Regular Opportunities

National Coastwatch Institute (NCI) Nare Point is situated at the entrance of the Helford River with views spanning 270° from Gillian Bay around to the Manacles, our watchkeepers provide eyes and ears along our local coastline, looking out for potential incidents and providing a listening watch in poor visibility using VHF radios. If people find themselves in trouble, our volunteers are there to alert HM Coastguard, who will direct appropriate emergency/rescue services to the casualty.

We need volunteer Watchkeepers to help man the station at least two watches per month.

National Coastwatch is a declared asset of HM Coastguard and part of the UK National Search and Rescue organisation, providing support to the frontline services. National Coastwatch is a charity staffed and managed by volunteers who exist to assist in saving life at sea and along the coastline of England and Wales.

What's involved?

Our Station is manned by a team of fully trained and dedicated volunteers who keep a daylight watch 365 days a year.

Our Watchkeepers come from all walks of life and offer a wide range of skills and experience. Full training ensures that volunteers reach the high standard expected by the NCI and HM Coastguard. Regular assessments take place at all stations and refresher programmes are held to maintain standards and keep watchkeepers up to date with the latest legislation or improved operational procedures.

All watchkeepers are expected to carry out regular watches, we ask for minimum of two watches per month, attend station meetings and help at fundraising events.  Each watch is four hours long.  In the Summer three watches per day (8am-12pm; 12pm-4pm and 4pm-7pm) and in the Winter two watches (8am-12pm and 12pm-4pm) we are open 365 days a year.

Why get involved?

Our watchkeepers provide a vital link with all the emergency services and can provide an emergency contact point on land for both sea and shore users.  Potential and actual incidents are reported immediately to HM Coastguard and monitored until the casualty is safe and the SAR services are stood down.  With our extensive experience in observation and reporting SAR incidents, National Coastwatch has now become a national voice in water safety and accident prevention. Alongside our Coastguard and Lifeboat colleagues, working with the National Water Safety Forum.

How to get involved?

If you wish to volunteer contact nare.point@volunteers.nci.org.uk for more information and arrange a visit to Nare Point Station.

No previous experience necessary, as training is carried out by experienced watchkeepers both in the lookout station and in classroom settings. Covering topics of weather and tides; radar and radio; charts and maps and incident reporting.

When you are ready an assessment is carried out, to confirm all necessary competencies have been learned.