Meet the team
West Mercia Search & Rescue is run by volunteers.
From the trustees who govern the charity to the search technicians who wade through rivers at 3am, every single person gives their time for free.
Our current team stands at over 80 members, spread across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. We are teachers, engineers, office workers, tradespeople, retired professionals, students and everything in between. The one thing we all have in common is that when the phone rings, we go.
Trustees
Our board of trustees oversees the strategic direction, financial management and governance of the charity. Trustees serve in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration, payment or benefit. Our trustees have included a retired Chief Fire Officer of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, a retired senior police officer, a solicitor and experienced search and rescue professionals.
Operational leads
Our operational leads run the team on the ground. Search managers plan and command each callout, training leads take new recruits through to operational standard, and separate leads run our water operations and drone teams. Every one of them holds the role alongside a full-time job.
The wider team
Behind every search are dozens of people you will never see on the news. Support technicians managing logistics and communications. Fundraisers organising events and writing grant applications. Community ambassadors spreading the word. Trainers developing the next generation of search technicians. The administrative team keeping the charity compliant and operational.
None of them are paid. All of them are essential.
