Statistics Report 2025

Scottish Mountain Rescue coordinates 26 civilian volunteer mountain rescue teams and 4 Police Scotland MRTs across Scotland. Their 2025 Statistics Report (published April 2026) covers a record 901 people assisted, 798 independent incidents, 1,270 callouts and 39,229 volunteer hours. New longitudinal research with the University of Strathclyde analyses decade-long trends in incident types and injury patterns, providing the most detailed evidence base yet for Scottish mountain rescue planning.

Report snapshot
798 independent incidents in 2025; 1,270 callouts including continuations — an average of 3.5 per day Key Metric 1
901 people assisted; 39,229 volunteer hours given on callouts alone by 850+ team members across 26 civilian teams Key Metric 2
62% of incidents (491) mountaineering-related; 307 non-mountaineering; 38 incidents involving fatalities Key Metric 3
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📋About

Mountain search and rescue across Scotland (26 civilian member teams plus 4 Police Scotland MRTs); specialist cave and water rescue (SCRO); search and rescue dog deployment (SARDA Scotland and SARDA Southern Scotland); aerial search and rescue support (SARAA-Scotland); 312 days of active callout in 2025; University of Strathclyde longitudinal trend analysis (2015–2024 dataset)

📊Key Metrics

798 independent incidents in 2025; 1,270 callouts including continuations — an average of 3.5 per day Key Metric 1
901 people assisted; 39,229 volunteer hours given on callouts alone by 850+ team members across 26 civilian teams Key Metric 2
62% of incidents (491) mountaineering-related; 307 non-mountaineering; 38 incidents involving fatalities Key Metric 3

Key Outcomes

  • 901 people assisted in 2025 — the highest figure in SMR's recorded statistics history, representing a sustained post-pandemic step-change in demand (approx. 10–15 additional incidents per month since 2020/21)
  • University of Strathclyde research (2025) identified slips/trips and technology reliance as rising long-term incident factors; navigational errors and overdue casualties trending downward — likely reflecting increased connectivity in the outdoors
  • Female mountaineers significantly more likely to suffer ankle fractures (28% of injuries) vs males (10%); male mountaineers 6.2% fatality rate from injuries vs 0.3% for females — new gender analysis informing future safety campaigns

📍Geography

Scotland

2024

Impact Report 2023/24

15,377 people helped with 37,087 issues; average of 4.9 interrelated problems per person; £16.17 million in financial value to individuals; £29.33 million in wider economic and social benefits
Key Metric 1
£3.25 million saved by government and public services — £2.07 for every £1 invested; £289,138 saved by local government through reducing homelessness; £436,664 worth of volunteer hours contributed
Key Metric 2
397 people lifted out of food poverty via Financial Inclusion project; £300,000 distributed via Heating Bank; 97 Macmillan grants approved
Key Metric 3
7 in 10 people said their problem was solved following advice; 3 in 4 said they could not have resolved their problem without Citizens Advice; 60% felt less stressed, depressed or anxious after receiving help
2025

Your Impact in 2025

Nearly 2,000 children from slave-descent communities in Niger supported into schooling (majority girls)
Key Metric 1
New penal code in Niger updated to include heavy sentences for slavery practices following ASI advocacy
Key Metric 2
Income £3.69m in 2024/25; EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive influenced by ASI supply chain working group
Key Metric 3
Niger penal code amended to criminalise slavery practices; ASI advocacy directly cited in EU forced labour regulation and US Trafficking in Persons report
2025

Impact Report 2025

2,384 active users on the Royal Anglian CONNECT App in 12 months; 53,000+ active followers across social media; 650,000 hits on the Regimental website; 350+ news articles posted on CONNECT
Key Metric 1
26 National Big Breakfasts hosted across locations including Grimsby, Dubai and Sydney — nearly 1,000 Royal Anglians gathering to renew connections and support mental health and wellbeing
Key Metric 2
Grants awarded across a wide range of needs including home adaptations, mobility aids, debt support, housing support, mental health and wellbeing, training and work tools, and travel assistance; 1,262 items of Regimental silver recorded through the Silver Project
Key Metric 3
Battlefield study to Gallipoli in 2025 brought together 30 members of the Royal Anglian Family including serving soldiers from all three battalions and veterans — delivering professional military education, honouring the fallen and strengthening serving-veteran connections