Introduce legislation to make it possible to renumerate emergency volunteers

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.

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.