West Mercia Search and Rescue launches 'life-saving' crowdfunder

The West Mercia Search and Rescue (WMSAR) 'Help Save a Life' project is currently seeking backers on Crowdfund Shropshire.

WMSAR is a volunteer charity that trains and equips a search and rescue team to support the emergency services in finding and recovering vulnerable missing people.

The funding will help train existing volunteers as well as new members to serve the community. An enhanced team will mean WMSAR can respond more efficiently to callouts and be available to more vulnerable people who may need their services.

The charity's aim for 2025 is to grow the team from 70 to 100 operational members to enable greater availability of qualified volunteers for search and rescue in the region.

Marcel Le Cocq, chair of trustees and team leader at West Mercia Search and Rescue, said: “West Mercia Search and Rescue is a 100 per cent volunteer team, made from our community, to help the most vulnerable in our community when they need us.

"It is very difficult to put in words what it means to our volunteers to be supported by their community to keep the team operational, so we will use two words: absolutely amazing.”

Crowdfund Shropshire is a crowdfunding platform from Shropshire Council, run in partnership with Spacehive.

The council has non-capital funding of £150,000 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to pledge to projects through this programme. Groups or organisations could receive up to 60 per cent of their crowdfunding target, up to a maximum of £10,000, pledged by Shropshire Council directly into the campaign.

Councillor Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for finance, corporate resources, and communities, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together and support initiatives that have a direct, positive impact on our local area.

“By backing projects like Help Save a Life, we can ensure that vital services such as WMSAR continue to thrive and provide essential and often lifesaving support to those in need.

“I strongly urge everyone to help support this vital campaign.

"All campaigns need to reach their target for any of the funds to be released by the council. If groups do not reach their target, all of the pledges are returned to the backers - so it’s crucial we help WMSAR to achieve their target.”

The appeal is available to view online at spacehive.com/help-save-a-life.