UK SAR Volunteer Training Fund

Grants available

Grants are available from the UKSAR Volunteer Training Fund (UKSAR VTF) to support UK Search and Rescue (SAR) organisations with the training costs of their operational volunteers. Training must improve both the capability of the organisation and its volunteers, and reflect the proven operational need in the local area.

We will prioritise applications which focus on high quality operational search and rescue training. Due to the pressures faced by SAR teams during the pandemic, we are particularly interested in:

• core skills training for new or existing volunteers, linked to proven operational need in the local area
• avoiding skills fade for existing volunteers, caused by delays or reduction of training opportunities during the pandemic
• revalidation of core training for existing volunteers
• training which incorporates appropriate wellbeing approaches

In addition, skills cascade training, ‘Train the Trainer’ opportunities and cross-team collaboration, which seek to future-proof a team’s training needs to a reasonable extent, will be viewed positively. However, we recognise that this is useful but not always possible in every situation.

Please note, limited funds are available and unfortunately we will not be able to award grants to all organisations which apply, however partial grants may be made.

All training must be completed between April 2022 and March 2023.

What training costs can be funded?

• Operational training for SAR volunteers in the UK which directly correlates with specific operational needs in the local area.
• Courses related to the training of operational SAR volunteers, which are central to your activities
• Hiring external trainers for course delivery
• Administration costs, if essential to training courses
• Volunteers’ travel costs and accommodation when this is integral to the training itself. You will need to provide a clear explanation and breakdown of costs. If accommodation costs are not integral to the training, you must fund these separately.
• Costs of training equipment (eg manikins or training defibrillators)
• 75% of the costs of the training
• Training costs incurred between April 2022 and March 2023

A breakdown of training costs must be provided. Partial funding may be made.

In order to ensure that the greatest number of teams can be supported with the funds available this year, the Fund will provide up to 75% of training costs. We encourage all SAR charities to develop a variety of sustainable ways to fund their training and therefore we require all applicants to commit 25% of the costs of training. This is a change from 80%/20% in previous years. 

Due to the wide range of size of organisations that apply to the UKSAR Volunteer Training Fund, there is not currently an upper limit for grant requests. We expect requests for support to be a minimum of £1,000, depending on need, scale and impact. The decision making process will review value for money to ensure that funds are used effectively.

Important: Before you apply

Application process

If previously funded through this scheme, applicants must have completed prior reporting requirements (ie, on what training was delivered or is planned between April 2020-March 2022).

All organisations must complete the online application form by the deadline. This asks for core information about your charity and includes questions to help us understand what support you need and why, and what difference a grant would make to your volunteers and to your community. We also ask how you will fund the required 25% of the costs and whether your organisation is developing a longer-term plan for your training needs. We will check the documents you provide, and review your Charity Commission records, website and other publicly available information.

How to apply