No prior maritime experience is necessary to join National Coastwatch, although it probably does help to have some nautical / maritime interest; should you decide to visit, or join, us you will almost certainly quickly discover very few of us can reasonably regard ourselves as sailors of any description!
Unfortunately, as is the case at many National Coastwatch locations, we have no practicable disabled access. However, if you are interested in our work but cannot cope with the steep flight of stairs to / from our watch-room, please do not let that put you off talking to us. We always need help with fundraising and administration etc., and as such our back-room supporters are equally highly valued and regarded as a vital, and integral, part of the team.
If you are able to climb our stairs; your first few watches will - as a new watch-keeping volunteer - be spent getting to know the station, its equipment and some of the other members. It is important that you get to know your way round as quickly as possible so that, if an emergency arises soon after you arrive, you can help and not feel that you are in the way.
During the summer each watch lasts four hours, in winter watches are somewhat shorter. Not withstanding time out for family commitments etc., all we ask is that – in addition to attending regular training evenings, - you regularly commit to at least two watches per month.
As mentioned previously maritime experience is NOT necessary for you to join National Coastwatch and become a watch-keeper. Consequently our training program is designed to cater for volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds and with hugely varying degrees of relevant knowledge and experience.
The training you will receive is based on a modular National Training Manual and falls into two main categories; the “on the job” watch-keeping training you receive under the guidance of a senior watch-keeper, and the evening team training meetings which all watch-keepers – experienced and inexperienced alike – are actively encouraged to attend in order to first gain knowledge and thereafter to periodically refresh that knowledge.
Whilst it is obviously in our interests to train a new recruit to a minimum standard in as short a period as possible, training meetings are relaxed and informal. All training is delivered in “bit size” chunks and is tailored to the station, its locale and the capabilities of individual watch-keepers.
Such knowledge checks as are required are – with rare exception – invariably “open book”, thus allowing participants to consult available resources. These checks are intended to boost individual watch-keepers’ confidence in the equipment, systems and procedures used, and – as far as station management is concerned - identify areas where refresher training may be beneficial, and to be sure all watch-keepers have sufficient knowledge to function effectively as a member of the watch-keeping team.
If you decide to join us, you will become an important part of the national search and rescue organisation and a vital link in the security of our coastline through routine contact with HM Coastguard, Police and UKBA personnel.
Unfortunately, as is the case at many National Coastwatch locations, we have no practicable disabled access. However, if you are interested in our work but cannot cope with the steep flight of stairs to / from our watch-room, please do not let that put you off talking to us. We always need help with fundraising and administration etc., and as such our back-room supporters are equally highly valued and regarded as a vital, and integral, part of the team.
If you are able to climb our stairs; your first few watches will - as a new watch-keeping volunteer - be spent getting to know the station, its equipment and some of the other members. It is important that you get to know your way round as quickly as possible so that, if an emergency arises soon after you arrive, you can help and not feel that you are in the way.
During the summer each watch lasts four hours, in winter watches are somewhat shorter. Not withstanding time out for family commitments etc., all we ask is that – in addition to attending regular training evenings, - you regularly commit to at least two watches per month.
As mentioned previously maritime experience is NOT necessary for you to join National Coastwatch and become a watch-keeper. Consequently our training program is designed to cater for volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds and with hugely varying degrees of relevant knowledge and experience.
The training you will receive is based on a modular National Training Manual and falls into two main categories; the “on the job” watch-keeping training you receive under the guidance of a senior watch-keeper, and the evening team training meetings which all watch-keepers – experienced and inexperienced alike – are actively encouraged to attend in order to first gain knowledge and thereafter to periodically refresh that knowledge.
Whilst it is obviously in our interests to train a new recruit to a minimum standard in as short a period as possible, training meetings are relaxed and informal. All training is delivered in “bit size” chunks and is tailored to the station, its locale and the capabilities of individual watch-keepers.
Such knowledge checks as are required are – with rare exception – invariably “open book”, thus allowing participants to consult available resources. These checks are intended to boost individual watch-keepers’ confidence in the equipment, systems and procedures used, and – as far as station management is concerned - identify areas where refresher training may be beneficial, and to be sure all watch-keepers have sufficient knowledge to function effectively as a member of the watch-keeping team.
If you decide to join us, you will become an important part of the national search and rescue organisation and a vital link in the security of our coastline through routine contact with HM Coastguard, Police and UKBA personnel.
National Coastwatch Institution Registered Charity No. 1159975