Volunteering for MCA
Information about volunteering for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Job vacancies
Vacancies for permanent and fixed term jobs with the Maritime & Coastguard Agency are shown on the civil service website.
Volunteering
There are often opportunities to volunteer with HM Coastguard as a coastguard rescue officer. To find out more about the role of a coastguard rescue officer, the coastguard rescue service and how to join a team, you can contact your local coastguard area management team.
How to get in touch about volunteering with the coastguard
For details on current and future volunteering opportunities, membership information and an enrolment application send an email to the appropriate area management team expressing your interest.
If, for example, you lived in Liverpool and were interested in joining the coastguard rescue team at Crosby you would send your email to Area15@mcga.gov.uk
You should make the subject line of your email:coastguard rescue service enrolment. Note that no other documents or attachments will be considered as part of the application process. Do not submit a CV or send other attachments as your email may not be opened.
Please be aware that areas enroll volunteers at different times of the year based on a number of criteria. There are also a great many teams nationally that are at full complement where enrolment is not currently required, the area staff replying to your message will advise you on local requirements.
If you have any queries on the enrolment process or require further assistance then please do get in touch with our coastal operations team at crsenquiries@mcga.gov.uk
HM Coastguard area contact emails
Area teams can be reached at the following email addresses. Area staff are often busy with operational concerns so there may be a short delay in responding to you.
Area 1, Shetland & Orkney Islands Area1@mcga.gov.uk
Area 2, North Scotland Area2@mcga.gov.uk
Area 3, East Scotland Area3@mcga.gov.uk
Area 4, Inner Clyde to River Tay and East Scottish Border Area4@mcga.gov.uk
Area 5, North East England Area5@mcga.gov.uk
Area 6, East of England (Yorkshire, Humberside & Lincolnshire) Area6@mcga.gov.uk
Area 7, East Anglia Area7@mcga.gov.uk
Area 8, South East England Area8@mcga.gov.uk
Area 9, Southern England including Isle of Wight Area9@mcga.gov.uk
Area 10, South West England Area10@mcga.gov.uk
Area 11, Cornwall including Isles of Scilly Area11@mcga.gov.uk
Area 12, North Devon including Severn Estuary Area12@mcga.gov.uk
Area 13, South East Wales to Mid-Wales Area13@mcga.gov.uk
Area 14, North West Wales Area14@mcga.gov.uk
Area 15, Great Orme to West Scottish border including the Lakes Area15@mcga.gov.uk
Area 16, Solway Firth to Clyde including Northern Ireland Area16@mcga.gov.uk
Area 17, Kintyre to Mull, Isle of Arran and Inner Hebrides Area17@mcga.gov.uk
Area 18, Loch Linnhe to Outer Hebrides including Skye & the Small Isles Area18@mcga.gov.uk
HM Coastguard Area Chart
Please download the to establish team locations and area boundaries.
Updates to this page
Last updated 7 February 2023 + show all updates
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Missing stations added to the map.
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Coastguard rescue teams location map updated to remove divisional boundaries and references to the Coastguard Operations bases.
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Coastguard Rescue Team's location map replaced to include updated areas and numbered operation bases.
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Attached Coastguard Rescue Teams' location map replaced to show updated areas.
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The guidance for applicants has been revised.
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First published.