CUMBRIAN MPs WIN FUNDING FOR MOUNTAIN RESCUE

Rory Stewart, the Chairman of the APPG for Mountain Rescue, Vice-Chairs Tim Farron MP and Sir Tony Cunning MP, Treasurer John Woodcock MP and Jamie Reed MP and John Stevenson MP, along with colleagues from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mountain Rescue have today won funding for Mountain Rescue equipment across Britain.

The All Party Parliamentary Group, chaired by Rory Stewart MP first won funding in 2011 which was due to run out this year. The Cumbrian MPs have since been campaigning for over a year pushing the government to commit to renew the grant holding regular meetings with ministers, and Mountain Rescue teams.

Rory Stewart MP said: “It is a real privilege to work with colleagues on all sides of the house on this issue. Mountain and Cave Rescue are the most amazing organisations who represent voluntary service at its very best. The rescuers are unpaid volunteers who give up hours and hours of their time and do an amazing job involved in search and rescue missions up and down the country providing invaluable support to the emergency services. The grant we have successfully ensured will ensure that Mountain Rescuers are able to spend a less time fundraising and more time doing their vital work.

Speaking in House of commons Minister for Transport, Stephen Hammond praised the work of the APPG for Mountain Rescue on campaigning on this issue as well as the work of Mountain and Cave Rescue teams across the UK.

In October 2013 Rory Stewart MP sponsored a week long exhibition on the House of Commons to showcase the vital work of Mountain Rescue teams to colleagues in both the House of Commons and House of Lords showcasing their assistance to emergency services in operation far beyond their original terrain and core skills.

Rory benefited from the work of Mountain Rescue teams first hand when he spent one Saturday night in January this year sleeping out on a fell side on the Pennines to raise awareness of Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Appeal with the Mountain Rescue team.