In the news

This week, Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team were very pleased to announce a significant donation in the funding of their planned new radio communications system.

Leading walking & activity tour operator HF Holidays donated £16,582 from their Pathways Fund to help replace the Team’s existing analogue radio system with digital one. As a co-operative society with over 900 volunteer walk-leaders itself, HF Holidays recognise the commitment and dedication of volunteer-led services and know the funds will be greatly welcome

“The replacement of analogue VHF with a digital radio system has been progressing around England and Wales over the last couple of years, and as a region, we have been following developments keenly, hoping to learn from the experiences of other areas”, said Team Treasurer Graham O’Hanlon. “In North Wales, the system was trialled by Llanberis Team, one of the busiest in the country, and with a positive response from them, we decided it was time to get the ball rolling for our team.”

“While analogue systems work over a limited range and on a “line of sight” basis, the digital system and associated repeater network will allow communications to move via the internet over greater distances and access areas that were historically blackspots with no coverage. The HF donation will enable us to build such a network.” 

“The Team has had a long-standing association with our local HF Hotel, Dolserau Hall, with volunteers giving presentations about the Team’s work on a regular basis, but this donation was still completely unexpected. It has been a fantastic boost to our project at a time when fundraising opportunities for the Team have been severely restricted and money is tight all around. We know that there are lots of deserving causes out there and are grateful that HF chose to support us.”