AFTER MANY, many years of dreaming and planning South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team (SSSART) team has been able to realise it’s dream of building a garage to house its response vehicles and equipment, enabling the team to speed up response times and keep the vehicles on the road for longer.
Previously the mountain rescue volunteers had no garage or facility to house their two vehicles, meaning that vital and potentially life saving equipment had to be unloaded and reloaded for each call out. With no garage, the customised response vehicles were also stored outdoors and open to the elements – reducing their potential life expectancy.
The new garage has solved all these issues, enabling the vehicles to be securely stored, fully equipped, and ready to respond when needed, and has the additional bonus of a drying room (essential after those bad weather call outs).
Mountain rescue services are provided entirely by volunteers who give up their free time to help people lost or stranded. Volunteers train regularly to maintain their skills, and balance this with a career and family commitments, ensuring they are ready and available to respond any time of the day or night, any time of year, and whatever the weather.
The costs of mountain rescue services – deploying to rescue someone in difficult circumstances, maintaining equipment and a base, and weekly training including advanced first aid skills, are largely met through fund raising by the volunteer responders and donations.
So, it has taken a huge amount of work from members of the team, contractors and supporters to get to this point and the team would like to celebrate this achievement and also say thank you to everyone who has helped to make the vision a reality .
The garage was made possible thanks to a major grant from Gwynedd Council (via the UK Government), which covered 80% of the cost. The remaining funds were raised by the team and the local community. Additional support came from Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS),
Who provided a team of skilled electricians from the site to carry out all the electrical work for the garage, donating their time and expertise to support the project.
In addition, NRS awarded a grant through its Socio-Economic Scheme, specifically the Good Neighbour Fund, to purchase essential waterproof clothing for the volunteers—ensuring they are properly equipped to respond safely and effectively in challenging conditions.
Trawsfynydd Site Director, Tom Williams said: “At NRS, we are proud to support the incredible work of South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team.
“By providing skilled volunteers from our Trawsfynydd site and funding essential waterproof clothing through our Good Neighbour Fund, we’ve helped ensure the team can respond more quickly and safely to those in need.
“This new facility is a testament to the power of community collaboration, and we’re pleased to have played a part in making it a reality.”
Team Leader, Kirstie Lumsdon said: “The new garage facility will make such a difference in many ways. The team will have a base, and will not have to unload and reload an array of complex equipment for each callout, and those who need us can expect a faster response time as a result.
“Our thanks go to everyone who contributed in any way to make this happen. Your generosity has made a difference and will contribute to reducing harm and potentially saving lives. Thank you!”
The garage was officially opened on Saturday, July 5. The event was attended by supporters, team members, those involved with the build, members of the local community and local politicians, including local MP, Liz Saville-Roberts. The garage was officially opened by Marie Neuville – wife of deputy team leader Paul Hickson who died in 2023 and whose family and friends raised an amazing £12k in his memory to help realise the garage dream.
Kirstie said “While Paul continues to be much missed by many, it is wonderful that his legacy can live on in the new garage, and be a lasting tribute to his commitment and work for mountain rescue.
“We cannot thank his friends and family enough for their contribution, and we were delighted to welcome Marie, his wife, to officially open the new facility.”
SSSART is a registered charity which operates in the south of Snowdonia’s national park. It comprises a team of around 40 people who can be called upon by North Wales Police to respond to a mountain rescue, to help search for and locate missing or vulnerable people, as well as being trained in water based rescues in the area’s lakes and rivers.
The team cover an area of around 800 square kilometres comprising the Rhinogydd and the Arenig mountain ranges, as well as large areas of moorland and farmland. They are one of nine teams covering the North Wales area as part of North Wales Mountain Rescue Association (NWMRA).
However, the work does not end there! The team never stops needing to fundraise, and attention has now turned to replacing one of the response vehicles which is nearing the end of its usefulness. If you can help SSSART continue on its fundraising journey – please donate via the SSSART team website.
