Help us raise £500,000 for a new rescue centre
In 2027, East Cornwall Search and Rescue Team will celebrate 25 years of saving lives and supporting people across Cornwall.
For 25 years, our volunteers have responded when people are lost, missing, injured or in danger — often in some of the most challenging environments in the county.
Now we need your help to build the future of that lifesaving service.
We are raising £500,000 to create a new rescue centre, fit for the next 25 years.
Why a New Rescue Centre Matters
In 2019, we purchased and moved into an industrial unit on Paardeberg Road in Bodmin. Before this, we operated from rented spaces including Scout huts and disused fire stations. The purchase of our current base was only made possible thanks to a generous bequest to the charity from the late Molly Hattam.
Today, the unit houses two of our three vehicles and provides a drying room, toilet and office space. Our third vehicle and some equipment are currently stored off site.
Our needs have grown considerably since 2019, and our current premises are increasingly inadequate for the demands placed on a modern search and rescue team. Limited vehicle access, equipment storage and volunteer welfare facilities all create challenges for our volunteers and our ability to operate effectively.
We need a rescue centre that is fit for purpose — one that gives our volunteers the facilities, equipment storage and training space they need to continue saving lives across Cornwall for many years to come.
What the new rescue centre will achieve
Our new rescue centre will strengthen our ability to support communities across Cornwall in several important ways.
- Saving lives and advancing health
A purpose-built rescue centre will improve our operational capacity and give our volunteers the facilities they need to respond promptly and effectively when people are missing, lost, injured or otherwise in need of rescue.
- Training and education
The new base will provide dedicated training facilities for our volunteers and opportunities to work alongside partner organisations. This will help us develop skills, maintain recognised qualifications and share knowledge that can improve emergency response across our communities.
- Supporting rural and remote communities
Many of our call-outs take place in rural, isolated and otherwise underserved areas of Cornwall. A stronger operational base will help us build resilience and ensure that our volunteers are better equipped to support people when they need help most.
- Strengthening the voluntary sector
We are an independent charity, powered by volunteers who give their time and skills to help others. A new rescue centre will provide a safe, modern environment in which our volunteers can train, develop essential life skills and continue to grow as a team.
- Helping vulnerable people
We help people when they need us most. Whether providing a critical intervention to someone experiencing a mental health crisis, or rescuing a person who has become cold, alone or injured while enjoying Cornwall’s countryside, our volunteers are ready to answer the call.
The Project
In 2027, we will celebrate 25 years of saving lives across Cornwall.
To mark this important milestone, we are launching an ambitious appeal to raise £500,000 towards a new rescue centre for East Cornwall Search and Rescue Team.
This dedicated funding will put us in a strong position to redevelop our existing site or, if necessary, consider suitable nearby alternatives that meet the team's operational needs.
For the first time in our history, our aim is to create a centre where all our vehicles, equipment, training and volunteer facilities can be brought together under one roof.
The new rescue centre will provide modern, fit-for-purpose facilities designed to support our volunteers and secure the future development of the team.
We already have detailed architectural plans for our current site, alongside an experienced project management team with professional industry experience of delivering projects of this scale.
This is more than a new building. It is an investment in the future of lifesaving across Cornwall.
How You Can Help
Reaching our £500,000 target will take the support of our whole community.
We will be organising fundraising events and open days, while recruiting individuals, groups and organisations to help us raise the funds we need.
Whether you are a local fundraiser, community group, supporter or potential donor, we would love you to be part of this journey.
There are also opportunities for businesses and professionals to support the project through the donation or provision of services, materials and expertise — including construction, surveying, design, planning and other professional services.
Your support could help us create a rescue centre that will serve our volunteers and the communities of Cornwall for decades to come.
Get involved
If you would like to support the appeal, become a fundraiser, offer professional services or request a Supporters Pack, please contact: