During the recent period of red weather warnings, Warwickshire Search and Rescue had the privilege of working alongside Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service to support water safety patrols across the county as part of the multi-agency response to a major incident. Our volunteers were proud to assist in helping keep local communities safe during these challenging conditions. We continue to strengthen our partnership with Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service and were delighted to support their Water Safety Day at Burton Farm Café on Saturday 25th July, marking World Drowning Prevention Day. the event provided a fantastic opportunity to engage with the public, promote vital water safety messages, and help raise awareness of the simple steps that can save lives.
Many people don’t even know that we exist. Find out more about who we are and how we work.
Who we are
Warwickshire Search and Rescue is one of more than 30 Lowland Rescue teams across the UK. Along with the other Lowland teams, we are part of the UK Search and Rescue framework together with organisations such as Mountain Rescue and the RNLI.
The team is made up of over 80 volunteers, so all donations go to the good cause—no salaries or expenses are paid to members. The team is based at Stoneleigh Park near Kenilworth. Our geographical reach covers Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull, and the eastern side of Birmingham.
Our purpose is to search for high-risk missing people. In a lowland setting, this is predominantly people living with dementia who have moved outside their normal safety net and those with severe mental health issues. People with suicidal intentions are our biggest category.
We are only tasked by the emergency services; we are not called out by the general public. All members are police vetted and highly trained in areas including search skills, navigation and first aid. We see ourselves as professional in all but pay.
Our default method of search is on foot, but we also search in water, from boats, from the air using drones, and with highly trained search dog and handler teams. In 2023 we became the first Lowland Rescue team to receive the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Despite providing an essential service, we receive no regular funding from government or the emergency services. Fundraising support from the community is therefore very highly appreciated.
Search and Rescue
Our highly trained volunteers search for vulnerable missing people in four principal ways.
Land Search
Searching on foot is our most common method of search. We tend to work in teams of four or five, with a team leader, navigator, medic and radio operator.
Drone Search
Several team members hold the General VLOS Certificate, allowing us to fly our thermal-imaging drone by day or night to search for missing people.
Dog Search
Our team has one of the very few scent-tracking dog and handler teams in UK Lowland Rescue. The dog takes the missing person’s scent from an article such as a T-shirt and follows the scent trail they have left.
Water Search
Water team members undertake significant additional training and use specialist equipment, including dry suits, so they can work safely in the water and from boats.
Our Team
All members of our team are unpaid volunteers from all life stages and backgrounds. They share a desire to help their community, work as a team and get outdoors. We are always on call to mobilise and search for a vulnerable missing person, whatever the weather or time of day or night.
Primary Team Roles
Licensed Search Technician
Every operational member trains and qualifies as a Licensed Search Technician. This usually takes 9–12 months. Training covers search skills, navigation, first aid, radio communication and crime-scene awareness. Once qualified, technicians deploy in small search teams when called out.
Team Leader
Experienced Licensed Search Technicians may be put forward to train as Team Leaders. A Team Leader allocates roles, briefs and debriefs the team, and provides leadership and decision-making throughout a tasking.
Search Planner
Search Planners are usually based in the control vehicle. They use police intelligence and information about the missing person to identify priority areas and develop the search plan.
Search Operations
Search Operations organise the people, communications and equipment needed to deliver the search plan. They allocate members to teams, brief and debrief leaders, maintain radio contact and coordinate supporting resources.
Support Member
Support Members help in many ways, from fundraising events and acting as missing people during exercises to driving vehicles, running welfare facilities, organising events and supporting social media.
Team Specialisms
Once qualified as a Licensed Search Technician, there are further skills we develop to improve our search capabilities, including:
Bank search (qualified and equipped to search at the water’s edge)
Kayak search
Swiftwater Rescue Technician (further qualified to be able to work in flowing, unpredictable water such as flooding)
Drone pilot
Search dog handler
Our Patron
We are extremely proud to have Tim Cox, Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, as Patron of Warwickshire Search and Rescue.
𝗧𝗶𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝘅, 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱:
“I am delighted to be Patron of Warwickshire Search and Rescue. The dedication and professionalism of its volunteers, and the vital support they provide to the emergency services, make a real difference to people at their moments of greatest need. I am proud to support an organisation that embodies public service, teamwork and community spirit across Warwickshire.”
Supporting the Emergency Services
We are only ever tasked by the emergency services, normally the police, or by the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Resilience Forum in the event of a major public emergency.
We can also be called out by neighbouring Search and Rescue teams when they need additional resources, and they provide the same support to us.
If someone you know is missing, dial 999 and ask for the police; if someone is in difficulty in inland water, ask for the fire service.
Warwickshire Police
Official website, contact information and public guidance.
Whatever your enquiry, we’d love to hear from you, so please get in touch. Please remember that we’re all volunteers and may not be able to respond immediately.
Address
Unit 70, 5th Street Stoneleigh Park Kenilworth United Kingdom
I have been aware of the excellent work being carried out by Warwickshire Search and Rescue for many years. The charity is supported by many volunteers who carry out such an important role within the community. I have enjoyed many events with them, and I am always very impressed with the individuals who show total commitment in their role in helping others. I was very pleased to present a King’s Award for Voluntary Service to them earlier this year on behalf of His Majesty The King.
