Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team

24/10/2026

24/10/2026

Mountain Rescue Awareness Day | 25th October 2026

Tomorrow is Mountain Rescue Awareness Day, and this year's message is simple:

Be Ready for the Unexpected.

As Storm Beolo brings severe gales and heavy rain across our region this weekend, we're reminded just how quickly conditions can change in the hills and mountains.

Our advice is straightforward: if you don't need to be out, stay at home. The hills will still be there when the weather improves.

Before heading outdoors, always check the forecast:

Met Office: www.metoffice.gov.uk Mountain Weather Information Service: www.mwis.org.uk

Mountain Rescue Awareness Day aims to:
- Encourage better preparation and safer decision-making
- Reduce preventable incidents and avoidable callouts
- Raise awareness of Mountain Rescue volunteers
- Support teams serving communities across England and Wales

Please help us spread the message and support your local Mountain Rescue team.

(Information from MREW )

24/10/2026

A Busy fortnight for Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team

Over a two week period, CVSRT volunteers have responded to a range of incidents across West Yorkshire, providing assistance to both Yorkshire Ambulance Service and West Yorkshire Police.

The callouts have taken the team from mountain bike trails and waterfalls to moorland footpaths and urban search areas, demonstrating the wide variety of situations mountain rescue volunteers are called upon to attend.

-
Havok Bike Park | 15:10 Sunday 27th September

The team was requested by Yorkshire Ambulance Service to assist a casualty who had fallen from a mountain bike at Havok Bike Park.

Due to the location within the trail network, team members worked alongside ambulance colleagues to access the casualty, provide assistance with treatment, and carry out an evacuation from the scene to onward medical care.

CVSRT in attendance: 16
Also in attendance: YAS
Duration of callout: 5 hrs 50 mins.

-
Hawksworth Shaw, Burley in Wharfedale | 10:51 Thursday 1st October

CVSRT was called by Yorkshire Ambulance Service to assist a walker who had collapsed while out in the Hawksworth Shaw area and was unable to continue. The team was stood down en route as YAS were able to deal with the casualty.

CVSRT in attendance: 14
Also in attendance: YAS
Duration of callout: 1 hr 9 mins.

-
Lumb Falls | 13:31 Sunday 4th October

The team was mobilised to Lumb Falls after a casualty sustained a lower leg injury following a fall. With the incident occurring in steep and challenging terrain, volunteers worked with Yorkshire Ambulance Service to conduct a careful evacuation to a waiting ambulance.

CVSRT in attendance: 14
Also in attendance: YAS
Duration of callout: 3 hrs 59 mins.

-
West Chevin, Otley | 14:14 Tuesday 6th October

Yorkshire Ambulance Service requested assistance for a casualty who had suffered a medical episode while out walking in the West Chevin area. Team members were stood down en route as YAS were able to reach the casualty.

CVSRT in attendance: 13
Also in attendance: YAS
Duration of callout: 45 minutes.

-
Harold Park, Low Moor, Bradford | 01:29 Sunday 11th October

In the early hours of Sunday morning, CVSRT was requested by West Yorkshire Police to assist with a search operation in the Harold Park area of Low Moor, Bradford. Volunteers carried out a systematic search of the designated area.

CVSRT in attendance: 20 and 2 search dogs
Also in attendance: West Yorkshire Police, WYFRS Drone Unit
Duration of callout: 5 hrs 41 mins.

-
Thank you to all our team members who continue to give up their time, day and night, to help those in need.

05/10/2026

Last weekend, eight members of Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team travelled to Italy to compete as two teams in the Dolomiti Rescue Race.

A huge congratulations to Calder Snakes and Snails for successfully completing the brutal 17km course. An outstanding achievement, and a moment of real pride as they represented MREW internationally.

The Dolomiti Rescue Race is one of the world’s most demanding mountain‑rescue competitions, held in the dramatic landscape of the Italian Dolomites. This year it brought together 78 teams from across Europe.

Far more than an endurance event, the race is designed to test a spectrum of mountain‑rescue skills under pressure over the route.

This year’s course pushed teams through an exceptionally steep ascent to Forcella Piria (2,180m), then onto a via ferrata across the Crode del Mandrin requiring a head for heights, precise footwork, and upper‑body strength, before moving onto a section of fixed ropes to aid descent back onto the mountain path.

The route towards Rifugio Antelao gave brief respite from the previous steep ascent, but this was short‑lived as before long teams found themselves ascending up to Cima Tranego (1,849m).

At this point teams were required to set up an abseil, all descend 60m safely, and then retrieve and repack their ropes.

Back on the path, teams descended steeply through the forest and onto a stretcher assembly and carry challenge near the finish, testing speed, coordination, and rescue‑readiness under pressure.

Against scorching temperatures and technical terrain, Calder Snakes and Snails delivered an exceptional performance.

