We’re proud to announce the relaunch of the Ruth Lee Volunteer Heroes for 2025! This program is our way of giving back to the incredible volunteer rescue teams that dedicate their time and expertise to keeping our communities safe.
What is the Volunteer Heroes Fund?
The Volunteer Heroes Fund was established in 2017 as part of Ruth Lee’s commitment to supporting the rescue community. Since its inception, the fund has provided training resources and financial support to volunteer rescue teams across the globe, empowering them to improve their training exercises and ultimately save more lives.
Over the years, we’ve helped hundreds of volunteers by donating rescue manikins, equipment and funds, enabling volunteers to train realistically for a variety of life-saving scenarios.
A Look Back at 2024
Last year, Volunteer Heroes extended its reach internationally, focusing on supporting teams in North America and Europe with the help of our trusted distributors, ALG Safety in Canada and Rescue-tec in Germany. Their collaboration was instrumental in providing critical training manikins to volunteer teams, helping them enhance their operational readiness.
ALG Safety identified deserving teams across Canada, while Rescue-tec connected us with incredible groups in Germany and beyond. Their efforts enabled us to make a real impact on rescue communities worldwide. ALG Safety’s post and Rescue-tec’s website showcase some of the remarkable teams we supported.
Bringing the Fund Back to the UK for 2025
For 2025, we’re bringing Volunteer Heroes back to its roots in the UK. We know that many British volunteer rescue teams are self-funded and rely on donations to purchase operational and training equipment. This year, we’re proud to offer support in the form of Ruth Lee training manikins, designed to enhance the realism and effectiveness of team drills.
How the Fund Works
The Volunteer Heroes fund is open to all UK-based volunteer rescue teams. Applicants will have the opportunity to share their stories, explain which manikins they would like, and detail how the donations can support their life-saving work.
In February 2025, we will review all applications and allocate the fund to support as many teams as possible. While the exact distribution will depend on the number of applicants, we aim to split the resources across multiple teams to ensure widespread support.
How to Apply
Applying for the fund is simple. Visit our Volunteer Heroes page and complete the online application form by 31st January 2025. There’s no catch – just tell us why your team deserves the support and how it would make a difference to your operations.
Join the Community
Ruth Lee’s Volunteer Heroes is more than just a grant – it’s a way to highlight and celebrate the vital work of volunteer rescue teams. Winning teams will also be featured in our PR and promotional materials, helping raise awareness of their incredible contributions and inspiring further support.
Let’s Make a Difference Together
At Ruth Lee, we’re committed to supporting the heroes who make a difference every day. If your team is a UK-based volunteer rescue group, we encourage you to apply and join the ranks of the inspiring teams we’ve supported over the years.
Applications close 31st January 2025 – don’t miss your chance to be part of something amazing!
