Boost for Essex Search and Rescue

A team of volunteers from Essex Search and Rescue, which is called out every ten days to search for missing people, has been given a boost by Essex law firm Birkett Long.

The firm that has offices in Colchester, Basildon and Chelmsford, has provided high-vis jackets and medical bags for the organisation that has over 40 trained volunteers throughout the county.

Most of their work involves working with the police looking for vulnerable missing persons, including children

Very often the person they are looking for has dementia, or is facing a life crisis, but sometimes the reason the person has gone missing is unclear, as in their recent  search for missing Kelvedon man Chris May.

Jennie Skingsley, Marketing Manager said: “We are always looking to help the community that has supported us for many years and when we heard about Essex Search and Rescue we asked them what we could do.”

Stephen Nicholas, chairman of the organisation, said: “These jackets and the medical kits will make a big difference. It costs £7,500 a year to run our operations – no one gets paid – so help like this from Birkett Long is vital.”

Essex Search and Rescue, which has been running since 2002, is called out by the Police to search for people from as far afield as Harlow to Harwich, Saffron Walden to Shoebury at all times of the day and night.

Stephen said: “Hundreds of people are reported missing in the county every year, as is common with the rest of the UK.

“So we are always looking for volunteers. Our current volunteers’ ages range from 25 to 70 and they include people from all walks of life, such as tax inspectors to teachers, others are retired, but all of them turn out when they can. Some even have arrangements with employers that allow them the time off to help."

All new volunteers are put through a training process twice a month for six months to learn about First Aid; safety around water; navigational skills – where they learn to read a compass; stretcher carrying and rope training in case someone is found in a river.

On average, the volunteers’ expertise is called upon about 40 times a year. If you want to become a volunteer you should be able to walk five miles in two hours. You should also be 18 years old or over. Visit http://www.essexsar.org.uk/contactus.php and email the membership secretary at [email protected].