A VITAL mountain rescue service that covers a large chunk of Powys has hit its £1 million fundraising target in under 6 months.

Brecon Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) launched a public appeal in June hoping to raise the £1.1million needed for to build a new headquarters on the outskirts of Brecon.

The team announced earlier this week the crowdfunder has been successful and the project can now go ahead.

Brecon MRT leader, Rob Powell, said: “We are thrilled that we finally have the funds to build our new headquarters.

“Our members have been planning this for many years and it is wonderful that it is now going to happen.

“We are so very grateful to the many people who have helped us to achieve this and those who have displayed great generosity. It means that our dedicated volunteers can continue saving lives throughout Mid Wales, for many decades to come."

County Times: An artist's impression of the new HQ An artist's impression of the new HQ

The dedicated team of volunteers provide an emergency rescue service 24-hours a day, 365 days-a-year – saving the lives of those most in need, throughout Mid Wales. The growing demand for their help means they are in urgent need of a new base.

For the past year the team have been raising funds for the project and have successfully secured grants and donations, including the public fundraising appeal.

This will enable them to respond more quickly to emergencies, train as one team together and expand their community educational activities. The new HQ will also have a training room available for other community organisations to use for their own purposes.

Rob added: “We can access places that no other service can reach. As well as finding, treating, and rescuing walkers, climbers, fell-runners, mountain bikers and kayakers, we also help the most vulnerable in our communities – people living with dementia, people suffering with their mental health, flood victims and missing adults and children.”

Planning permission for the new building, which will be on the same site as the existing one on the Ffrwdrech Industrial Estate, has already been granted, and the team are hoping that work will begin in the spring, to be completed by the end of 2023.

County Times: Brecon Mountain Rescue Team in action Brecon Mountain Rescue Team in action

The team still need to continue their fundraising efforts as they have to raise £55,000 themselves, every year for their day-to-day operating costs, as they receive no government or external funding and operate entirely on a voluntary basis.

In addition, although the £1.1m total project cost includes a contingency, the current economic crisis which has seen costs rise dramatically, means that the team want to boost funds further in order to create a comfortable cushion for the project.

To find out more about how you can support Brecon MRT, visit www.breconmrt.co.uk. To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/breconmrt/donate.