NEW equipment is set to boost the efforts of freeminer recruits underground.

New freeminers in the Forest of Dean have received overalls, lamps and helmets from the not-for-profit company Freemining Futures, recently formed by the Royal Forest of Dean Freeminers Association.

The new starters at Wallsend and Monument collieries have also completed an intensive first aid course tailored to working in an underground environment thanks to further support from the company.

Neil Jones, chairman of Freemining Futures, said: “It was a great pleasure to be awarding the grant of equipment to our new starters in freemining and I am greatly encouraged by their dedication and enthusiasm.”

The Freeminers Association has formed the not-for-profit company to administer its element of the Foresters Forest heritage lottery grant.

Foresters Forest is working in partnership with the association to deliver its ‘Future for Freemining’ community project, which aims to promote the freemining industry in the forest by involving new people and providing appropriate training.

Rich Daniels, chairman of the Freeminers Association, said the association hopes to protect the future of the industry locally by providing the support to new and existing freeminers.

“We want to provide a sustainable future for ‘new starters’ and existing Freeminers, so we can provide training for new generations of miners, while practising our ancient rights and traditions.”

The Royal Forest of Dean Freeminers Association exists to ensure the unique custom, which has been practiced for hundreds of years, remains a part of the Forest of Dean landscape.

Foresters Forest is a National Lottery funded programme, designed to promote community engagement in the built, natural and cultural heritage of the Forest of Dean.

Freemining Futures hope to distribute more equipment to new starters as interest in local freemining continues to grow.

Anyone wishing to become involved in freemining can find more details at www.forestfreeminers.org