Ben Fogle Joins Mountain Rescue England and Wales as First Ambassador 2026

Key Points

• Ambassador Ben Fogle appointed to Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW).
• The media person, author, and adventurer will contribute to increasing awareness of the organisation’s activities.
• The organisation comprises 48 volunteer mountain rescue teams and eight regional associations in England and Wales.
• The appointment combines Fogle’s celebrity status and outdoorsmanship with the charity’s objectives of safety and fundraising.
• MREW’s rescue teams offer support on an ongoing basis in all weather conditions and locations.
• This appointment may bring attention to hikers, climbers, families, and other individuals using the countryside.
• The news appeared in Emergency Services Times on 2 September 2026.
• No journalist’s name was found in publicly available sources regarding the authorship of the report.

Wales (Wales Times) September 02, 2026 – Ben Fogle has become the first ambassador for Mountain Rescue England and Wales, according to a report published by Emergency Services Times. The appointment gives the organisation a high-profile public representative who can help communicate its work and promote awareness among people taking part in outdoor activities.

The report identifies Fogle as a broadcaster, writer and adventurer. His existing public connection with travel, wildlife and outdoor exploration makes him a natural fit for an organisation whose volunteers respond to emergencies in mountains, upland areas, caves and other challenging environments.

MREW has not been presented simply as an emergency response organisation. It also has an important public safety role. Its teams encourage people to prepare appropriately, understand the risks of the countryside and recognise the importance of making responsible decisions before and during an outdoor trip.

Why is Ben Fogle’s appointment significant?

The appointment is significant because it is the first time MREW has formally identified an ambassador for the organisation at national level. An ambassador can help explain the work of rescue teams to audiences who may not regularly follow emergency services or voluntary organisations.

Mountain rescue teams depend heavily on volunteers, donations and public support. Their work can involve long searches, medical assistance, technical rescues and the movement of casualties across difficult terrain. Although members are trained for these situations, operations can place significant demands on teams and their equipment.

A well-known ambassador can support this work in several ways:

• Increasing public recognition of MREW and its member teams.
• Encouraging people to donate or support fundraising campaigns.
• Promoting advice about clothing, navigation, weather and communications.
• Helping new audiences understand that mountain rescue is available throughout the year.
• Highlighting the commitment of volunteers who remain on call while carrying out their ordinary jobs and family responsibilities.

Fogle’s role is therefore expected to focus on communication and public engagement rather than operational rescue work. The available report describes him as helping to raise awareness, but it does not state that he will take part in rescues or assume a management position within MREW.

What does Mountain Rescue England and Wales do?

Mountain Rescue England and Wales is the national body representing mountain rescue teams and regional organisations across England and Wales. Its organisation includes 48 volunteer mountain rescue teams and eight regional bodies operating across eight geographical areas. MREW says its teams are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of weather conditions.

The teams are called to incidents in places where ordinary emergency access may be difficult. These can include high ground, moorland, woodland, caves, valleys and remote walking routes. Incidents may involve people who are injured, lost, overdue or unable to continue safely.

Mountain rescue volunteers can provide specialist skills suited to their local environments. Depending on the nature of an incident, that may include navigation, search planning, casualty care, rope work, water rescue or the use of specialist vehicles and equipment.

The organisation’s work also connects with the wider emergency services. People requiring mountain or cave rescue assistance are generally advised to call 999 and ask for the police, then request mountain rescue or cave rescue. MREW’s published information stresses that emergency assistance remains available even when conditions are challenging.

How could Ben Fogle raise awareness?

The exact programme of activity linked to the appointment has not been detailed in the information available from the report. However, an ambassador’s work could include public appearances, interviews, fundraising events, digital campaigns and outdoor safety messages.

Fogle may also be able to draw attention to the less visible parts of mountain rescue. Members of the public often see the outcome of an incident but may not know how teams prepare for call-outs, maintain equipment, train volunteers or coordinate with other emergency services.

Communication could also address the difference between enjoying the outdoors and underestimating its risks. A route that appears straightforward in good weather can become more demanding when visibility falls, temperatures drop or ground conditions change. Clear messaging from a familiar public figure may encourage people to check conditions, carry suitable equipment and tell someone about their plans.

