'MAKE A DIFFERENCE' IN NORTH YORKSHIRE - VOLUNTEER AS A COASTGUARD

This October, we are all being asked to ‘Make A Difference’ and what better way to do so than by volunteering with the Coastguard Rescue Service.

‘Make A Difference’ is a month long campaign by the charity Community Service Volunteers (CSV) to encourage more people to volunteer.

Her Majesty's Coastguard is the emergency service responsible for coordinating maritime search and rescue in the UK. One rescue resource often called into action is the Coastguard Rescue Teams. There are 347 of these teams in the UK, made up of more than 3,200 volunteers.

The Redcar, Robin Hood’s Bay, Skinningrove, Staithes and Whitby teams are currently looking for new recruits. In the past year, the teams have collectively been involved in more than 200 incidents, ranging from capsized boats to people stuck on cliffs and water rescues.

So what's it like to be a Coastguard Rescue Officer?

Here's Keith Gregory, Deputy Station Officer with the Staithes Coastguard Rescue Team to tell us why..

"Since becoming a Coastguard Rescue Officer I have found that my life has been enhanced in a number of ways. 

Of course the obvious thing that everyone will probably immediately think of is that of saving lives. Knowing that you have played a role in those outcomes is, of course, a wonderful thing. I am sure that we all hope that will be the case when we join up and I  have been in that position several times since joining. 

There's much more to the role than that though.

Becoming part of a well trained, close knit team, where everyone trusts and supports one another, is a wonderful feeling. Everyone plays an important role in maintaining the team ethics. 

Not only do we work as part of a small local team, but also a great deal of our jobs involve surrounding teams throughout the sector. Therefore there is also good relationships with all teams throughout the sector. 

As well as other coastguard teams it is not unusual for us to work closely with other emergency services including: Police, Ambulance, Fire Brigade, Helicopter Rescue teams,Mountain Rescue etc. 

There is vast opportunity to train and gain qualifications in Rope Rescue skills, Water Rescue and also Land Search Management as well as gaining First Aid certificates and opportunities to gain promotions. From the first time you achieve a basic level skill, right up to technician level the feeling of achievement is a good one.

Throughout this training there is a vast amount of support and encouragement available, which all helps it be achievable. 

Currently I am a deputy station officer and that is a role that I have been able to enjoy greatly. It means supporting new trainees and all team members alike and I am able to aid with a lot of the training. That is something I particularly enjoy, along with cementing strong team relationships. 

Some of the things that I have done during my time as a CRO include:
  • Climbing down a cliff to rescue people who are trapped by incoming tides or who have fallen etc Sometimes I have been the 'cliffman' and other times assisted at the top of the cliff
  • Being winched in to a helicopter with a casualty
  • Preparing landing sites for helicopters
  • Co-ordinating searches for missing people
  • Assisting in the carrying off of injured persons from cliff paths etc to waiting ambulances
  • Recording information from boats that have been recovered by the RNLI
Of course there is a lot of commitment needed at times. When you are sitting down to Christmas dinner and the pager goes off then you have to go. If you are fast asleep at 3am you could find yourself awoken by the pager and again we just go. Commitment is also needed for the training programme. However, the positive side of that commitment is the feeling that you have achieved something and are making a difference, however large or small, to people who need our help. It definitely changes you as a person. 

There's a greater sense of self worth from very early on. I would highly recommend joining."

If you're interested in applying, please email Chris Coulter chris.coulter@mcga.gov.uk or telephone 01947 602 107.

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