KSAR Zip line Challenge - August 2010

KSAR SPONSORED 6 HOUR ZIPLINE CHALLENGE - 21st AUGUST

On Saturday 21st August KSAR will be attempting a 6 hour zipline challenge. The event has been created to help raise funds for the control vehicle appeal which is desperate for a cash injection.

KSAR need as many members, friends, families and sponsors as is possible to take part and raise funds through sponsorship. If every person was to raise £50 then KSAR would gain around £2000, double or treble that amount and the total is even better. You do not need to be a zipline expert to take part as fully trained staff at the Swattenden Centre, Cranbrook, will be overseeing the event. It's an easy way to have some fun and help raise some money for KSAR as well.

Sponsorship forms need to be uniquely numbered so please contact Ed (edel@saint201.fsnet.co.uk). Please come along and support us and take part too to help raise the funds.

WORLD RECORD OPPORTUNITY ........ As part of the 6 Hour Zipline Challenge, we will be setting aside 1 hour for a Guiness World Record Attempt. We will be hoping to set a new record for the most people down a zipline in 1 hour. For this section each person can only descend the zipline once, as such we need as many people as we can to take to the wire for just one descent, please therefore bring along friends and family - we need 100 people!! Please let me know of names of people wishing to take part in the world record attempt (edel@saint201.fsnet.co.uk)

Download your event poster here to help raise the profile of our event.

START RAISING FUNDS FOR KSAR NOW......WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!

The KSAR Annual Challenge Event 2010- July 2010

The KSAR Annual Challenge Event took place on Saturday 10th July 2010. Throughout the day teams of 4 people took part in a wide array of outdoor, search & rescue related tasks. The mixture of mental and physical challenges meanst that all teams had an equal chance to excel in a particular discipline. Challenges included: Observation, Casaulty evacuation, High level evidence collection and Night Searching.

Eight teams came from across the county from all walks of life - and we hope that everyone had a very enjoyable day. The winning team 'E for Idiots' lifted the KSAR Challenge trophy in recognition of their efforts.

By hosting this event Kent Search and Rescue raised much needed funds for KSAR, especially to boost funds towards the Control Vehicle replacement, which is a priority for us to search effectively.

Please let us know if you would like to be contacted for next year's event - or contact Paul Lewis on 07977 066165 or paul.phlconsultancy@gmail.com

New Control Vehicle Appeal - April 2010

Kent Search and Rescue was recently dealt a tough blow when its' vital Control Vehicle failed its MOT and had to be taken off the road.  This ex-Mountain Rescue Ambulance had served KSAR well as a base of operation to organise searches in all types of weather as well as a communications hub and secure storage site for our range of specialist search kit.  So consequently the long range campaign to secure funding for a new control vehicle was throw into high gear as our capabilities have been limited.  KSAR continues to provide its essential search and rescue function for the people of Kent as we attempt to secure funding for a new vehicle.  However, our communications capabilities have been severely limited and it now takes much longer to get our vital specialist kit out into the field.  Our situation was recently covered by the Kent Messenger (see here) as we try to spread news of the appeal widely.    

There are a number of ways of helping Kent Search and Rescue in this urgent appeal.  Cheques and Postal Orders can be sent to 'Kent Search and Rescue' at:

10 Norman Road, Westgate On Sea, Kent CT8 8RR

Donations can also be made via the secure Charity Giving website.  Also we ask that you consider KSAR as part of your legacy.  If you are interested to help or require further information please contact 01843 832995 or info@ksar.co.uk

Safe and Sound Campaign Launched - April 2010

Kent Search and Rescue recently launched its new Safe and Sound Campaign intended to assist carers of vulnerable people to develop proactive strategies to hopefully prevent the person they care for from wandering off and to take some simple steps to assist the emergency services to find them if they do.  The campaign was developed with the cooperation and assistance of various carers support groups throughout the county as well as assistance from the Kent Fire and Rescue Service.  The first initiative is intended to remind carers to take a photograph of the person they care for.  The second initiative is a short form carers can fill out at their leisure about the habits and history of the person they care for, for use if they go missing.  For more information about these two initiatives please visit our new Safe and Sound Campaign page.  This campaign was also recently chronicled in the Kent on Sunday newspaper (see here).   

KSAR Training 2010

Throughout 2010 we will be undertaking basic through to advanced training on a number of subject areas. Much of the training is conducted by internal trainers but other courses will be sourced externally.

Some of this years training will consist of:

• Basic Search Courses (for new members)
• Radio Operators Course
• 1st Aid - Basic and more advanced training
• Team Leader training
• Search Manager courses
• Mountain Bike Team training
• Water and Bank Rescue training
• Kayak and water search training
• Search Tactics
• Navigation including GPS
• Operational exercises

If you are interested in improving your skills and knowledge in any of these areas or think you could be of use to us, why not join KSAR, or contact us for more information.

Patron: Lord Warden and Admiral of the Cinque Ports, Constable of Dover Castle
Admiral the Lord Boyce, GCB OBE DL