Awareness campaigns can also explain what members of the public should do if something goes wrong. Providing an accurate location, conserving a mobile phone battery, staying together where possible and following instructions from emergency operators can all assist a rescue response. Any specific advice, however, should come from official emergency-service guidance and not replace a 999 call when there is an immediate danger.

Why does outdoor safety messaging matter?

Outdoor recreation remains popular across England and Wales, with people visiting hills, mountains, moorland and other rural areas for walking, climbing, running and sightseeing. Many visitors have experience in the countryside, while others may be making their first trip to a remote location.

The risks vary according to the area and activity. Terrain, weather, daylight, navigation, fitness and equipment can all affect whether a journey remains safe. The presence of a mobile phone does not guarantee that a person will have a signal, sufficient battery power or an accurate location to share.

MREW’s national role gives it a platform to promote preparation before an incident occurs. This may include checking the forecast, planning a route that matches the group’s ability, wearing appropriate footwear, carrying spare clothing and using a map or navigation device.

The organisation’s message is also relevant to people who are not taking part in a specialist activity. A serious incident can affect ordinary walkers and families as well as climbers or mountaineers. A person does not need to be attempting a difficult summit to become lost, injured or caught out by changing conditions.

What is known about Fogle’s background?

Fogle is widely known in Britain for his work as a broadcaster, writer and adventurer. His professional biography describes him as an award-winning broadcaster and adventurer and states that he has written nine Sunday Times bestselling books.

He also has experience supporting charitable and environmental causes. The British Red Cross has previously described Fogle as one of its ambassadors, helping raise awareness of its work in the United Kingdom and internationally.

His public profile has been built partly around travel, remote locations and outdoor living. That background is relevant to MREW because it allows him to discuss the appeal of the countryside while also acknowledging the responsibilities that come with exploring it.

The appointment does not mean that Fogle speaks on every operational matter involving mountain rescue. Statements about incidents, deployments, casualties and emergency procedures remain matters for MREW, individual rescue teams and the relevant emergency services.

What has not been confirmed?

The available report confirms the appointment and describes Fogle’s expected awareness-raising role, but it does not provide a detailed schedule of future projects. It also does not specify the length of the appointment, whether the role is paid or voluntary, or which particular campaigns Fogle will support.

The report available from Emergency Services Times does not identify the journalist by name. For that reason, attribution can be made to the publication, but a specific author should not be added without confirmation from the original article or the newspaper.

No additional statement from Fogle or MREW has been included here unless it was available in the reported material. This avoids presenting unverified comments or details as part of the announcement.

Background to Mountain Rescue England and Wales

Mountain Rescue England and Wales acts as a national body for volunteer mountain rescue teams and regional organisations. Its publicly listed structure includes 48 volunteer teams and eight regional bodies across eight geographical areas. The organisation says its teams operate on a 24-hour, 365-day basis and respond in all weather conditions.

The organisation’s public information also provides guidance on obtaining mountain and cave rescue assistance through the emergency services. Its work covers more than the visible response to individual incidents: it includes training, equipment, coordination, safety information, fundraising and support for the volunteers who make rescues possible.

The creation of a first ambassador role represents a communications development for MREW. It provides the organisation with an established public figure who can help present its work to wider audiences while allowing specialist rescue teams to remain responsible for operational decisions.

How could this affect outdoor users and supporters?

Ben Fogle’s appointment could make more people aware of MREW and the need to prepare carefully for outdoor activities. Walkers, climbers, runners and families may encounter more safety advice, fundraising appeals and information about how volunteer rescue teams operate.

For the public, the most direct benefit would be better understanding before setting out. People may be more likely to check weather and route conditions, carry suitable equipment, share their plans and recognise when an emergency call is necessary.

For MREW and its volunteer teams, increased visibility could lead to greater public support and stronger fundraising opportunities. It may also help recruitment and encourage people to learn more about volunteering, although no specific recruitment target has been announced.

The appointment is unlikely to change how rescues are requested or carried out. Those decisions will continue to depend on the circumstances of each incident, the relevant rescue team and coordination with the emergency services. Its likely effect is on awareness, public engagement and support for mountain rescue rather than on the operational response itself.

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