Volunteer to be a National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) Watchkeeper at St Donat’s Bay

NCI St Donat’s Bay is keeping a special lookout this summer – searching for the next intake of volunteer watchkeepers.

The station, based at UWC Atlantic near Llantwit Major, is the eyes and ears along the coast to help keep people safe. Working with search and rescue teams including the RNLI and HM Coastguard, NCI St Donat’s is crewed by a team of volunteers from the local community, staff and students from the College.

Open during daylight hours, it’s aiming to expand to 7 days a week with the help of more volunteer crew. New recruits will receive full training in nautical knowledge, search and rescue protocols and a range of skills required to meet the high standards of HM Coastguard and the RYA.

“Our Watchkeepers are extraordinary volunteers, says Station Manager Neil French, himself a volunteer. “They are a team of people who’ve quickly become part of the heart of the seafront, working alongside search and rescue teams to protect people’s safety. Our volunteers learn new skills quickly while making new friends and we all feel really lucky to be part of something so special.”

Volunteers are aged 16+ of any gender and work alongside local volunteer crew, student cadets and staff at the College to deliver a year-round Coastwatch service.

Watchkeepers often come from the local community and all walks of life, offering a wide range of transferable skills and experience but sharing a common purpose: to volunteer their time to search and rescue at sea and on the coast
You don’t have to have any maritime experience as full training is provided.
  
As a volunteer you are required to:

Engage in full training programme (on average, lasting approximately 6 months before becoming fully qualified). This will be followed by a formal assessment to meet rigorous HMCG and RYA standards

Attend classroom and on watch training

Commit to an average of 4 watches of 4 hours per month

Attend crew meetings with a minimum of 4 per year

Support fundraising activities

Attend refresh training as and when required

This equates to volunteering on average 20 hours per month

Crew are also required to:

• Wear the NCI uniform when on duty representing the charity. The uniform gives the watchkeeper an air of authority, which has proved essential when dealing with the members of the public in an emergency situation

• Undergo an advance DBS check

• Many crew volunteer to be on the station management committee

Timelines

• Application sifts – 8th August 2025

• Informal discussions – 14th August 2025

• Try-Out Watches – August and September 2025 (you can make sure it is for you before committing)

• If successful, your training will commence in October 2025
  If you are interested in volunteering at the NCI St. Donat’s Bay station, please complete the short form below.