Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA)

21/09/2026

🚨 COULD YOU BE OUR NEXT TEAM MEMBER? 🚨

Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association is looking for new volunteers! ⛰️

Ever wondered what it would be like to be part of a team that helps people when they need it most?

You don’t need to be an experienced rescuer. What you do need is commitment, teamwork, a willingness to learn and a desire to help others. 🤝

Our volunteers train together, support each other and respond to incidents across Yorkshire, primarily the Dales — often in challenging conditions and at all hours.

It’s demanding. It’s rewarding. It’s a chance to learn new skills, make lifelong friends and become part of something that genuinely matters. ❤️

🥾 THINK YOU COULD BE PART OF THE TEAM?

👉 APPLY TO JOIN US HERE:

🔗 https://uwfra.org.uk/join/

Click the link above to find out more and complete the application form.

You could be the person someone needs on their worst day.

Please SHARE this post and help us reach someone who could make a real difference. 🙌

When people think of mountain rescue, they often picture dramatic rescues on the fells. While callouts are an important part of what we do, they are only a small part of being a member of the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association.

06/09/2026

Call out 41
5th September 26
Angram Reservoir

10 team members
3 hours and 25 minutes

At 10:30am the team was called to assist a lone walker who had slipped and fallen on steep banking at the west end of Angram Reservoir.

Ten team members were assigned, with one off-site controller and nine travelling in two team vehicles towards the casualty location.

The team rendezvoused with two YAS crew members at the head of the reservoir.

All three vehicles crossed the reservoir and were able to get within one mile of the casualty before continuing on foot across rough, mixed, and uneven terrain, carrying the stretcher and medical equipment.

The team and YAS crew reached the casualty at 11:45.

Our Remote Rescue Medical Technicians worked alongside YAS to assess and treat the casualty, who was conscious but in pain.

Pain relief and a leg splint were provided before the casualty was placed onto the stretcher.

The narrowness of the foot bridge meant the evacuation involved crossing a stream and ascending a steep bank, where the stretcher wheel was attached to assist with the mile‑long transport back to the waiting ambulance.

Once at the roadside, the YAS crew completed packaging and transferred the casualty to the hospital.

We would like to thank YAS for their excellent teamwork and wish the casualty a speedy recovery.

29/08/2026

Call out 40
29th August 26
Pinhaw

The team was called out on request of the Yorkshire ambulance service to come to the aid of an injured mountain biker.

Initially the call came through to a location near Glusburn but after utilising our phone find tool we ascertained the location to be on Pinhaw.

Luckily a member of one of our neighbouring teams, Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team was near the biker and was able to confirm to both the ambulance service and UWFRA that the casualty had a lot of rib & pelvic pain and had an elevated breathing rate.

Once on scene the team assisted the ambulance crew and lifted the casualty on to our wheeled stretcher for onward mobilisation to the waiting Road ambulance.

We wish the mountain biker a speedy recovery.

And thank you to the Mountain rescue team member in your invaluable assistance.

28/08/2026

🏔️🧡💙 International Mountain Rescue Day 💙🧡🏔️

Today is a chance to celebrate mountain rescue, the people, the teamwork, the friendships, and the slightly questionable decision-making that sees us heading out into the hills when most sensible folk are heading home. 😂

Here at Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association, we’re incredibly proud of our team and the communities we’re lucky enough to serve. From the fells and caves to the odd sheep that’s managed to get itself into a bit of bother, we’ll keep turning up when we’re needed.

But we couldn’t do it without you.

Every donation, fundraiser, cuppa, raffle ticket and kind word helps keep us trained, equipped and ready to go. Your generosity is what allows us to keep doing the thing we love, helping people when they need us most. And for that, we’re genuinely humbled. ❤️

A massive thank you too to our neighbouring mountain and cave rescue teams. We might have our own patches, vehicles and radios, but when the chips are down, we’re one family. We train together, support each other and, occasionally, argue over who’s got the best biscuits. 😉

“Rescue isn’t about one person being the hero. It’s about a team coming together, and a community standing behind them.”

So today, from all of us at UWFRA, thank you.
To our team. To our neighbouring teams. And most importantly, to every single person who supports us.

We couldn’t do it without you. 🧡💙

27/08/2026

💙 WHEN THE CALL COMES UWFRA WILL ANSWER ⛰️🧡

There’s been some discussion recently about charging for rescue.

