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The Permanent Base - Update January 2026

Finally, after a 10-year journey, the build is well under way next to the current rental base at Foxfield.  We have a fixed-price contract, including ground works and contingencies.  The final cost is approximately double that expected in 2019, prior to the Lockdown and an imposed delay due to access issues. We expect to occupy the new building in early/mid-2026.

We have raised £1M over 10 years, which with further grants due from Mountain Rescue, the Sir John Fisher Foundation (2nd tranch) and the South Copeland GDF Community Partnership we have the build covered. Our supporters have been magnificent and raised a further £130,000 during 2025 largely through smallish donations from hundreds of supporters, as well as grants to the build of £260,000 from the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, the Sir John Fisher Foundation (1st tranch), Burnard Sunley Charitable Foundation and Frieda Scott Charitable Trust.  While the build is covered we still need to fit it out, cover £50,000 annual running costs and both our Land Rovers are over 15 years old so the need for fundraising continues.

Why do we need a permanent base?  We are the only team in the Lake District not to have purpose a built base and the current one is inadequate in terms of storing and drying kit, warm areas for training and welfare and the ability to conduct multi-agency/team incidents.

                    

                         Briefing at the current Base                                 Unacceptable Warm Room                              Inaccessible Storage

    

                    Eventual views of Black Combe                      A sigh of relief as we progress to ground level                         As at December 2025

 Introduction

 Mountain Rescue is a voluntary organisation primarily helping hill-goers in need but tasked to any areas inaccessible to the Ambulance Service, in particular.

You should get the basic idea of how the team operates from this site. Current news is updated regularly on our Facebook page.

The Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team was formed in 2003 from an amalgamation of "Furness" and "Millom" MRT's.  We have a current average of 42 call-outs each year, working on our own or with our neighbours: Wasdale, Coniston and Kendal MRTs.

                              

                                Briefing in the Duddon Valley                                                            Wheeling a casualty down to Wasdale Head

Team Members

Team members are drawn from across the area and come from all walks of life. The team benefits greatly from members whose professional skills are used to influence training, such as doctors, teachers, engineers and outdoor instructors.  Currently we have a healthy active callout list of 35 male and female members, but look to appoint new probationary members twice a year. Anyone interested in joining will find further information under training and should contact the team secretary - links. 

Funding

As a registered charity (CIO) the team is totally reliant on donations.  Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association (LDSAMRA) provides some grants, but the majority of our income comes from our own fundraising activity and donations.  Some of our equipment, and in particular medical and technical rescue equipment, has a short life due to the need for absolute reliability. Add to this the costs of maintaining and replacing 3 vehicles means there is a need for a steady funding inflow. Our annual running cost is around £42,000, plus £10,000 towards future replacement vehicles. You can make a donations online via the Donate Now page or as one of our Supporters. 

Team Bases & Vehicles

The team has its base at Foxfield, near Broughton in Furness, from where most of our training and callouts are run.   The Team has 2 Land Rover Defenders and a 9 seater Ford Transit, all able to carry a stretchered casualty to a point of transfer to an Ambulance Service vehicle.

                                                     

                                   Using the Transit as a  control  vehicle                                                                             Helicopter  training

 

Public Relations

Members regularly give talks about the team and its activities to schools, clubs and societies. We host visits to our base by youth groups and usually attend the Millom and Brought Show as well as occasional one-off large events in our area.  We act as marshals on the Fred Whitton Cycle Challenge, the Keswick-to-Barrow Walk and fell races in our area but only provide medical assistance when called-out by the Police, following a 999 call.

                                     

    Wild GOAT Festival - Charity Partner - 131 May - 2 Jun 2024 - Holker Hall                                                        Local Guides visit Base

 

Annual Newsletter

 

 Download the team's latest newsletter.

 

Other Organisations

The Duddon and Furness MRT is a member of and contributes to LDSAMRA (the umbrella organisation for Mountain Rescue in the Lake District) and Mountain Rescue England and Wales (the national Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales). 

 

Communications Equipment Development

Recently support from local companies has permitted the installation of a new radio communication system in the area, giving a more complete area coverage and eliminating many communication black spots, allowing individual team members to speak to each other with greater clarity and reliability. The team are thankful for support received from the following companies: