Funding for Search and Rescue Organisations to Support Operational Volunteer Training (UK)
UK charitable search and rescue (SAR) organisations across the UK can apply for funding to cover the training costs of operational volunteers to support SAR activities.
Charities Aid Foundation is offering grants starting from £1,000 for charitable SAR organisations across the UK seeking support to train their operational volunteers and improve the safety and quality of SAR services.
Through the UKSAR Volunteer Training Fund, groups can apply for support for high-priority operational search and rescue training that will improve the capability of the organisation and its volunteers, such as:
- Core skills training for new or existing volunteers, linked to proven operational needs in the local area.
- Avoiding skills fade for existing volunteers, caused by delays or reduction of training opportunities during the pandemic.
- Revalidation of core training for existing volunteers.
- Training which incorporates appropriate well-being approaches.
Eligible training costs include:
- Operational training for SAR volunteers in the UK that directly correlate with specific operational needs in the local area.
- Courses related to the training of operational SAR volunteers that are central to their activities.
- Hiring external trainers for course delivery.
- Administration costs (if essential to training courses).
- Volunteers’ travel costs and accommodation where this is integral to the training itself.
- Costs of training equipment (such as manikins or training defibrillators).
- Blue light training (if applicable).
- Up to 50% of the costs of the training.
All training activities must take place between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2026.
The deadline for application is 14 November 2023.
(This report was the subject of a GRANTfinder Newsflash.)
