From defibrillators to drones, the Alpkit Foundation funds the small pieces of kit that keep volunteer mountain rescue and first aid teams operating across the UK.
Mountain rescue teams and first aid charities in the UK run almost entirely on volunteers and donations. No central government funding, no guaranteed budget for new equipment, just people who give up their time and hope the kit holds out. The Foundation's smallest grants often go here: not towards a big adventure, but towards the gear that lets someone else's adventure end safely.
Two defibrillators for Edale
Edale Mountain Rescue covers one of the busiest patches of the Peak District, called out to walkers, climbers, mountain bikers and fell runners with no funding from the government and a team built entirely of volunteers. A Foundation grant helped fund two new defibrillators, meaning every vehicle and first response bag could carry one.
The team's needs didn't stop there. As call numbers kept climbing (107 incidents in one year, according to team member Dave Torr), a second grant went towards a lighter, smaller defibrillator that let the team pack faster and cover ground more quickly. It takes 18 to 24 months to qualify as a full Edale team member, and that training shows in how precisely the kit gets used when it matters.
St John Ambulance in Derbyshire
Away from the hills, St John Ambulance volunteers cover local and community events across Derbyshire, and were working through 25 obsolete defibrillators in need of replacement. Alison, who applied on the charity's behalf, put the stakes plainly.
"Every year in the UK, thousands of people die needlessly when first aid could have given them the chance to live. It really will benefit so many members of the public and give our volunteers the confidence to step forward and save lives."
A Foundation grant covered the cost of one replacement unit, a small contribution towards the £20,000 the charity is raising to replace the rest.
Eyes in the sky
Search and Rescue Aerial Association Scotland trains drone pilots for mountain rescue teams across the country: 19 pilots and 21 drones between nine Scottish teams so far. A £200 grant turned a donated drone that had only been useful for training into a fully operational unit. Chair Tom Nash explained what that unlocked.
"The award allowed us to purchase the additional items that have turned a drone that was only useful for training into a fully operational equipment set. By being able to get the immersive goggles for the sensor operator, additional batteries to extend flying time and a smart controller that allows full system feedback to the pilot, it means that it can now be used on live mountain rescue callouts, searches and risk reduction for volunteer team members."
The unit has since gone out with Skye Mountain Rescue Team, who are building their own drone capability, meaning one grant ended up benefiting two teams.
Kitting out for the worst of it
Lomond Mountain Rescue Team has covered over 1,000 square miles of Central Scotland's most popular mountain area since 1967. During one of its busiest years yet, with 51 callouts, the team needed extra protective equipment simply to keep carrying out stretcher work and casualty care safely. Team treasurer Sue explained what that meant in practice.
"We have to treat each rescuee or casualty carefully, wear the appropriate protective kit, and use sanitisers, while trying to maintain the best distancing we can, not always easy when stretcher carrying! Heavy duty protective gloves that don't split when carrying stretchers have also proved useful."
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs sees two million visitors a year, and the West Highland Way alone draws 60,000 walkers. Every one of those visitors relies, whether they know it or not, on a volunteer team having the right kit on hand.
None of this is glamorous. Nobody applies to the Foundation hoping to talk about defibrillator batteries or drone goggles. But it's the reason someone gets found, or gets treated in time, or gets carried off a hill safely. If your team is running short on the kit that keeps you operating, find out how to apply.