At UWFRA, we believe rescue should be free at the point of need.

Because when t’weather turns,
When t’fell gets steep,
When t’water rises,
Or t’cave runs deep…

You shouldn’t be counting the cost.
You should be calling for help.

No judgement. No invoice.
Just a team on its way.

We come through rain, wind and snow,
Across t’fell and down below.
Through river, rock and darkest cave,
We’ll do our best to get you safe.

And aye, we might grumble at t’weather…
but we’ll still come. 😉

We stand in solidarity with our neighbouring rescue teams on this issue.

UWFRA is here because of our community, supported by our community, and when others can’t get there:

We will. 💙

⛰️🌊 Surface. Cave. Water. Ready when called.

25/08/2026

☕️🎶💃 A HUGE THANK YOU TO LISA RODDIS! 💃🎶☕️

Wharfedale has officially had a taste of a Coffee Rave… and we’re already itching for more! 🙌🏻✨️

A massive thank you to Lisa Roddis for bringing this brilliant first-time event to Wharfedale and turning coffee, dancing and good times into an incredible fundraiser for two fantastic local charities. ❤️

Thanks to everyone who came along, danced, socialised, put their phones away and helped make it such a memorable morning!

And what a result… £1,000 RAISED! 🎉🙌🏻

💷 £800.50 raised from coffee & dancing
💷 Plus a very generous £200 anonymous donation

The money will be split between Grassington Hub and Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) — making all those dance moves even more worthwhile! 💃☕️🎶

Lisa, thank you for creating something so joyful, bringing people together and supporting our local community. ❤️

Now that Wharfedale knows what a Coffee Rave is… we’re definitely ready for the next one! 👀🎶💃

25/08/2026

🏏 WHAT. A. NIGHT! 🏏

A brilliant evening of rounders, laughs and friendly competition with the fantastic Threshfield Rounders Team! 🙌

Even better, the Threshfield team have been raising money for us through a tournament — so a huge THANK YOU for your amazing support! ❤️

After the match, we headed to the Gamekeepers Inn for food, drinks and a very detailed analysis of all the things we definitely could have done better… if only we’d been professional athletes! 😂🍻

☔ The rain stayed away
💪 No serious injuries
😂 Plenty of laughs
❤️ A fantastic team effort all round

And the final score…

🏆 Threshfield 23 – Upper Wharfedale 13½

Could this be the start of an annual sporting tradition? We certainly hope so! 🏏🎉

Thanks to everyone who made it such a brilliant evening! 👏

22/08/2026

Incident #39 – Valley of Desolation
At 13:20 on Friday 21st August, we were called by North Yorkshire Police to assist a 17-year-old male who had sustained a serious knee injury while walking on the waterfalls track in the Valley of Desolation.
The casualty had slipped, aggravating a previous knee injury. His knee had become locked, leaving him unable to bear weight or straighten or bend his leg.
A team of 10 volunteers made their way to the casualty via Bolton Abbey Estate. Once on scene, the team assessed and splinted the injured knee before carefully transferring him by stretcher across challenging and complex terrain to a team vehicle.
He was then transported back to the car park for onward care.
The incident lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes.
A huge thank you to Bolton Abbey for their assistance and for opening the gates to help us reach the casualty as quickly and safely as possible.
When the terrain is difficult and someone can’t walk out, our volunteers are ready to step in. Every callout, every carry, every rescue, made possible by people giving their time to help others.
We wish the casualty a speedy recovery. ❤️

16/08/2026

🚨 CALL OUT | Incident #38 – Bolton Abbey 🚨

This afternoon, our team was called by Yorkshire Ambulance Service to assist a 78-year-old woman who had suffered a fall near St Mary and St Cuthbert’s Church at Bolton Abbey.

The casualty had sustained a suspected neck of femur injury. Our casualty carers provided pain relief before the casualty was carefully packaged and carried by stretcher back across the bridge, where she was handed over to the Yorkshire Ambulance Service crew for further care.

A huge thank you to the staff at Bolton Abbey for their assistance during the incident and for helping our team work safely and efficiently on site. Your support was greatly appreciated. 💙

We’d also like to wish the casualty a smooth and speedy recovery. We hope she’s soon back on her feet and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Bolton Abbey again. ❤️

As always, a massive thank you to our volunteers who gave up their Sunday afternoon to answer the call. Your time, commitment and willingness to help when people need it most never goes unnoticed. 👏