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Open Introduce legislation to make it possible to renumerate emergency volunteers

Created by John Bradbury MBE
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In our view, following the Groom vs Maritime and Coastguard Agency case, the Government needs to recognise the essential role volunteers play in the emergency service sector by introducing legislation allowing organisations to remunerate emergency volunteers whilst preserving its volunteer status.

Since the mid-1800s shore based maritime search & rescue has been performed by volunteers. We think that over the last 175 years the frequency of rescues has increased, along with the standards/training requirement to conform with health & safety, safeguarding and clinical standards. In our view, this evolution has muddied the waters between worker and volunteer over time. We think when volunteers leave their primary employment or families to provide an emergency response, it is only fair to remunerate them.

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  • Government responded to this petition

    Government deeply values the contributions of Coastguard Rescue Officers. We will explore longer term options for their continued recognition and reward, with flexibility to serve their communities.

    Read the response in full

    The Government deeply values the extraordinary contribution of Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs) and all other responders who give their time to keep people safe across the UK. Their professionalism and commitment are beyond question.

    For generations, HM Coastguard’s coastal response has depended on people from local communities who choose to serve - often alongside full-time employment and family life - with professionalism, commitment and courage. That tradition remains at the heart of the Coastguard Rescue Service today.

    On 14 January 2026, the Court of Appeal found against the MCA in the case of the MCA vs Groom. This clarified that by providing modest remuneration, the MCA had inadvertently created a worker relationship with Coastguard Rescue Officers. A change was therefore required to restore the volunteer model, or enact the worker model, to ensure compliance with the judgment.

    Previously communicated plans to move to an expenses-only volunteer model in September 2026 will not go ahead.

    Government is committed to gathering robust information to further understand the full operational implications of future decisions, as well as the impact on individual Coastguard Rescue Officers and the decisions they will make.

    Over the coming months, the MCA will carry out further engagement with trade unions, Coastguard Rescue Officers, and members of Parliament. The insight gathered will support the MCA’s understanding of operational implications and inform future decisions on the shape of the Coastguard Rescue Service.

    In the longer term, the Government will explore options for how CROs can continue to be rightfully recognised and rewarded and have the flexibility to continue to serve their communities.

    Department for Transport

  • Related activity

    Remuneration of coastguard volunteers: recent activity in Parliament

    The renumeration of Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs), has been raised several times recently in Parliament, most recently in a written ministerial statement.

    Statement

    On 16 July, Transport Minister Keir Mather MP published a written statement on the Coastguard Rescue Service.

    The Minister confirmed that previous plans for CROs to move to an expenses-only volunteer model in September, will not go ahead. Current arrangements will remain in place.

    Written ministerial statements are normally used to put the day-to-day business of government on the official record and in the public domain.

    Urgent Question

    Prior to the Minister's statement, on 8 July MPs had questioned the Government about the management of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the proposed changes to payments made to CROs.

    The issue was raised as an Urgent Question. An MP can apply to ask an Urgent Question if an urgent or important issue arises, which they think needs an immediate answer from the Government.

    Debate

    On 1 July, Alistair Carmichael MP led a Westminster Hall debate on HMRC guidance and remuneration of coastguard volunteers.

    Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to debate a topic of their choice, and receive a response from the Government.

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  • Government will respond to this petition

    This petition got more than 10,000 signatures meaning that government will respond to it.

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 13 October 2026.