Berkshire Lowland Search & Rescue (SEBEV) are celebrating today after receiving a grant of approx. £10,000 from the Awards for All, Big Lottery Fund.

The grant will be used to overhaul the teams navigation systems, providing new GPS (Global Position System) units as well as the technology to track the search teams in real-time, state of the art mapping software and new laptops to run it all on.

Search & Rescue teams use GPS technology to enhance their navigation skills making searches faster and more efficient which in turn increases the chances of saving lives. The grant will also enable the team to purchase the sophisticated Search & Rescue management software packages SARMAN and Quo. All the software and hardware will be purchased from Mapyx UK who supply specialist mapping technology to many UK SAR teams.

Kris Manning, team Chairman said “We are delighted to have received this grant which will enable us to update our equipment. Our current GPS units are reaching the end of their useful life and the technology has moved on. The grant will bring us up to date and the new functionality will enable us to see where our search teams are at all times on a moving map. This live tracking ability enables us to plan and control searches more efficiently. Our service saves lives, and this grant will enable us to improve our ability to do that”

SEBEV Search & Rescue are the oldest lowland Search & Rescue team in the UK and have been providing services to the Berkshire and Thames Valley communities since 1980. The main functions of the team are to assist Thames Valley Police in the search for missing persons (such as children and dementia sufferers) in Berkshire and the surrounding counties, and also to provide support for the local authorities and the statutory emergency services during civil emergencies in the area. The 50 strong team, based at Easthampstead Park in Wokingham, is available 24 hours a day to search for missing persons. The team is made up wholly of unpaid volunteers who manage their time with search & rescue around work and family commitments.

SEBEV Search & Rescue is always recruiting for operational members and also admin support roles such as PR or fundraising that would suit somebody who wants to be involved but doesn’t want to be a fully operational Search Technician. Full training is given and the team meets at their HQ on the Wokingham/Bracknell border every Thursday evening.

Full details are on our website at www.sebev.co.uk or you can email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-13742804