A RESCUE organisation has been boosted by a top award and a £1,000 donation.

The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) was awarded the Caroline Symes Memorial Bowl at a ceremony in Gloucester organised by Gloucestershire Police and the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl.

The trophy recognises those who carry out outstanding work in the voluntary sector and is presented on behalf of the Symes family in memory of their daughter Caroline, who was a serving officer with the force.

SARA executive land search manager John Dutton said: “This award acknowledges the commitment, both training and responding to callouts, by all SARA volunteers in supporting the police.

“We are especially grateful to the families of SARA volunteers, whose support is essential in allowing the volunteers to be so responsive.”

Sgt Jim Griffiths, a trained police search adviser who works alongside SARA, said: “SARA are without a doubt for me the best search resource that I have got in terms of missing person searches.

“They are not only doing searches for missing people, but they rescue people. Quite simply, without SARA, we could not be anywhere near as effective at searching as we are now.”

SARA, which operates out of its Beachley boathouse and other centres, has been saving lives since 1973, and is routinely called upon to help search for missing people in situations that require a complex skill set – such as searching water, marshland or difficult, steep and remote terrain.

The organistaion has also been boosted by receiving £1,000 from housebuilder Barratt Homes’ Community Fund.

The money will be spent on specialist clothing and equipment for the lifeboat and land search teams and vehicles.

Steve Williams, Bar-ratt Homes’ managing director, said: “We are proud to be able to support such a worthy cause, and one which directly benefits people living in the local area.

“The volunteers who carry out rescue operations, education and training for the SARA charity are truly everyday heroes, and very deserving of this donation. As an established part of the Monmouthshire community, with new homes developments nearby, we are delighted to be able to help the charity with its life saving work.”

Charles Phillips, a volunteer fundraiser for SARA, said: “We were delighted to hear that we had been chosen for this donation.

“We are a self-funded organisation run entirely by volunteers and are totally reliant on donations, sponsorships, gifts, legacies and grant income.

“We are very grateful for this vital support.

“SARA was founded in 1973 and is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“We have around 170 volunteers who provide services including lifeboat rescue, cliff rescue, land search and rescue, and mud and swift water rescue.

“Providing these services requires high levels of training to the same professional standards as the em- ergency services, and we are very proud to support our local communities in this way.”

Last year, SARA teams attended more than 100 call outs, 56 lifeboat launches, 37 land searches and 24 inland water operations, as well as providing water safety training and education for schools and other local groups.

Barratt Homes’ Community Fund is a dedicated financial resource that helps to support local causes which improve the quality of life for those living in the region.

Organisations can apply for one of the monthly grants by emailing   bdwswcomm [email protected] with details of the charity or organisation and how the donation would benefit the local community and improve lives.