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.

Share

Drowning Prevention Day Virtual 5K

Help the charity dedicated to supporting Coastguards in their time of need while also raising awareness of water safety by taking part in our Drowning Prevention Day Virtual 5K.

Drowning Prevention Day is observed annually on 25th July and is a global initiative to raise awareness of the impact of drowning and promote water safety measures.

For this challenge, we are asking everyone to complete their virtual 5K on or as close to 25th July as possible while also promoting water safety either by speaking to people while out and about, sharing a water safety tip on social media or even checking on public access rescue equipment along your route.

Not a runner? No problem! You can walk, run, swim, cycle, roller skate, hop, skip, jump…..the choice is yours. All we ask is you complete the distance of 5K on or as close to 25th July as possible to mark this important date in the water safety calendar.

Each participant will receive a special Coastguard Association Drowning Prevention Day medal and will be shipped to participants to ensure they’re received prior to the event taking place for photo and selfie purposes.

Sign up online now at: https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/HGX93RA4MDSFJ. The entry fee is £15 and all money raised goes directly to helping Coastguard personnel and their families in their time of need.

There is also no requirement to do any additional fundraising, however all participants will be sent a national Virtual 5K GoFundMe page should anyone wish to share with friends and family to raise some additional money.

Thanks as always for the continued support and we are all looking forward to watching the Virtual 5K around the coast.

Share

New Online Merchandise Store

We are delighted to launch our new online merchandise store for our ever-increasing range of Coastguard Association items.

Our new online store is a step forward following our recent venture into ecommerce through PayPal and our Coastguard Association Unit Patches. Our new system will now be able to host all of our products and also support multiple sales and quantities.

Check our our online store now and order our Coastguard Association Unit Patches and our BRAND-NEW Coastguard Association Flight Tag Key Rings.

Share

New Online Clothing Store

Support the Coastguard Association and promote being part of the Coastguard Rescue Service with our brand-new range of clothing.

The Coastguard Association has teamed up with SuperLogo to bring you a range of Coastguard branded clothing and accessories, with a percentage of each sale supporting our charity. Clothing has been a request for many years but due to costs and logistics, it wasn’t something which was feasible for the volunteer committee to facilitate – until now!

Now with the help of our partners at SuperLogo, we have a range of embroidered and printed t-shirts, hooded tops, jackets and accessories which will be made to order and shipped directly to your front door.

This is the first stage of our new merchandise range with additional products planned over the coming months.

Check out our online store provided by SuperLogo at: https://coastguard-association.superlogoshop.co.uk/

Share

Recognition Award for Tiree Coastguard Rescue Team

Congratulations to our friends and colleagues at Isle of Tiree Coastguard Rescue Team who were recently awarded a Coastguard Association Recognition Award.

The team were awarded a Recognition Certificate in the Teamworking and Making a Difference categories following a rescue they were involved in last year.

The casualty nominated the team to thank them for their support and assistance, with the award nomination stating:

“My overwhelming memory of what was a very difficult situation was of the competence, sensitivity and kindness of the whole coastguard team. I immediately felt safe in their care.

“It was a life affirming experience and I am eternally grateful to the whole team.”

The Coastguard Association recognition awards are designed to highlight not the only incredible work being done by full time and volunteer Coastguard personnel around the country, but also the support of family and friends and the significant contribution made by members of the public.”

The Coastguard Association Recognition Awards are open all year round and submissions are reviewed on a monthly basis by the committee.

Find out more and submit a nomination today at: Coastguard Association Recognition Awards | The Coastguard Association
Share

Charity Quiz Night – Skegness

Massive thank you to our friends at HM Coastguard Skegness who organised a charity quiz night last weekend and helped raise over £400 for our charity.

The competition was intense with the National Committee also entering a team with our Chair, Treasurer and Welfare Officer joining in the fun and supporting the event.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the event and our charity.

If you’re interested in organising an event or fundraising for our charity, drop us a message on our social channels or send an e-mail to:
fundraising@coastguardassociation.org.uk

As a charity we rely on memberships and donations so we can continue to help our people in their time of need.

Share