A WOKINGHAM-based search and rescue charity is on the look-out for new premises.
Berkshire Lowland Search & Rescue (BLSR) have been based at Easthampstead Park Conference Centre for the last 30 years, but now need to find new premises.
The volunteer-led charity, which works alongside Thames Valley Police to search for high-risk vulnerable missing people, is now appealing for help to find a new premises.
The charity’s chairman, Kris Manning said: “We are urgently appealing to Berkshire based businesses and anybody else who could potentially provide us with a new base of operations. This will ensure that our operational ability to search for vulnerable people such as children and those living with dementia is not affected.
“At a minimum we need a small amount of office space, space to store rescue equipment as well as parking for our three incident response vehicles. The location must have 24/7 access as our call-outs can come any time of the day or night.
“Berkshire Lowland Search & Rescue is a charity funded by public donations and grants and relies heavily on the support of the public and business to raise the £20,000 per year just to keep operating. Fundraising is a constant struggle and purchasing land or a building is simply out of the question. We need help.”
The charity’s highly trained and specialist missing person searchers give over 12,000 hours of their time each year towards call-outs, training and fundraising.
The team provides missing person search, water and flood rescue, search and rescue drones as well as assisting with event safety cover for numerous Berkshire events.
Because the main work of the team involves vulnerable people, they are unable to publicise many of their call-outs and therefore don’t have the public awareness that many other charitable organisations benefit from.
The charity is looking for a secure storage facility for three large vehicles plus additional equipment, with 24/7 access all year round, located centrally to Bracknell or Wokingham, however other locations may be considered.
If you can help, contact Kris Manning on [email protected].
