It was an honour last week to launch a new cross-party group to champion volunteer-led search and rescue services across the country in our nation’s Parliament.
I’m delighted not only that we were joined by Mountain Rescue England and Wales, RNLI, the National Independent Lifeboat Association, Lowland Rescue, Cave Rescue and HM Coastguard, but that members of our local Mountain Rescue Team were able to come down and bring a vehicle with them, which provided a nice photo opportunity for my colleagues, including several ministers and the Speaker!
These services represent the best of our community and we have more here in Cumbria than elsewhere in the country, with hundreds of volunteers giving their time and expertise to save lives on land and on water. The services and the volunteers who run them are often operating with real challenges. Record levels of callouts along with rising costs and pressures mean service leaders are now warning of a crisis that could see provision decrease, extra pressure placed on paid for emergency services and leading to areas becoming less safe.
Since the election I’ve just about managed to continue as a member of my Mountain Rescue team, juggling these responsibilities with being your MP and spending time with family. I see the challenges that teams face up close and it is a great privilege to be able to use my position to champion volunteers who provide this service to our community.
The group has support from MPs and Peers right across Parliament, although no Reform MPs have chosen to join. Perhaps this is not a surprise given Nigel Farage’s disgraceful denigration of the RNLI as a “taxi service”.
We’ve established a number of goals that we would like to accomplish in this Parliament, which reflect the issues raised with me by volunteers in search and rescue organisations here in West Cumbria.
Improving the statutory footing for volunteers to recognise and protect volunteer roles within emergency services, like many employers do with Special Constables. Giving a sole minister responsibility for volunteer rescue services to establish clear leadership and accountability at a national level. Standardising blue light permissions so that rescue vehicles have blue light use for urgent responses. And seeking Government support for Public Liability Insurance to reduce the financial burden on rescue organisations and ensure the money they raise can be spent on frontline services and life saving equipment.
When you need these services, you really need them, so I am committed to ensuring that they remain available long into the future. There is a role for everyone reading this to play too, by supporting our local services with fundraising and volunteering where you’re able to do so. A shout out to RNLI in Workington and St. Bees, Maryport Lifeboat, Wasdale and Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Teams, Whitehaven HM Coastguard and West Cumbria Search and Rescue. Give them your support!
Josh MacAlister MP 