When I was thirteen  I was rescued by the Coast Guard and ever since I have had a desire to volunteer for them. I am now 25 and have free time. I am a normal weight and have no physical disabilities. Am I the sort of person that the Coast Guard want to recruit?

All of the following must apply:

Volunteer as a coastguard

What the Coastguard Rescue Service does

The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of volunteers and is part of HM Coastguard.

As a coastguard rescue officer you may have to:

help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water

search for missing people

report and deal with pollution and other hazards

help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding

gather information for the coastguard operations centre

go to schools, clubs and other public places to tell people about staying safe at sea and along the coast

carry out duties for the Receiver of Wreck, for example dealing with wreckage or dead whales and dolphins on the shoreline

What to expect as a volunteer

As a coastguard rescue officer you:

could be called out at any time of the day or night

may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours

may have to carry out physically demanding tasks, for example carrying heavy equipment to rescue sites

As a volunteer you will not be paid. You can claim a small amount for your time and expenses.

Volunteering and working

You can have a full time job and still be a coastguard rescue officer.

You must ask your employer if you can respond to emergencies during work hours before you become a volunteer.

You can still go on holiday - just let your coastguard manager know when you’re going to be away.

Training and equipment

You must pass initial training by HM Coastguard, followed by regular training to keep your skills up to date.

This will include training in:

first aid

water rescue

map work

search techniques

communications

skills you need for your local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue

Training is often held in the evenings or at weekends.

You’ll be given all the equipment and protective clothing that you need.

Who can apply

All of the following must apply:

you’re aged 18 or over

you have a full driving licence

you live or work within 30 minutes of the rescue station - check the map to find your nearest station

Your local station may have further requirements, for example you may need to live closer to the station.

Health and fitness

You need to be reasonably fit and generally in good health. You must also:

weigh 120kg or less

have a waist measurement of 110cm or less

You must take a health and fitness test, and meet eyesight and hearing requirements.

If you have type 1 diabetes there will be restrictions on what activities you can do. Contact crsenquiries@mcga.gov.uk to find out if you can apply.

How to apply

Contact your local area management team to find out if there are any volunteering opportunities.

To do this, you need to find which team is responsible for your area.

Check the map of coastguard stations in the UK. If you cannot access the map, contact crsenquiries@mcga.gov.uk.

Find the coastguard station you want to volunteer at on the map.

Check which area the station is in, for example ‘Area 1’.

Email the relevant area - you can find the contact details in the table. Use the subject line ‘coastguard rescue service enrolment’. Do not send your CV or any other attachments.

Area contact details

Find the email address for your local area.

Coastguard area | Email address |

1 | area1@mcga.gov.uk |

2 | area2@mcga.gov.uk |

3 | area3@mcga.gov.uk |

4 | area4@mcga.gov.uk |

5 | area5@mcga.gov.uk |

6 | area6@mcga.gov.uk |

7 | area7@mcga.gov.uk |

8 | area8@mcga.gov.uk |

9 | area9@mcga.gov.uk |

10 | area10@mcga.gov.uk |

11 | area11@mcga.gov.uk |

12 | area12@mcga.gov.uk |

13 | area13@mcga.gov.uk |

14 | area14@mcga.gov.uk |

15 | area15@mcga.gov.uk |

16 | area16@mcga.gov.uk |

17 | area17@mcga.gov.uk |

18 | area18@mcga.gov.uk |

you’re aged 18 or over

Volunteer as a coastguard

What the Coastguard Rescue Service does

The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of volunteers and is part of HM Coastguard.

As a coastguard rescue officer you may have to:

help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water

search for missing people

report and deal with pollution and other hazards

help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding

gather information for the coastguard operations centre

What to expect as a volunteer

As a coastguard rescue officer you:

could be called out at any time of the day or night

may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours

may have to carry out physically demanding tasks, for example carrying heavy equipment to rescue sites

As a volunteer you will not be paid. You can claim a small amount for your time and expenses.

Volunteering and working

You can have a full time job and still be a coastguard rescue officer.

You can still go on holiday - just let your coastguard manager know when you’re going to be away.

Training and equipment

This will include training in:

first aid

water rescue

map work

search techniques

communications

skills you need for your local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue

Training is often held in the evenings or at weekends.

You’ll be given all the equipment and protective clothing that you need.

Who can apply

All of the following must apply:

you’re aged 18 or over

you have a full driving licence

you live or work within 30 minutes of the rescue station - check the map to find your nearest station

Health and fitness

You need to be reasonably fit and generally in good health. You must also:

weigh 120kg or less

have a waist measurement of 110cm or less

You must take a health and fitness test, and meet eyesight and hearing requirements.

How to apply

Contact your local area management team to find out if there are any volunteering opportunities.

To do this, you need to find which team is responsible for your area.

