Volunteer search group given financial support from pandemic fuel offer

A generous offer by fuel company BP at the start of the pandemic lockdown is set to financially support a local volunteer search and rescue organisation for the next three years.

SuLSAR, Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue, will benefit from savings made by the Constabulary following an offer by BP to cover the cost of fuel for police vehicles at various periods during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The majority of the savings made by the Constabulary have been awarded to SuLSAR to support their search and rescue work which provides a valuable, free and 24/7 service to the Constabulary when vulnerable adults and children go missing.

The £30k grant will give SuLSAR £10k a year over three financial years and will make a significant contribution to the organisation’s running costs.

Tim Passmore said, “I am very proud that my office has supported SuLSAR for several years since I became PCC. They are an exceptionally dedicated group of volunteers and their expertise has saved many lives right across the county.

He added, “BP’s generous show of support to our blue-light services during a time of national crisis was fantastic and I am I extremely grateful. It showed everyone was willing to do their bit, in whatever way they could, to support the nation as we navigated our way through the pandemic.

“I am very pleased that the savings made from BP’s support has been put to such good use. This grant will give SuLSAR much greater certainty for the foreseeable future, which is great news.”

Andy King, Chairman from SuLSAR said, “We thank the PCC very much for this very generous and kind financial donation following much reduced funds during the pandemic. This grant covers a significant part of our annual running costs, which greatly reduces the burden on the team of raising these costs. This will enable us to concentrate our efforts on training even harder to locate and recover more missing and vulnerable people.”