Burnham-On-Sea Coastguards will be holding an open evening today (Wednesday) for potential new volunteer rescuers to find out more about joining the organisation.
The open evening will be held at Burnham’s seafront Coastguard Station from 7.30pm-9pm.
“This is your chance to come along and chat to some of our team while getting to know a bit more about what is involved,” said a spokesman.
“If you are interested in joining then this is your opportunity to ask questions and find out what our newest recruits have learnt and to hear about their experiences from the past six months.”
A mud rescue demonstration will also be held on Saturday morning at 10.30am for potential new recuits to see the team in action.
HM Coastguard is responsible for Search and Rescue around the coast of the UK, as well as at sea, and to respond to emergencies there are around 400 Coastguard Rescue Teams placed strategically around the coast.
These teams are made up from men and women from the local community who volunteer their time to learn new skills and help those in need.
Volunteers come from all walks of life. Among them are doctors, fishermen, office managers, carpenters and driving instructors. Some are experienced coastal users but this is not a necessity as full training is provided.
Teams are trained in lots of different rescue skills. Whilst all are qualified in Water Rescue, Communications and First Aid, teams may have additional skills such as Cliff Rescue and Mud Rescue depending on their local coastline.
To find out more about the role of volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officer and find out how to apply please visit www.gov.uk/coastguard-volunteers or email area12@mcga.gov.uk
