50 team members

Now 2015 is becoming a distant memory, we’d like to take the opportunity to thank the long list of people who’ve supported the Team through the past year. Aside from the 50 volunteer call-out list members who have given up their time so freely over the year, at all times of day, in all weathers, we’d like to thank their immediate families, whose support and understanding is essential to maintain an effective and motivated Team.

£18,000

But we would equally not be able to do what we do without the support of our dedicated fund-raisers, who work as hard as we do to fund some of our £18,000 annual operating costs. We’d particularly like to thank Pete’s Dragons and ‘Thinking of Del‘ whose tireless efforts continue to humble us.

48 Call-outs

2015 saw the team called-out 48 times, primarily to assist in searches alongside Devon and Cornwall Police, though also to assist in the rescue and evacuation of three injured people from difficult locations. Team members were placed on stand-by 12 times and there were numerous other situations where search advice was offered without the need to call-out the whole team.

456 km

The year also saw the Team deploy to the Isles of Scilly for the first time, with a dozen members spending three nights on Tresco as part of a major search (more details here). On average, each team member covered 38 km searching over this time (456 km in total), and in effect the ‘area swept’ (the ground effectively covered by the Team) was 6.8 square kilometres, all on an island 2.9 square kilometres in area!

100 litres

2015 also saw the team working hard to develop it’s new two-section model, with a new home for the west section in United Downs requiring 100 litres of paint to convert it from a carpentry unit into a facility suitable for housing two vehicles and providing training space. Whilst east section are still searching for a new home, we’d like to thank Devon and Cornwall Police for continuing to host our vehicle and kit in Bodmin.

4 new controllers, 3 SARDA dogs, 2 new cas-carers and a new Water Officer for the Team

Aside from responding 24/7 to call-outs, many team members also continued to develop their skills, attending a wide variety of training courses across the country. Our SARDA dog handlers ventured as far as the Lake District, with Hill Party Leaders training in north Wales and our PR/Media Officer travelling to south Wales. More locally, in-house we were pleased to recruit and train two new cas-carers (with more to come) and four new controllers, along with new faces in the roles of Water Officer and Membership Officer.

2304 Facebook followers

During the year we’ve almost doubled our following on social media, such a vital tool to spread news, advice and fund-raising please in the modern word. The new website also received over 28,000 views over the year, with almost 800 on one day alone.

So thank you once again to everyone who supported the Tam in 2015 and we look forward to an exciting 2016 (already off to a running start - pun intended!).