding came from Lottery monies, This would appear to contradict some of the information in other posts.

The MRT are becoming more creative with raising funding ( Trail magazine has developed a new ale along with Great cable brewing company, with 50p going to MRT in England and wales.

I would support the involvement of the society in many ways. Not just financially, an increased subscription, or a choice of making a donation when joining the society? ( we do not want to put people of joining)

I also feel we could play a role in educating those who use the fells to act safely, To think about their equipment, route and experience on the fells. If individuals understood simple basic safety issues this may help reduce the work of the MRT. Could we develop an AW safety leaflet, given out with the pictorial guides, local shops etc????

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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #11 on Nov 26, 2007, 1:15pm »
The problem of people being rescued on the fells appears to be coming more prevalent with reports nearly every week of the MRT being called out.

With regard to the suggestion about educating people I wondered if the following idea would gather favour.

We look at running a number of talks by Society Members about Mountain Safety and walking in the hills.

The could be held at either Youth Hostels or similar establishments in both the Lake District and other areas near to where members are located and could be done in an evening. This could be advertised in the local press and a small charge made which could then be donated to the MRT.

Can the "debaters" on the Forum let me know what you think.

John :D
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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #12 on Nov 26, 2007, 5:51pm »
Organisations like MRT will probably always have to be funded by donations and the equipment they need to use is getting more and more high tech. and therefore expensive.

We're very happy to support MRT, they are one of those organisations you hope you'll never need but are glad are there. We'll go along with any system the Society chooses for giving financial support. Although agree with Sean that we don't want to put members off by making it compulsory.


Lindsay writes:
To relate to one of your questions, I think that the funding will always be from donations, not that I wish it came from central government. I read recently that one of the MRT's applied for a lottery grant but were turned down because they did not meet the necessary criteria in that they did not rescue enough disabled nor ethnic minority people. Surely they can only rescue who happens to be in need on the fells??

This is political correctness gone mad yet again!!!

Think John's idea of talks on mountain safety is a good one. Only problem is those who need it most would not be the ones attending.

Jenny

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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #13 on Nov 26, 2007, 7:34pm »
Jenny,

You are absolutely right, PC gone mad! I spoke to the team at Keswick and they confirmed the refusal of the funds. And as you say, would the right people be there at the evenings? If it helps though I am all for it.

Lindsay
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Re: What price Mountain Rescue?
« Reply #14 on Nov 27, 2007, 9:00am »

Quote:
The problem of people being rescued on the fells appears to be coming more prevalent with reports nearly every week of the MRT being called out.

With regard to the suggestion about educating people I wondered if the following idea would gather favour.

We look at running a number of talks by Society Members about Mountain Safety and walking in the hills.

The could be held at either Youth Hostels or similar establishments in both the Lake District and other areas near to where members are located and could be done in an evening. This could be advertised in the local press and a small charge made which could then be donated to the MRT.

Can the "debaters" on the Forum let me know what you think.

John :D

I agree with the principle of the education etc but I don't feel that we as a society are the right people to do it directly and as has already been pointed out are the right attendees going to be there?
I would have thought that money raising , education and prevention of accidents could be achieved more productively.
My suggestion would be for MR teams to follow the National Trusts example and get out in the field, being present at car parks i.e. Honister etc on Saturday or Sunday mornings. There they could rattle the boxes, hand out educational leaflets and give expert "advice" to those who they deem to be inappropriately dressed or equiped.
Perhaps the society would be better doing something like funding/ sponsoring part of the leaflet cost.
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