Cornwall Search and Rescue Team comprises of 40 unpaid men and women who provide a search and rescue service for the entire County - for its� residents and visitors - available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. We are the only resource in the county that maintains this type of service that is both a charity (staffed entirely by volunteers) and who receive no retainer, payment or government funding.

Set up in 2003, we are already one of the busiest teams in the South West. We work closely with all of the Cornish emergency services, other Search and Rescue teams and the Search and Rescue Dog Association.

Although we perform rescues from the moors, a lot of our work is searching for missing local people in the towns and countryside, or frontline attendance during severe weather. The Team has two fully equipped Land Rover off road ambulances, and an ambulance control vehicle as well as specialist search, rescue and medical equipment. This equipment is used at any time, any weather and anywhere in the county � from mine working to cliff; from town to moor.

:: Membership

Inductions for new team members are usually held twice a year, depending on demand. Prospective members are required to complete the application, short-listing and medical forms, have relevant hill walking experience, hold a valid first aid certificate, and pass police checks. If these stages are passed, prospective members are invited to an evening training session to meet the team, and then a one-day assessment and interview. If successful, they are invited to join the team and attend regular training as a �trainee�.

Trainees undergo a minimum six month intensive basic training period, followed by continuous training � sometimes in specialist areas. Trainees are not permitted to go on call outs and upon successful completion of the Basic Training modules, and passing of their assessment, they go on to the call out list. Our training is arranged into 2 stages and comprises 16 modules in total, including navigation, hill-craft, diversity and equality, helicopter training and casualty equipment and handling.

Training is on-going and there are minimum attendance levels for all members on both training and call outs. Training is every Thursday evening, and one full Sunday per month and call outs can obviously be at any time, in any weather and anywhere.