In April 2017, the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team undertook a Peer Review of all their operations and procedures. Three very experienced Mountain Rescue members from Swaledale, Ogwen Valley and Bolton Mountain Rescue Teams travelled to Northumberland to support the two day review – a supported, self-evaluation of how well the Team operates.

The peer review highlighted the urgent need for the Team to replace its ageing analogue radio system, to a digital system fit for the changing nature of call outs the Team is responding to. This will cost around £16k. With increased tourism in Northumberland and greater popularity of outdoor adventure, the Team is responding to increasing numbers of ‘rescues’, where each Team Member needs their own issued GPS tracking radio handset. Traditionally, the Team has predominantly responded to ‘searches’ where one of the ageing analogue radios has been issued per search group of three members.

The Henfrey Trust donated £12.5k towards the replacement digital radios following a report about the Peer Review in the local Newspaper. This appeal is therefore to raise the remaining £3,500 towards communications and IT equipment to allow the purchase to go ahead in full and equip all Team Members. A reduced rate of £450 per handset has been negotiated by parent body Mountain Rescue England and Wales, however there is a short deadline to take advantage of this and achieve the best value for money.

The Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team (NNPMRT) provides a search and rescue service in the Northumbria Police area. The operational area covers 2,159 square miles and includes the whole of Northumberland and the conurbation of Tyne & Wear.

Calls for assistance include not only search and mountain rescue of walkers, fell/trail runners and mountain bikers in the uplands of Northumberland but also the search and rescue of missing children and vulnerable adults in rural and urban settings.