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.

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Coastguard Association Unit Patches – On Sale Now!

Our brand-new Coastguard Association Unit Patches are now on sale and available to order online. Show your support for the charity dedicated to supporting Coastguard personnel and their families in their time of need.

These Velcro-backed woven patches are perfect to stick on your kit bags and other tactical gear while also helping raise funds for our charity. Patches are £10 each with postage included and all profits go directly to supporting our people in their time of need.

We have 50 available immediately and a second order has already been placed so there’s plenty more to come.

Order securely online today at: https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/GWXMWRYJD9BTS

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Coastguard Association Virtual 5K

Beat the January blues with our brand-new Coastguard Association New Year Virtual 5K event.

Following the successes and continued interest in the CGA 5K organised by several Coastguard Rescue Teams in recent years, we are taking the event national.

We will also be starting the New Year the way we meant to continue by getting healthier and fitter, spending more time outside which is good for both our physical and mental health, and also supporting the charity dedicated to supporting Coastguard personnel and their families in their time of need.

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 and you have the whole of January to complete the challenge so it can fit in with your schedule.

Each participant will receive an exquisite medal to mark the occasion. Medals have been received at Digital Media HQ and will be sent out to all participants as soon as registration is complete, so everyone will have their medal in time for completing the event.

Our first national Coastguard Association Virtual 5K is being kindly supported by our friends at Erdinger, who have donated five cases of ERDINGER Alkoholfrei isotonic recovery drinks worth £40 each.

An isotonic refreshment courtesy of ERDINGER Alkoholfrei is the perfect way to end your virtual 5K challenge or any other exercise. All you will need to do to be in with a chance of winning a case of ERDINGER Alkoholfrei is send in a photo of you taking part in the Virtual 5K event.

Sign up online now at: https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/Q85D63ANC7AYE. 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.

We are expecting this event to fill up quickly so be quick to sign up and get your medal ahead of our first even national Coastguard Association Virtual 5K.

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

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2024 Edition Coastguard Association Remembrance Pin Badges

The 2024 Coastguard Association Remembrance Pin Badges are now on sale and available to purchase online.
 
With a 25mm diameter, these exquisite pin badges act as a mark of respect and show of support for the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. You will also be supporting Coastguard Association and the Royal British Legion.
 
The badges are £10 each which includes postage with £2 from each sale being donated to The Royal British Legion.
 
 
Shipping will commence w/c 21st October with a limited run of only 300 produced this year so be quick and thank you for your continued support.
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Emergency Services Show – Birmingham

The Coastguard Association is delighted to announce we will be exhibiting at this year’s Emergency Services Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

This will be the association’s second year exhibiting at the show so please come and see us in Hall 5 / Stand Q221 to speak with the management team, find out more about the work of the association, sign up as a member and check out our new contactless donation system.

Attendance to the show is FREE and you can sign up at: https://www.emergencyuk.com/

We hope to see you there next week.

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Coastline Magazine – Issue 11 – OUT NOW!

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

Inside this edition:

* 14 pages of news from around the coast
* A day in the life of Coastguard Rescue Officer Matt Breathwick from Sutton Bridge Coastguard Rescue Team
* Team Spotlight on Littlehampton CRT
* Fundraising around the UK including marathons and cycling across the Outer Hebrides
* Meet Your Committee your feature
* Regular features including From The Ops Room, Kit Reviews and much more!

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

You can also download Issue 11 of Coastline Magazine at: Coastline Magazine – Issue 11.

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