Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster has pledged to help protect the services of mountain rescue volunteers who give up their time to save lives.
Commissioner Angelique Foster met members of the Glossop Mountain Rescue Team on a recent visit to the town and received an insight into the highly-skilled nature of their work, which helps to save lives and locate vulnerable missing people.
The self-funded team, based at Glossop Police Station, is run exclusively by volunteers and continually fundraises to cover the costs of specialised equipment, vehicles and training.
They provide a rescue service in the Peak District National Park and handle incidents both on the hills and within the community of Glossopdale.
Commission Angelique Foster said the volunteers’ work helped to reduce demand on the police and ensured vulnerable missing people were located swiftly and effectively.
“Glossop’s army of mountain rescue volunteers deliver a high standard of support and service to the police and our communities, receiving specialised training to respond to a host of emergency situations,” she said.
“These volunteers are members of the community who willingly sacrifice their time for the safety of others – something I am keen to promote more widely. When communities come together and take positive action, they help solve problems and this must be embraced.
“This group has become a key ally for the police, helping to alleviate demand pressures and ensure resources can be quickly deployed for maximum results. I wholeheartedly support their work and would encourage others to get behind the organisation and help secure the funds necessary to protect this great asset to the community.”
Follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/glossopmrt to see the accounts of their often harrowing work.
Donations can be made via Just Giving at www.justgiving.com/glossopmrt.
Further information is available on http://gmrt.org.uk
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Picture Shows (L-R): Sam Haworth, Chair of Glossop MRT, Acting Sgt Patrick Haley (also the Team Leader for the MRT), Commissioner Angelique Foster, Nigel Hackney, Secretary of MRT, Matt Dooley, MRT member and also Chairman of Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation & Chair for Mountain Rescue England and Wales
Media Enquiries: Sallie Blair – 01283 821012 / 07702 541401