There are various volunteering opportunities available within North Ayrshire.
Please browse the selection below to find a suitable volunteering opportunity in your local area:
Become a “Watchkeeper”!
Volunteers are guided through a training process, with instruction in radio procedures, navigation, map reading, first aid, and more. This is an interesting and worthwhile volunteering opportunity.
You will work with our skilled and highly trained volunteers through a specialised training course, resulting in becoming a Watchkeeper with adaptable skills that could be used in full-time paid employment. A Training Pack will be organised for you, identifying the skills you learn and those which you still need to acquire. Not only will you learn to approach new challenges competently and confidently, which is useful when looking for paid employment, but you will also learn less obvious skills through interaction with the public, using your first aid skills, patrolling the harbour or beach area, helping to organise events, or selling teas and coffees in our wee shop.
We hold various public events throughout the year, including our hugely successful annual Polar Plunge in January, and it is hoped that all our volunteers participate in the organising before and during these events.
We work closely with HM Coastguard, the Police, and the RNLI and are members of the Sea Safety Group. Beach and Harbour patrols are carried out regularly to ensure public safety and the general welfare of the environment. Wearing a Coastwatch uniform is not required until you are certain you wish to become a volunteer with us. All we ask of our volunteers is that you undertake to spend a minimum of 10 hours per month carrying out Coastwatch duties. An initial interview with our Station Manager will take place at the Beach Pavilion before a volunteering opportunity is offered.
Travel Expenses
No travelling expenses are paid to volunteers while travelling to and from the Coastwatch office. All other expenses (if any) are covered by Coastwatch.
Support
Our new volunteers’ initial training course covers first aid, radio procedures, navigation, and map reading. These can be converted into recognised qualifications by the RYA and SQA. Training is mostly in-house, and our volunteers should attend weekly training sessions held on Wednesday evenings and occasionally at weekends, either inside the Coastwatch Pavilion or, if the weather is good, outside on the beach or in the Beach Park. We also have opportunities to train for DofE awards.
Restrictions
Volunteers (aged 16-25) taking part in this opportunity are eligible to claim Saltire Awards hours for their activity.
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