International Commitments

Ruth Lee International Support Projects

Did you know that more than 60% of our products are exported overseas? There are countless rescue organisations across the globe, many struggling to find financial support and sponsorship.

Over the years we have supoprted over 20 intenational organisations around the world through our Volunteer Heroes program. Earlier this year we used to the fund to support projects in Ukraine. Going forward for the remainder of 2022 and into 2023 we hope to support the International Life Saving Federation with support for Drowning Prevention and Water Safety projects. 

Watch this space!

APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED – PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE NEXT ROUND OF APPLICATIONS

The International Volunteer Heroes Fund

Previously, our International Volunteer Heroes Fund has been dedicated to providing support to volunteer teams worldwide.

With an estimated 235,000 people dying from drowning worldwide each year, we have decided to focus our support primarily on Drowning Prevention and Water Safety projects for 2022/23.

If you have a related project that you think could benefit from financial or manikins support from Ruth Lee please do get in touch on sarah@ruthlee.com

2022

Ukraine Support Effort

After much consideration, we decided to donate the full Volunteer Heroes Fund for 2021/2022 to the following three charities offering support to those most in need in Ukraine…

UNICEF – the UN’s children’s charity, which is helping to ensure families have clean water and food and that child health and protection services continue.

International Rescue Committee UK – The IRC is on the ground in Poland, working with local partners in Poland and Ukraine, to quickly mobilise resources that will provide life-saving support to civilians forced to flee their homes.

Association of Ukrainians In Great Britain – the largest representative body for Ukrainians in the UK, which has so far raised more than £1.1m, which will help fund medicine, food and other essentials for those in need.

Applicants of the fund were notified and responded with overwhelming support.

2020

Bombeiros Penela - Volunteer Penela Fire Brigade

Recieved: Adult and Child Duty Range Manikin

Bombeiros Penela is a volunteer Fire Brigade located in Penela, Portugal prepared and equipped to help the wounded and sick and to protect in any other way, the life and property of the inhabitants of the municipality of Penela.

FIND OUT MORE

2020

Saaremaa Vabatahtlik Merepääste Selts - Saaremaa Voluntary Sea Rescue Society

Recieved: £1,500

Established in 2013, Saaremaa Volunteer Sea Rescue Society’s aim is to ensure and increase maritime safety in coastal waters, and to develop maritime rescue capabilities in Saare County, Estonia.

FIND OUT MORE

2020

Hiiumaa Vabatahtlik Merepääste Selts - MTÜ Hiiumaa Volunteer Sea Rescue Society

Recieved: 2 x Search and Rescue Manikins

MTÜ Hiiumaa Volunteer Sea Rescue Society brings together volunteer lifeguards and also deals with prevention work, all in Hiiumaa, Estonia.

FIND OUT MORE

2020

Bomberos Voluntarios De Tegueste - Volunteer Fire and Rescue Tegueste

Recieved: £1,000

Bomberos Voluntarios Tegueste is a fire station in Tegueste located on the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife.

FIND OUT MORE

2020

German Red Cross, District Association Bonn, Team West

Recieved: Adult and Child Duty Range Manikin

As a part of the disaster relief organizations, the German Red Cross, Team West provide medical service for lots of large scale events in Bonn. Lasy year, Team West were deployed at several mass casualty events like major railway accidents, the high floods of the river Rhine and Elbe, storms and two years in a row when severe thunderstorms and lightning strikes hit a music festival, causing high numbers of casualties.

2020

Freiwilligen

Recieved: £1,500

The “Freiwilligen Feuerwehr Brandenberg” is a volunteer fire briage based in Brandenberg, Austria, founded on July 20th, 1906.

FIND OUT MORE

2020

Nucleo Fluviale F.V.G

Recieved: Man Overboard Manikin

The Nucleo Fluviale F.V.G is an Italian river and aquatic rescue association born from a group of friends who share a passion for various water activities such as rafting, canoeing and canyoning.

FIND OUT MORE

2019

Groupe Montagne des Sapeurs Pompiers de la Drôme

Recieved: £1,000

Groupe Montagne des Sapeurs Pompiers de la Drôme are a team of rescue workers operating in a mountainous region to carry out mountain rescue, ski rescue, climbing rescues and some USAR.

FIND OUT MORE

2019

Coober Pedy Mine Rescue

Recieved: £500

Coober Pedy Mine Rescue are a specialist rescue team operating in a area famed for Opal mining. They assist with all manner of rescues, from underground caving, general above ground SAR and flood support to assisting the ambulance during highway accidents.