Tim Cox Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
I’ve been delighted to be able to support Warwickshire Search and Rescue with funding to help both the purchase of their ICU vehicle and its subsequent equipping. Both myself and my Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner have taken part in training sessions with the team, so I know first-hand the dedication and expertise the volunteers all have. Policing regularly calls on the assistance of the lowland search teams for assistance in finding vulnerable missing persons, both on land and on our inland waterways. They provide skills, expertise and equipment that would not otherwise be readily available to Warwickshire Police, so Warwickshire SAR has been a very deserved recipient of my Grants Funding over several years.
Philip Seccombe Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire
WARKSAR bring people, skills and resources that are invaluable to Warwickshire Police and our communities. These come in the form of volunteers who are search-trained, trained to enter water, kayaks, drones, search coordination and specialist vehicles and boats. This is all provided without any government funding, provided by people who give up their time, often on top of full-time jobs. Although WARKSAR are a charity and entirely separate to the police, they frequently support us and mount a significant search team for high risk missing people and other welfare incidents. These volunteers are always positive and enthusiastic about searching for and rescuing people. They will often search far into the night despite inclement weather conditions to try and bring these searches to positive conclusions. Warwickshire Police are very grateful for all the support WARKSAR give in support of our communities.
Darren Webster Superintendent, Warwickshire Police
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service
In 2023, the team were extremely proud to be the first Lowland Rescue team to receive the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. The Crown refer to the award as “The MBE for Volunteer Groups”.
We receive no regular government funding. Donations provide specialist equipment, training, vehicle maintenance and essential resources for live searches.
£25 can help fuel a vehicle · £50 can provide vital rescue kit · £100 can support training.
If you think you might have what it takes to join the team, either as an operational member or a support member, please read through this page and register your interest.
Is this for you?
Joining a Lowland Rescue team is very rewarding but can also be demanding. For an operational role, consider whether you can:
Commit to fortnightly training sessions and assist with other team activities around Warwickshire.
Be called out in the middle of the night in all weathers.
Cope with getting cold, wet and dirty.
Deal with potentially hazardous situations while keeping yourself and team members safe.
Cover your own fuel costs and purchase personal kit.
Help with team fundraising.
Eligibility
Be aged 18 or over.
Be in good physical health with good eyesight.
Have a full UK driving licence and access to transport.
Be able to pass police vetting.
Successful candidates will have
Good judgement and mental resilience.
A positive attitude.
Physical fitness, including being able to walk 8 km in two hours in a rural setting.
A good ability to work as part of a team.
Desirable characteristics
Outdoor skills such as navigation.
Medical care experience.
Flexibility to deploy at any time.
Still interested?
We would love for you to join our team! We run yearly recruitment events where you can meet the team and find out more about how we operate.
It will be a full day event where you will need to demonstrate a basic level of fitness before you can train as a Search Technician. This involves being able to walk 5 kilometres in 2 hours with a bag full of equipment.
The Herbert Protocol helps police find people with dementia who go missing. Families and carers can record important information in advance so it is available quickly in an emergency.
Every member of Warwickshire Search and Rescue is a volunteer, and the only way we can continue to operate is with help and support from our community. Team members pay for their own clothing, fuel and equipment, while your support helps keep the team running, provides essential training and covers vital purchases.
Whenever you buy online, you could raise free donations for Warwickshire Search and Rescue through easyfundraising. Thousands of participating retailers make a donation without adding anything to your purchase price.
Ask your employer if they support payroll giving. This allows employees to donate regularly from payroll before tax is deducted. Some employers will also match your giving.
Our informative talks introduce groups to Lowland Rescue and can be tailored to your available time. We ask for a donation to the team at your discretion.
We would love to work with your business on a mutually beneficial sponsorship package, from simple publicity to multi-year support and team-building activities.
Individuals can support the team through a personal challenge or an organised event such as a run or cycle ride. Nominate Warwickshire Search and Rescue as your chosen charity.
Yesterday, Warwickshire Search and Rescue was proud to join the Kenilworth Mayor’s ‘Spin de Kenilworth Active Tour’ — and what a fantastic day it was! 🚴♀️🚴♂️
Working together as one big team, we collectively completed an incredible 458.3 miles over 8 hours.
A special mention must go to the Mayor, Alison, who personally cycled an impressive 133 miles — an outstanding achievement! 👏
The event was thoroughly enjoyable, with a fantastic atmosphere created by the many volunteers who came together throughout the day. It was a brilliant example of what can be achieved when our community works together towards a shared goal.
A huge thank you to all Warwickshire Search and Rescue members who gave their time to join us and take part. Your enthusiasm, teamwork and support helped make the day such a success.
458.3 miles. 8 hours. One incredible team. 💚
During the recent period of red weather warnings, Warwickshire Search and Rescue had the privilege of working alongside Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service to support water safety patrols across the county as part of the multi-agency response to a major incident. Our volunteers were proud to assist in helping keep local communities safe during these challenging conditions. We continue to strengthen our partnership with Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service and were delighted to support their Water Safety Day at Burton Farm Café on Saturday 25th July, marking World Drowning Prevention Day. the event provided a fantastic opportunity to engage with the public, promote vital water safety messages, and help raise awareness of the simple steps that can save lives.
