Heart Reports - S.O.S - Supporting Our Saviours

This week on Heart, we talk to people in the North West and Wales who give up their time to help others.

Heart's reporters in the North West and Wales have been out with some people who give up their time to help others, saving lives and making sure people stay safe.

Each day this week we'll be talking to Territorial Army soldiers, special constables, RNLI lifeguards, mountain rescuers air ambulance teams.

 

Soldiers in BirkenheadDay 1 - The Territorial Army

For 22 years Kevin Rogan from the Wirral has been a TA soldier in Birkenhead.  As a civilian he is an electrian but is a Squadron Sergeant Major in Birkenhead.

Currently around 300 TA soldiers are serving in Afghanistan.

Kevin has been talking to Heart's Andy Downton about his family link to the army, and his job in Afghanistan.

Day 1 - The Territorial Army

If you're interested in a career in the TA, call 0151 652 2392, go to www.army.mod.uk/join or go to your nearest army careers office.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Day 2 - Mountain Rescue

The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team are on call 24 hours day including Christmas.

They are based in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park and can be called out to everything from a lost walker who just needs some guidance down the mountains to a 12 hour operation because a climber has become trapped with injuries.

They’re experts but they give their time for free, the team includes everything from surgeons to tree surgeons.

They do get some money from the government but it’s just £13,000 and they need £90,000 to survive.

As part of Heart's "S O S – Supporting Our Saviours" Week reporter Alex Davies headed to the Ogwen base to meet the team.

Day 2 - Mountain Rescue

Day 3 - Wales Air Ambulance

Air AmbulanceWales Air Ambulance is a charity and is totally funded by the public's generosity.

Their main aim is to reach, treat and transport patients with the greatest speed possible. Within 3 minutes of receiving an emergency call - the helicopter is airborne.

The team responds to more than one thousand calls every year... around 40 percent of them are road traffic collisions.

As part of Heart's "S O S – Supporting Our Saviours" Week reporter Natasia Moore headed to Caernarfon Airport to meet the team.

Day 3 - Air Ambulance 

Day 4 – The RNLI

RNLINationally in 2010, nearly 9000 people were saved around the UK by the volunteers of the RNLI.

So far this year the crew at the Hoylake Lifeboat Station on the Wirral have been called out on eight lifesaving missions, with volunteers on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Steve Armitage, 57, has been with the team for more than 30 years, he’s been telling Heart about his role, and why he does it.

Day 4 - The RNLI

Day 5 - Special Constables

police genericThey dress like police officers and have the same powers as them, but special constables volunteer their time to help their community.

Across Merseyside there are 520 special constables.

Natasia Moore spent the evening with a special team in Wallasey on the Wirral one Friday night.