May 2013 has seen the number of rescues performed by the trained crisis intervention negotiators of Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team exceed 2000. This has come in conjunction with the team experiencing one of the busiest months we have seen, with 34 rescues by the 22nd May.

Since beginning in 2004 the team has grown to become reputedly the busiest Search and Rescue team in the UK. BHCT, which is a Christian chaplaincy specialising in Crisis Intervention and Search and Rescue, works almost entirely in the rescue of despondent people. The Frontline team consists of 13 volunteers supported by 4 full-time and 2 part-time staff, along with a number of supporting volunteers. We perform over 100 hours of proactive patrols every week and are on-call 24hours a day 365 days a year. 2012 alone saw the team respond to 771 searches resulting in the rescue of 305 despondent people. Our vision is to see suicide end at Beachy Head.

During 2012 Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team responded to 771 searches and incidents resulting in the rescue of 305 despondent people. This made 2012 the busiest year for rescues the team has ever had, a 14% increase in rescues from the previous year. August was the busiest for searches with 77 during the month whilst December had the most rescues at 36. September also saw us pass the milestone of 5000 searches since we began operations at Beachy Head.

During the year we were called to:

• 426 searches by Sussex Police ( Including a number via Kent Police, Surrey Police, Hampshire Police and Met Police )

• 7 searches by HM Coastguard

We were alerted to:

• 63 incidents via members of the public

• 15 incidents via members of Pub and Cafe staff at Beachy Head and at Birling Gap.

In addition our Proactive and On-call teams came across:

• 257 incidents

• 3 medical incidents

Ultimately everything we do cannot really be told just by statistics. On New Year’s eve we recieved an email from someone we rescued earlier in the year. She said “I didn’t think I would be around to see 2013 and am now looking forward to the challenges and fun of the year. So thank you for giving me back my life.” Our role is rescuing people in deep crisis. We are the charity saving the lives of the suicidal at Beachy Head.

During September 2012 Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team performed their 5000th search since the start of the team back in August 2004. The incident was the rescue of a suicidal man by the teams new Senior Operations Supervisor Mike Scullion. We continue to respond to calls 24 hours a day 365 days a year as well as providing over 100 hours of proactive patrols every week.

Today, August 8th 2012, we celebrate our 8th Birthday.Our first rescue happened only 40 minutes in to our first shift. Since that time we have attended 4920 searches and incidents, rescuing 1717 despondent people. Our thanks today go to all those who have helped to make this possible. From those involved in our admin to those on our prayer teams, to those involved in fundraising and those donating and to the trustees and management, and not forgetting of course all those who have been involved on the frontline at Beachy Head. Thank you for helping save so many lives!

A big thank you to Caffyns Landrover in Lewes who are working hard to keep our patrol vehicles in tip top condition so that we can keep saving lives. Caffyns have been supporting us over the past few months with their quick and efficient response ensuring that our vehicles spend as much time as possible where they make the biggest difference, patrolling Beachy Head. Servicing and repairs of our rescue vehicles ensures they remain reliable and effective during even the most challenging of incident

The following are a selection of recent notes of thanks from those the team have rescued from Beachy Head:

“I would just like to thank…your team who saved me… I was in a really distressed state due to an overload of distressing situations and circumstances which finally overwhelmed me. I will be forever grateful… to you all for providing this service…two people who listened and cared stopped me taking a course of action that I would already be regretting as tomorrow really is another day.”

“Hi, I was at Beachy Head on ##/##/## contemplating suicide, I would just like to say thank you so much for being there in my hour of need, Im getting help through medication and counselling and am hopeful i will get better.”

You can now keep up with all the goings on at Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team with Twitter. Follow us @BHChaplaincy