The Norwegian Radio Relay League reports that it has received two big grants in June.
The first grant is for NOK 711,000 ($83,427) from the Research Council for measures to “strengthen children and young people’s digital competence” through leisure activities.
With the money, the NRRL will develop online learning material for amateur radio and other leisure activities. The project will run for two years starting in October. Specific deliveries and budgets will be decided in negotiations with the Research Council during the summer. Voluntary efforts from NRRL members will also be an important input factor in the project. The NRRL hopes that many will take an active part in this work, which will be important for the future of amateur radio in Norway.
Questions or suggestions can be directed to NRRL’s Secretary General, or to LA4ZCA Torbjørn who heads the project group that has prepared the application in consultation with NRRL’s Executive Board. The group has also consisted of LA3PNA Thomas (NRRL’s president), Mona Askerød (editor of “Amatørradio”), LA6CSA Pål, LA7ECA Øyvind (deputy on the main board) and LB4IH Trond (NRRL’s youth coordinator).
820,000 for emcomm
In a separate announcement, the NRRL says that they have been awarded NOK 820,000 ($96,217) from the Gjensidige Foundation. that will significantly strengthen their emergency communications capabilities.
For several years, the Gjensidige Foundation has been concerned that volunteer rescue crews, among other things, lack the necessary, suitable and good technical equipment. This weakens the entire voluntary rescue service and emergency preparedness in Norway. Therefore, NOK 54 million was set aside for FORF (Voluntary Organizations’ Rescue Professional Forum), which includes the seven organizations that make up the backbone of the voluntary rescue service . Among the applications that were approved was the Norwegian Radio Relay League, which now receives funding to contribute to a safer society through a further development of the rescue service.
The money the NRRL has received will be used to develop and produce new tracking units used by the rescue service. With the newly developed tracking units, the NRRL can locate volunteer crews and dogs that are out on action with better accuracy than before. The tracking units will send an almost continuous signal, enabling the crews to be located in real time – regardless of existing infrastructure. Accurate tracking will also help those managing an incident.
The grant also includes funding for much-needed equipment and joint exercises and skills development. The NRRL, together with groups from the other voluntary organizations, will jointly get professional training and carry out exercises that will strengthen the competence of operational management and their ability to collaborate with other rescue agencies.