The Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation is one of the many organisations providing support for communities across the Peak District affected by Storm Babet.

At 16:05, Kinder MRT were asked to help Peak School in Chinley to transport three pupils home to Chesterfield. Peak school caters for children and young adults with a whole range of needs, particularly those with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), communication difficulties, and those with challenging behaviour linked to their associated learning difficulties. The pupils’ normal transport was unavailable due to extensive flooding across the Peak District.

We provided two off road vehicles crewed with Swift Water Rescue Technicians and water rescue equipment to ensure we were able to deal with any difficulties we might come across on route and to ensure the safety of the children. Peak School provided two teachers, one per vehicle, who were able to support the pupils through what was a traumatic day and evening.

The conditions made the journey challenging, but we were able to negotiate the various road closures and floods, with Chesterfield being particularly badly affected. Eventually we delivering the last pupil home at 21:25. All the families and pupils were relieved and delighted to be reunited after a difficult day and evening.

We returned the teachers to their school in Chinley at 22:25 and then returned to our base, repacking our equipment and vehicles ready for the next callout.

We hope that the pupils, families and teachers are all having a more relaxed day today.

• Time: 16:05
• Type: Flood Response
• Location: Chinley to Chesterfield
• Team members: 4 Swift Water Rescue Technicians on scene and two support members
• Duration: 6.5hrs
• Volunteer hours: 26
• Total volunteer hours for the year: 2,071.75