Overview
- The MCA has moved to a new volunteer model that stops hourly payments for Coastguard Rescue Officers who attend call‑outs and training, a change the agency says follows the Court of Appeal ruling on legal classification.
- About 3,000 volunteer responders across the UK are affected by the change and will continue to receive training, equipment, uniforms and PPE according to MCA statements.
- Local MPs in coastal areas and volunteers warn that removing modest payments that covered lost earnings risks making it harder for people with paid jobs to remain on call and could prompt resignations.
- Media reports include anonymous accounts of some volunteers already leaving the service, while the MCA says it will support the transition but has not published full details of any replacement compensation.
- The decision aims to limit employment‑law risk for the service but creates short‑term uncertainty for recruitment and local search‑and‑rescue capacity, with community safety and staffing levels the key issues to watch next.