New team member wellbeing page published on MREW website…

© Buxton MRT

…for anyone thinking of joining a rescue team, as well as the friends and family who find themselves plunged into the wonderful world of mountain rescue.

The Team Member Wellbeing page on the Mountain Rescue England and Wales website.

Content is inspired by a booklet produced by Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).

Volunteering to a mountain rescue team is a huge commitment. For the volunteers and their families, with the potential in every rescue for lives to be disrupted. Aspirant team members will find here an honest outline of what will be expected of them and what they might encounter.

Family members learn what to expect too. And how a lengthy and technical rescue operation might affect family life, particularly if an incident involves serious injuries. Learn to recognise the signs of stress, anxiety, low mood and depression and how to manage them. And there’s advice on how to get the kids onboard when mum or dad disappears at a moment’s notice, and where to turn to for help.

The Rescue Benevolent Fund is there for you. Set up by mountain and cave rescue FOR mountain and cave rescue team members

Finding that support when you need it, confidentially

There are useful links to key support organisations, not least ourselves. And we’ve been around ten years now!

‘It’s frustrating when some in the rescue community forget our existence,’ says RBF chairman Neil Woodhead and leader of Kinder MRT.

‘Yes, we’re a separate charity but we work alongside mountain and cave rescue. The fact that few are even aware of the applications we’ve dealt with is testament to our success and confidentiality, not reason to ignore us.

‘We will consider an application from any team member, for hardship suffered as a result of a mountain or cave rescue incident. Often, time is of the essence. Finding that extra financial support to cover physical rehab or counselling can be hugely beneficial. The process is simple and claims to date have covered broken limbs, grief and PTSD counselling. Also support with financial hardship, and funeral costs for death in service.’

So, if you feel you might benefit from support, please email secretary@rescuebenevolent.fund. Or head to the contact form.