Persimmon Homes Community Champions

L to R : Stuart Kenny, Head of Water and Dog teams, KSAR / Brian Tinham, Secretary, Trustee, Fundraising Manager, Search Technician KSAR / Cllr Derek Mortimer, Mayor of Maidstone / Martin Crick, Managing Director, Persimmon Homes SE / T/Supt Elena Hall, Kent Police / Barry Doggett, Operational Trustee and Search Planner and Operator, KSAR / Dave Schooledge, Head of Unit, Trustee, KSAR 

“This grant of £5,000, from the Persimmon Community Champions 2023 scheme, is a massive boost to Kent Search and Rescue [KSAR]”, says KSAR Secretary and Trustee Brian Tinham. “It means we can now start the project to replace our ageing Incident Support Vehicle [ISV], a command centre for managing and running search and rescue [SAR] missions for high-risk vulnerable missing people in Kent.”  

He explains that KSAR’s existing ISV is not only ageing but also no longer fit for purpose, given its key roles both as an emergency response vehicle and support centre for mounting searches when called out by Kent Police. “Developments in SAR management practice, alongside improvements in the technology and equipment we now need to accommodate for many live searches mean it’s time for a new design and a new platform,” he continues. “So our plan is to purchase a nearly-new replacement Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ‘Long’ van, chosen for its reliability and adaptability, and then to fit this vehicle out to meet today’s requirements for a fully functioning, multi-role ISV.” 

And he adds: “The grant from Persimmon Homes specifically to help with the purchase of this emergency response vehicle, will go a considerable way to helping KSAR find and save high-risk vulnerable missing people quickly, efficiently and safely. In that sense, the folks at Persimmon Homes are life savers.”