Join the Team

Things to Consider Before Applying

It is crucial for potential volunteers to fully understand the level of commitment required when joining our Lowland Rescue Search Team in an operational role. This commitment extends beyond just your own involvement; it also impacts your family, time, finances, and normal daily routines. It’s important to recognise that emergency call-outs can occur at any time, often disrupting your regular schedule.

In addition to time commitments, there are financial considerations as well. As an operational volunteer, you will need to have your own reliable transportation, cover fuel costs, and purchase necessary clothing and personal equipment such as torches. However, we advise against rushing out to buy extensive equipment on your first day. It’s best to start with the essentials and gradually acquire additional items as needed.

It’s worth noting that the average amount of volunteer hours per individual is approximately two hundred hours per year. This figure helps provide an idea of the time dedication expected from our operational volunteers.

It’s important to manage expectations regarding the nature of our work. If you are seeking an experience involving sirens, blue lights, high-speed driving, and adrenaline-fueled actions, our organisation does not engage in those activities. Our top priority is always safety, and we strictly adhere to Lowland Rescue operating procedures to ensure lives are saved in a safe and secure manner.

Volunteers must be:

physically fit (operational members must be able to pass the fitness test of walking five miles in two hours)
over eighteen years of age
willing to undergo enhanced DBS checks
have a full driving licence and use of a car

It takes approximately one hundred hours to qualify as a search technician, with most completing the training within six months.

There are eight mandatory training sessions which are delivered on a Thursday evening.

There is a final assessment course held over a weekend.
The short answer is "No!"

While it is useful to have experience of some of the skills already like sending messages via a radio or navigating with a map and compass, we'd like to stress that it's not essential.

Our training programme is designed to take someone with no previous qualifications and, with a good level of commitment, turn them into licenced search technicians who are confident and competent in all the basic skills. Recognition of prior learning will be considered for some subjects, for example medical and water rescue.
We accept trainees from eighteen years old (on day 1 of the training programme), and there is no upper age limit. Providing you are capable of maintaining your skills and fitness level, everyone is welcome to volunteer.

There is the expectation that all operational members are comfortably capable of walking five miles in under two hours over rough terrain whilst carrying team equipment. Operational members are expected, when required, to help carry a loaded stretcher and perform chest compressions as part of basic life support.

There are no fitness requirements for non-operational members in a support role such as fundraising.
WightSAR works on an on-call system, and all operational members are required to use an app to update whether they are available to attend a callout.

A team member has total control over choosing the times that they are on-call, and can change their status at a moment’s notice; we understand that work and family commitments should come first.
A search technician aims to find a missing or vulnerable person as rapidly as possible, provide any initial life-saving treatment and then move them to a place of safety.

This could be into the back of an ambulance, or home to their worried family members. All search technicians are qualified to Lowland Rescue National Standards, which means neighbouring teams can work seamlessly together.

Search technicians have the responsibility of arriving at a callout prepared with the appropriate clothing and equipment, to be fit and well enough to go out and search for the missing person, to follow instruction from their Team Leader, and support the other members of their team.

While out on a call, search technicians will work in small teams to locate the missing person. They will work under direction of the team leader, who will have been briefed on a search plan by the search manager.

Search skills, communication and the ability to follow instructions accurately will all be used on a search. It is also important that every member of WightSAR is respectful to members of the public, especially family and friends of the missing person, that they meet on a search.
WightSAR rely entirely on grants and fundraising for income so anyone that would like to join to support with fundraising will be welcomed.

There are also administrative roles such as web development and supporting the writing of funding applications.

If you have skills in business, vehicle or equipment maintenance, communication or fundraising, then we’d love to hear from you if you have time to volunteer in a support role.
All roles within WightSAR are voluntary and unpaid.

Expenses are not paid so you need to be responsible for your own fuel, food, drinks and outdoor clothing.

All operational members will be issued personal protective equipment and uniform, but other items such as boots and outdoor clothing are the financial responsibility of the members.

Status November 2024

We are NOW RECRUITING for new volunteers. Please email membership@wightsar.org to register your interest.

The recruitment process requires significant commitment and organisation from our volunteers. We tend to organise recruitment every twelve months. Look out for our social media updates or revisit this page.

Roles required

Licenced Search Technicians
Support Role (Non-Operational)
Fundraising Support

Requirements

Volunteers must be:

physically fit ( operational members must able to pass the fitness test of walking five miles in two hours)
over eighteen years of age
willing to undergo enhanced DBS checks
have a full driving licence and use of a car

Commitment

WightSAR Volunteers train every second Thursday night, 19:00 to 21:00, plus the occasional weekend. New trainees will undertake a specific training programme.

All roles within WightSAR are voluntary and unpaid.

To qualify as a licenced search technician you will also be required to attend a weekend assessment course held here on the Island. The next assessment weekend will be held on the 26th and 27th April 2025. There will be a fee of £75 to help cover the cost of the assessment course.

Newly qualified search technicians will have to complete a probationary period following the initial training.

In order to maintain licenced status, search technicians must undertake a minimum of four searches in twelve months. All volunteers are expected to undertake a minimum number of fundraising hours per year (currently sixteen hours).

A one off full membership fee is charged at £20.

Equipment

WightSAR will provide you with a logo polo shirt , a class three 'Hi Vis' and a waterproof jacket; all of which must be returned when you leave. All other kit is purchased by the volunteer.

Need More Information?

For further information please email membership@wightsar.org