Coastwatch launches volunteer push ahead of summer

A coastguard station is looking for new volunteers to help keep people safe in an area with the world's second-largest tidal range.

The station at Minehead in Somerset, which is run by the National Coastwatch Institution and has been operational since 2023, currently has 25 volunteers but more are needed ahead of the busy summer months.

Once recruits complete their training they will be required to do a number of three-hour shifts looking out for people and vessels in distress and watching for any environmental or wildlife incidents.

Station manager David Curran said the Bristol Channel, as far out as the Welsh coast and the Holme Islands, was very "busy" and could be dangerous for water users.

Curran said with 25 volunteers the station can operate three days a week on Saturday, Sunday and Monday - days that are "statistically when the most incidents take place".

He said he hoped to increase the volunteer workforce to about 70 within the next two years.

"A fully-fledged station... has around 300 watchers and operates seven days a week," he said.

"For each day you actually need around 10 watchkeepers.

"We need to grow our number of watchkeepers and then we can increase the number of days we cover."

He went on to explain the station was, "to a large degree", self-funded.

"We've got quite a big area of coverage and that includes not only leisure activity in the beaches but you've also got the big ships out in the middle," he said.

"The Bristol Channel has the second-biggest tidal range in the world.

"That makes it more dangerous and catches water-users out.

"It's quite a busy area."

Applications to become a volunteer Watchkeeper are open.

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