The Coastguard Association

HM Coastguard is the national category 1 emergency service responsible for the initiation and co-ordination of all maritime search and rescue (SAR) within the UK Maritime Search and Rescue Region. This includes the mobilisation, organisation and tasking of adequate resources to respond to persons either in distress at sea, or to persons at risk of injury or death on the cliffs or shoreline of the United Kingdom. It is also responsible for all land-based search and rescue helicopter operations across the UK.

Every minute of every hour of every day, over 300 Coastguard Rescue Teams remain on call across the UK to respond to those in need at sea, along the coast and further afield. These teams are made up of specially trained Coastguard Rescue Officers who volunteer to join HM Coastguard, leaving their families, friends, full-time occupations and putting plans on hold when the pager sounds. Coastguard Rescue Teams are specially trained and equipped in a wide range of search and rescue disciplines including water and flood rescue, lost and missing person search, technical rope rescue, mud rescue, critical casualty care, 4×4 off road driving and much more.

The Coastguard Rescue Teams are tasked and coordinated by the highly trained full-time staff within the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres across the UK who answer 999 calls, respond to mayday radio transmissions and bring these emergency incidents to a safe conclusion using the resources available to them including Coastguard Rescue Teams, full-time senior coastal officers, lifeboats (RNLI and independent) and search and rescue aircraft.

And while these dedicated people are helping save lives across the country, The Coastguard Association is the charity dedicated to help them in their time of need.

Coastguard Association Pin Badges

Our BRAND-NEW Coastguard Association pin badges have just arrived at Digital Media HQ and are now available online and ready for immediate dispatch.

Show your support for the charity dedicated to supporting Coastguard personnel and their families in their time of need with our exquisite metal pin badge.

Perfect for both formal and casual occasions, these pin badges look equally at home on a suit jacket, an ID lanyard or on your backpack.

All money raised goes directly to supporting our charity.

Visit our dedicated online store to order at: https://coastguardassociation.sumupstore.com/

Coastline Magazine Issue 13 – Out Now

The latest edition of Coastline Magazine – the official digital publication of the Coastguard Association is OUT NOW.

Inside this edition:
* News from around the coast
* A Day in the life of Jason Roberts – Coastguard Rescue Officer with Shoreham Coastguard Rescue Team
* Team Spotlight on Hayling Island Coastguard Rescue Team
* Coastguard Association Recognition Awards
* Fundraising news from around the UK
* Regular features including From The Ops Room and Adventure Lifestyle Equipment Reviews

Thank you to everyone for their continued support of Coastline Magazine and the Coastguard Association.

You can also download Issue 13 of Coastline Magazine at: Coastline Magaine Issue 13

Official Opening of Head Office

Earlier this year, the Coastguard Association took another massive step forward as our charity approaches its 50th anniversary in 2026 with the official opening of our new head office.

Located in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, the new registered office provides a central base of operations for our Chair, Treasurer and Welfare Officer who reside nearby, a central storage location for all of the charities equipment, documentation and filing, a professional space to host meetings with partners and stakeholders, and crucially it helps ensure our compliance with the Charities Commission.

The new office wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of Corney & Barrow Ltd who kindly donated all of the furniture including desks, computer chairs and filing cabinets.

The Coastguard Association is operated entirely by a small group of dedicated volunteers and Trustees with no one receiving any form of payment or remuneration.

As a team, we are working hard to continue to raise to the profile and professionalism of the charity to ensure we can continue to help and support Coastguards past, present and future.

Coastguards set for gruelling fundraising challenge

Two serving Coastguards are gearing up to take on an incredible challenge to raise money for the Coastguard Association.

Jack, a volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officer with Brixham Coastguard Rescue Team and Senior Coastal Operations Officer Jon, are taking part in the arduous Fan Dance challenge, a 24km weighted march famously known as part of the selection for the elite SAS special forces unit.

The brave duo will tackle mountainous terrain, snow, ice and time targets all while carrying 35lbs of equipment.

The route will see the pair immediately ascend Pen y Fan reaching heights of nearly 3,000ft, before descending the other side towards the halfway point, before turning around the reversing the route, tackling the even more challenging ascent known as Jacob’s Ladder.

The team have set a fundraising target of £500 and we are hoping they’ll be able to smash both the challenge and their target.

With the event taking place in January 2026, the team will be training hard through the coming months to get ready for this truly incredible physical and mental challenge and we will be following the team’s training as they brave the UK winter.

You can help support Jack and Jon and our charity by donating online at: https://gofund.me/10b0dac68

Great Scottish Run Fundraiser

Massive thanks to Christopher Wylie from Greenock Coastguard Rescue Team who smashed his first ever 10K on Sunday to raise money for the Coastguard Association.

Taking part in the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow, Christopher completed the run in a hugely impressive 54 minutes 22 seconds.

And not only did he put in an excellent time, Christopher also smashed his fundraising target and has raised an incredible £350 for our charity.

As the charity dedicated to supporting Coastguard personnel and their families in their time of need, we rely on fundraising and donations to ensure we can continue to help our people past, present and future.

Huge thanks to Christopher for his amazing fundraising effort.