FIND OUT MORE

2019

Marine Rescue Bermagui

Recieved: £500

Marine Rescue Bermagui is tasked with providing 24 hour coverage 365 days a year and is a fully volunteer branch.  They called upon to assist vessels in trouble on the sea, which may be a fisherman who has engine problems and requires a tow back to harbour to participating in a full search and rescue of a missing vessel and persons.

FIND OUT MORE

2018

Hatley Volunteer Fire Department

Recieved: Multi Trauma Manikin

The Hatley Volunteer Fire Department was established August 1st, 1978 to provide professional rate fire protection service from a group of well trained firemen.   We have since grown to maintain two stations, six pieces of apparatus, and over 30 active members thanks to the hard work and determination of our community.

The team form part of the Monroe County SAR.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS TEAM: CLICK HERE

2018

Port Lincoln State Emergency Service (Australia)

Recieved: 1 x Man Overboard manikin and 1 x Youth Duty Manikin

Port Lincoln State Emergency Service volunteers respond to local Marine and Land emergency calls but also provide support Search and Rescue Services for the whole of the Lower Eyre Peninsula heading North to Cowell across west to Cleve, Lock, Elliston, Streaky Bay and 400km to the Far West to Ceduna. They also provide local instructions to support other SES Units.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS TEAM – CLICK HERE

2018

Gymnasium Centro Studi e Formazione (Italy)

Recieved: Manikin TBC

A team of aquatic rescuers and instructors involved in pool and beach life guarding. They also provide drowning prevention, lifeguard training and CPR projects within high schools, prisons, to people with intellectual disabilities and young immigrants.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS ORGANISATION

2018

Order of Malta Ambulance Corp, Sligo Unit (Ireland)

Recieved: Duty Plus Manikin

The Sligo Unit of the Order of Malta spends most of the year attending festivals and sporting events. On certain occasions the unit partakes in light rescue operations during key events such as the annual Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage on Reek Sunday. This event sees the unit operating alongside Mountain rescue teams and other statutory services.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TEAM

2018

Swift Water Rescue Team Toscana (Italy)

Recieved: 1 x Adult and 1 x toddler SAR manikins

The SWRTT intervenes at the request of the civil protection authorities in emergency scenarios.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TEAM

2018

Associação Humanitária dos Bombeiros Voluntários De Cacilhas (Portugal)

Recieved: £500

A volunteer unit inside the fire brigade, they assist with many kinds of rescue including road traffic accidents.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ORGANISATION 

2018

Search and Rescue Assistance in Disasters - International Resilience Team

Recieved: £1,000

The International Resilience Team of Search and Rescue Assistance in Disasters.

The IRT responds to the aftermath of natural disasters world-wide, including earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, mudslides and flooding. The IRT based and training the UK and will deploy in the UK and abroad. This team might be locating and extracting casualties from collapsed buildings and mudslides or rescuing people from floodwater and is on standby 365 days a year. The team also surveys and records buildings affected by these disasters and provides general structural engineering and medical advice to host countries.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE 

2017

Swift Water Rescue Team Toscana (Italy)

Recieved: £1,000

Awarded £1,000 towards the cost of purchasing a new rescue boat

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TEAM: www.swrttoscana.it

2017

Palmerston North Rescue Emergency Support Team (New Zealand)

Recieved: £500

Awarded £500 towards the cost of purchasing a ‘white-water’ style raft to use in flood situations.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TEAM: www.facebook.com/nzrt4

2017

Hutt City Emergency Response Team (New Zealand

Recieved: £500

Awarded £500 towards the cost of purchasing PFDs and Throw Bags for flood rescue.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TEAM: www.facebook.com/NZRT18

2017

Geraldine Road Crash Response Team (New Zealand)

Recieved: Multi-Trauma Manikin

The Geraldine Road Crash Rescue Team is a group of Fire Service and St Johns members with an interest in improving extrication techniques and patient care.

2017

St. John Rescue Corps (Malta)

Recieved: 70Kg Fire House Manikin

The Corps assists and provides cover at events such as in the Isle of MTV, Malta National Marathon, Drag Racing Duties, various activities organised by the office of the President, Clean ups and events organised by other NGOs.  The Corps also partakes in educational events about water rescue, high angle rescue as well as fire awareness and fire fighting together with  voluntary organisations and other groups.