DATE OF ISSUE: 24 January 2017
SARA is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant of £35,219.66 from the Department of Transport, as one of the larger allocations from the ‘Inshore and inland rescue boat grant’ scheme. This is from the third round of funding provided under a 5 year, £5 million scheme, announced as part of the 2014 budget statement. This grant represents a substantial contribution towards the cost of a new Launch Vehicle for the SARA Sharpness Station.
Maritime Minister, John Hayes, said: “Every day countless volunteers in water rescue charities across our island nation carry out vital work during emergencies, not only around our coasts but also keeping our rivers, lakes and inshore waters safe.
It is imperative that we value and support their tireless efforts. I am delighted to be able to announce the latest round of funding, ensuring they have the equipment and resources they need to provide their round-the-clock lifesaving services.”
SARA Chairman Chris Crowley commented: “We are very grateful for this grant, and welcome the recognition of the valuable service which SARA provides and the cost which that entails. This money will help us to keep the rescue boat cover at Sharpness, provided by its lifeboats and hovercraft, available in almost all tide and weather conditions.
The SARA lifeboat and rescue services, across all our stations, are being called upon more and more each year. As well as investing in Sharpness, we were recently able to commission a new lifeboat for Newport in October, and a new rescue boat for the Wyre Forest Station at Kidderminster last weekend”
SARA is entirely manned by volunteers who are on standby 24/7/365. SARA is not directly funded by any central or local Government agencies and depends completely on donations to fund its operations. To donate to SARA, visit https://www.justgiving.com/sara-rescue/donate
The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) provides specialist 999/112 emergency services in support of the Police, Fire, and Coastguard authorities in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire and South Wales. Lifeboat services are provided on the River Severn from Bridgenorth to Bristol, and in the estuaries of the Rivers Usk and Wye.
Boats are based at Beachley (Chepstow), Sharpness, Newport (Gwent), South Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Kidderminster. SARA also supports the Police in Missing Person searches on land, provides Swift Water Rescue support to civil authorities on inland waters and at times of flooding, and has the capability to carry out cliff and rockface rescue.
Contact for further information:
Mark Carwardine,
SARA Deputy Chairman
mark.carwardine@sara-rescue.org.uk
