YORK Rescue Boat (YRB) has launched a drive to raise £7,400 to equip and train a new kayak search team.

The funding will provide an additional 4 specialist kayaks and related equipment including paddles, helmets and protective equipment as well as specialist training.

YRB volunteer search and rescue team responds to emergencies on and around both of York’s rivers 24/7 365 days a year. In 2020, the team responded to an average of one call out per week often assisting the search for missing persons along riverbanks, lakes and ponds, sometimes in darkness and in shallow water which is unsuitable for bigger boats to access. The charity is building a kayak search team that will be able to access these areas.

Dave Horn, Operational Director for the charity said: “As a charity, we rely on the generosity of members of the public, every member of the team are volunteers with no paid staff.

“With your help and working with the Aviva community fund we are hoping to raise £7,400 to enable us to equip the team. The funding will help to provide an additional four specialist kayaks and related equipment including paddles, helmets and protective equipment as well as specialist training for our team.

“We appreciate that the ongoing pandemic has caused financial uncertainty for everyone and especially for charities, which is why we’re so grateful for any and all support we receive; using the Aviva Community Fund to assist us in the fundraising is going to get us a long way to realising our goal.”

Go to https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/york-rescue-boat---helping-to-make-york-safe?tk=1d52c51e24e2e2265b59959be1f3fadb2efe80ce