Sunderland Volunteer Life Brigade

Search and Rescue Team - Currently Recruiting for Volunteers

VLB Rescue Officers have the mental capacity, strength, and endurance to function for at least 30 minutes in heavy seas and on rugged terrain during adverse weather conditions.
The SAR Team are able to respond to emergencies as directed by Humber Coastguard and is on call round-the-clock 365 days a year. The team is currently undergoing training/recruiting towards getting Declared Facility status.
All of our team members are qualified in first aid.

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Coastwatch - Currently Recruiting for Volunteers

The Coastwatch Team provides a visual watch on the sea, coastline, piers and harbour. Using their ‘eyes and ears’ to monitor the local area, the Watch Keepers maintain a log of all craft movements, provide weather reports and observe activities such as water sports. They are able to spot and report incidents as they happen. This improves response times from the emergency services and also improves safety for all who use the area. The Coastwatch currently operates 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Sunderland Coastwatch is a member of the Sea Safety Group. The Sea Safety Group is a nationwide organisation that ensures a high standard of watchkeeping is maintained and has a direct link to H.M. Coastguard.

The Lookout is equipped with radar, radios, weather station, electronic charts, telescope and binoculars.

Sunderland Coastwatch have attained the standards as required by the Sea Safety Group and have declared facility status. 

 

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Watch House Visitor Centre

The Roker Watch House is not only the headquarters of the Brigade as it also holds a wealth of information on its work and the rescues it has carried out over the past 130 years.  As well as the many photographs on display, there are artifacts from some of the ships wrecked off the coast and a variety of examples of rescue equipment used by the Brigade. The Visitor Centre will be open every Saturday from 10am until 1pm until further notice. Entry is free and light refreshments can be purchased for a small charge. It is a very interesting visit for anyone interested in local or maritime history. 

 

Mission Support

This team includes members from the other three teams as well as people who concentrate solely on fundraising. As the Brigade is fully self supporting it relies on collections, donations and grants to raise the funds necessary to provide all of the rescue and safety equipment, Coastwatch equipment, the emergency vehicle and maintain the Watch House. Without the dedication of this team the work of the Brigade could not continue, it is vital to every aspect of what can be achieved.