by John Prince
Hornsea Coastguard rescue team is appealing for new volunteers to step forward and join the emergency service – with no previous rescue experience required.
The team, based in Burton Lane, is looking for volunteer coastguard rescue officers from Hornsea, Atwick, Mappleton and surrounding villages who are willing to learn new skills and respond when people get into difficulty along the coast.
Coastguard rescue officers form the frontline response arm of HM Coastguard and can be called to incidents including people in difficulty in the water, cliff and coastal rescues, missing-person searches, flooding and other emergencies. They can also be called on to assist other emergency services and local authorities during major incidents.
Successful applicants will receive full training, which is generally carried out during evenings or at weekends. All necessary protective clothing and equipment is provided.
Although the role is designed to fit around work and family life, volunteers need to be prepared for the unpredictable nature of emergency response.
Coastguard rescue officers can be called out at any time of the day or night and incidents can sometimes involve long hours, difficult conditions and physically demanding tasks.
Applicants generally need to be aged 18 or over, reasonably fit and in good health and HM Coastguard says volunteers would normally need to live or work within 30 minutes of their chosen rescue station.
A full UK driving licence is normally required and is specifically requested by the Hornsea team.
HM Coastguard rescue service is made up of volunteers operating around the UK coastline, responding not only to rescues but also to incidents involving pollution, coastal hazards and wreckage, as well as carrying out public safety work in local communities.
Hornsea is one of 13 listed in Area 6, which covers Yorkshire, the Humber and Lincolnshire and includes Bridlington, Hull and Withernsea.
The Hornsea team said volunteering offered the chance to become part of a close-knit team while receiving training as part of a national emergency service.
Anyone interested can apply at submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/89/apply-to-be-a-volunteer-coastguard-rescue-office and select Area 06.