Volunteer with us
Do you want to help people and save lives? You can apply to join one of our Coast Guard Units. As a volunteer, you will be part of a team of almost 1,000 dedicated search and rescue specialists who help the public all around the coast of Ireland.
It’s a family away from home and anybody who’s interested in joining it would be extremely welcomed into that family. I think it’s very worthwhile and you get a lot of benefit out of it.
What our units do
All 44 of our units are trained and equipped to conduct land-based search operations. Depending on their location around the Irish coastline, some units have specific capabilities and operational requirements.
- Boat UnitsThese teams use rescue boats to help people in difficulty on the water.
- Cliff Climbing UnitsThese teams use ropes, technical equipment and advanced climbing techniques to carry out rescues on high, steep cliffs.
- Drone UnitsThese teams use drones equipped with cameras to search in difficult to reach places. Watch some of our team members.
Watch Some of our Team Members in Action!
What to know before applying
What we ask for of you is:
- A commitment to participate in regular training and incident response.
- A robust adherence to our safety management system, policies and procedures
- A strong sense of teamwork, respect for your colleagues, pride in the service we deliver and service to our communities.
- An ambition to be part of a high performing team, upskill and contribute to a positive volunteering environment and organisational culture.
Our commitment to you is to provide a rewarding role in a highly dedicated team, a safe operating environment and the training, equipment and processes necessary to deliver a best-in-class emergency service.
What I enjoy most about being part of the Irish Coast Guard is the people on our team and the sense of camaraderie. You are surrounded by like-minded people who are all there for the same reason, to help others, and that creates a really strong bond.
Coastal Unit Advisory Group
The Coastal Unit Advisory Group (CUAG) is the representative body for our volunteers. It provides a structured method of communication between Irish Coast Guard management and volunteer members of the Coast Guard Units.
The group recognises the importance of volunteers in delivering search and rescue in Ireland allows them to formally share their ideas and advice on decisions, policies, and projects that affect how the Irish Coast Guard carries out its search and rescue work.
CUAG representatives also offer guidance and support with any problems or concerns volunteer members may have within the Coast Guard.
APPLY TO VOLUNTEER WITH US
We are always looking for passionate people to join our team and help make a difference. If you have some spare time and want to learn new skills while giving back, we would love to hear from you.
Ready to get started? Please click the link below to fill out our short volunteer application form, and a member of our team will be in touch with you soon.