Published by Sarah Yeoman at 7:00am 13th January 2019.
Search and rescue teams across Cornwall have been celebrating after being awarded money for new equipment.
The Department for Transport announced that 57 bids to the Rescue Boat Grant Fund had been successful with £240,000 from the £1 million fund going to charities in the South West.
These included several in Cornwall with Bude Surf Lifesaving Club one of the beneficiaries.
The club received a total of £12,062.73 which will be used to buy a new inshore rescue boat, two engines and a trailer.
Announcing the news on the club’s Facebook page it said: “Bude SLSC, with the help of Surf Lifesaving GB, has been successful in securing funding for a new IRB from the Dept of Transport’s rescue boat fund. The grant of over £10,000 wil pay for a new boat, motor and trailer to replace our ageing IRB which has served the club well for over 20 years.
Cornwall Search and Rescue Team was granted £11,781.29 which will be used to fund a variety of equipment including a trailer, drysuits, helmets and a stretcher.
Crantock Surf Lifesaving Club and Perranporth Surf Lifesaving Club were both awarded £10,350 each which will be used for new 4×4 recovery all-terrain vehicles (ATV) for each club.
Hayle Surf Lifesaving Club will receive almost £20,000 which will be used for a new 4×4 recovery ATV, a surf rescue boat, engine and radio.
Surf Lifesaving Cornwall has secured a grant for £15,262 which will be used to buy equipment including a new rescue boat.
Announcing the new funding, maritime minister Nusrat Ghani said: “Our rescue boat teams are the unsung heroes of the UK’s waterways. Their commitment and skill keeps people safe on and around our rivers, lakes and inshore areas.
The bids for the latest round of funding were considered by an expert panel, chaired by officials and including representatives from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the devolved administrations as well as expert advisers from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, RNLI and the Royal Yachting Association.