Their effort reflects not only physical endurance, but the professionalism, teamwork, and spirit that define UK mountain rescue.

Thank you to the Dolomiti Recue Race, the volunteers and Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico - Station of Pieve di Cadore 2° Zona Delegazione Dolomiti Bellunesi for organising the race and for being so welcoming.

27/09/2026

Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team (CVSRT) is honoured to announce that Natalie Graves, the new Mayor of Luddenden, has chosen CVSRT as her charity of the year.

Natalie began her term on 12th September at the Mayor‑making ceremony in the village centre. CVSRT is especially meaningful to her, as her late husband Richard served with the team until his passing in 2018. Her son Jack will serve as Deputy Mayor.

The day’s events raised around £2,500 for local causes, including CVSRT, a fantastic achievement for the community.

We congratulate Natalie and wish her every success in the year ahead.

22/09/2026

Great to see so many orienteers out enjoying the local Moors.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19tBkNh9iK/

21/09/2026

Collection Boxes

Thank you to all the pubs, shops and businesses that host one of our collection boxes. They are a vital source of income for the Team and help us continue our work in the community.

Following our most recent collection of boxes, mainly in the Hebden Bridge and Ripponden areas, we are delighted to report that over £660 was raised.

We'd like to thank:

Blue Pig Midgeholes Wmc, The Old Bridge Inn (Ripponden), Valli Opticians, Innovation Cafe/Bar, Rohan (Hebden Bridge), Max's Jewellers, Blazing Saddles, Totally Screwed Hardware, Hebden Bridge Sports And Social Club, Olive’s Cafe Bistro (Mytholmroyd), and Engine Café (Dean Clough).

Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference and we are grateful for the continued support of these local businesses and their customers.

If your shop, café, pub or business would like to host one of our collection boxes, please get in touch at [email protected] and we'll be happy to arrange it.

20/09/2026

Thank You To Harveys of Halifax Department Store

We are very grateful to everyone at Harveys Department Store in Halifax for having chosen Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team as their Charity of the Month during June 2026.

Throughout the month, we had the opportunity to put up display boards around the store, and on special days team members and some of our amazing search dogs were there to meet shoppers, chat about what we do and answer questions about Mountain Rescue.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Harveys customers we raised an amazing £678.02 in donations. On top of that, we also sold £286 worth of CVSRT merchandise, helping to raise even more vital funds for the Team.

A special thank you to Tracy Harvey, Managing Director, and Christine Gow, Operations Manager, for all their help, encouragement and support in making the whole event happen. We really appreciate you giving us the opportunity to share what we do with your customers and the community.

And finally, thank you to everyone who stopped to chat, donated, bought merchandise or simply showed their support.

18/09/2026

The Yorkshire Tractor and Landrover Run is back on Sunday 27th September 2026 — raising funds for CVSRT’s 60th year!

Please see the poster below for all the details!

Every donation helps keep our volunteer team responding.

Donate: givey.com/theyorkshiretractorgroup

10/09/2026

Go Steve!

A huge thank you to Hebden Royd Town Council Mayor Cllr Steve Woodhead, who is running the Great North Run this Sunday (13th September) to raise vital funds for Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team.

This follows his granddaughter Winnie’s incredible 60‑mile cycle challenge in July, which raised nearly £4,000 for the team.

If you’d like to support the Mayor’s charity half marathon, you can sponsor him here:
https://gvwhl.com/O8JUC

https://www.facebook.com/share/19GHzkFBRe/

🏃 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆! 🏃

On Sunday 13th September, the Mayor of Hebden Royd Town Council, Cllr Steve Woodhead, will be taking part in the Great North Run to raise funds for Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team (CVSRT).

CVSRT is a 100% volunteer-run charity that saves lives in wild, remote, and urban environments. Operating on behalf of West Yorkshire Police, they provide crucial emergency support, including missing person searches, swift-water rescue, and technical crag evacuations.

You can sponsor the Mayor's charity half marathon in aid of CVSRT here ➡️ https://gvwhl.com/O8JUC

Each Mayor choses a charity to support throughout their Mayoral year. This year, our Mayor Cllr. Steve Woodhead has chosen to support CVSRT because they provide a vital lifesaving service in our beautiful but often challenging landscape.

The Mayor’s half marathon comes hot on the heels of his Consort and granddaughter Winnie Woodhead’s cycle challenge in July. Cycling 60 miles from Mytholmroyd to Manchester, 8-year-old Winnie raised nearly £4,000 for CVSRT!

The Mayor’s future fundraising events include a Charity Quiz on Wed 20th January at Olive’s Cafe Bistro in Mytholmroyd, and a Ceilidh at Mytholmroyd Community Centre on Saturday 20th March. Both events are open to all and tickets will be available soon!

Sponsor the Mayor’s charity half marathon:
https://gvwhl.com/O8JUC