Find the coastguard station you want to volunteer at on the map.

Check which area the station is in, for example ‘Area 1’.

Area contact details

Find the email address for your local area.

Coastguard area | Email address |

1 | area1@mcga.gov.uk |

2 | area2@mcga.gov.uk |

3 | area3@mcga.gov.uk |

4 | area4@mcga.gov.uk |

5 | area5@mcga.gov.uk |

6 | area6@mcga.gov.uk |

7 | area7@mcga.gov.uk |

8 | area8@mcga.gov.uk |

9 | area9@mcga.gov.uk |

10 | area10@mcga.gov.uk |

11 | area11@mcga.gov.uk |

12 | area12@mcga.gov.uk |

13 | area13@mcga.gov.uk |

14 | area14@mcga.gov.uk |

15 | area15@mcga.gov.uk |

16 | area16@mcga.gov.uk |

17 | area17@mcga.gov.uk |

18 | area18@mcga.gov.uk |

you have a full driving licence

Volunteer as a coastguard

What the Coastguard Rescue Service does

The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of volunteers and is part of HM Coastguard.

As a coastguard rescue officer you may have to:

help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water

search for missing people

report and deal with pollution and other hazards

help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding

gather information for the coastguard operations centre

What to expect as a volunteer

As a coastguard rescue officer you:

could be called out at any time of the day or night

may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours

may have to carry out physically demanding tasks, for example carrying heavy equipment to rescue sites

As a volunteer you will not be paid. You can claim a small amount for your time and expenses.

Volunteering and working

You can have a full time job and still be a coastguard rescue officer.

You can still go on holiday - just let your coastguard manager know when you’re going to be away.

Training and equipment

This will include training in:

first aid

water rescue

map work

search techniques

communications

skills you need for your local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue

Training is often held in the evenings or at weekends.

You’ll be given all the equipment and protective clothing that you need.

Who can apply

All of the following must apply:

you’re aged 18 or over

you have a full driving licence

you live or work within 30 minutes of the rescue station - check the map to find your nearest station

Health and fitness

You need to be reasonably fit and generally in good health. You must also:

weigh 120kg or less

have a waist measurement of 110cm or less

You must take a health and fitness test, and meet eyesight and hearing requirements.

How to apply

Contact your local area management team to find out if there are any volunteering opportunities.

To do this, you need to find which team is responsible for your area.

Find the coastguard station you want to volunteer at on the map.

Check which area the station is in, for example ‘Area 1’.

Area contact details

Find the email address for your local area.

Coastguard area | Email address |

1 | area1@mcga.gov.uk |

2 | area2@mcga.gov.uk |

3 | area3@mcga.gov.uk |

4 | area4@mcga.gov.uk |

5 | area5@mcga.gov.uk |

6 | area6@mcga.gov.uk |

7 | area7@mcga.gov.uk |

8 | area8@mcga.gov.uk |

9 | area9@mcga.gov.uk |

10 | area10@mcga.gov.uk |

11 | area11@mcga.gov.uk |

12 | area12@mcga.gov.uk |

13 | area13@mcga.gov.uk |

14 | area14@mcga.gov.uk |

15 | area15@mcga.gov.uk |

16 | area16@mcga.gov.uk |

17 | area17@mcga.gov.uk |

18 | area18@mcga.gov.uk |

Volunteer as a coastguard

What the Coastguard Rescue Service does

The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of volunteers and is part of HM Coastguard.

As a coastguard rescue officer you may have to:

help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water

search for missing people

report and deal with pollution and other hazards

help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding

gather information for the coastguard operations centre

What to expect as a volunteer

As a coastguard rescue officer you:

could be called out at any time of the day or night

may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours

may have to carry out physically demanding tasks, for example carrying heavy equipment to rescue sites

As a volunteer you will not be paid. You can claim a small amount for your time and expenses.

Volunteering and working

You can have a full time job and still be a coastguard rescue officer.

You can still go on holiday - just let your coastguard manager know when you’re going to be away.

Training and equipment

This will include training in:

first aid

water rescue

map work

search techniques

communications

skills you need for your local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue

Training is often held in the evenings or at weekends.

You’ll be given all the equipment and protective clothing that you need.

Who can apply

All of the following must apply:

you’re aged 18 or over

you have a full driving licence

you live or work within 30 minutes of the rescue station - check the map to find your nearest station

Health and fitness

You need to be reasonably fit and generally in good health. You must also:

weigh 120kg or less

have a waist measurement of 110cm or less

You must take a health and fitness test, and meet eyesight and hearing requirements.

How to apply

Contact your local area management team to find out if there are any volunteering opportunities.

To do this, you need to find which team is responsible for your area.

Find the coastguard station you want to volunteer at on the map.

Check which area the station is in, for example ‘Area 1’.

Area contact details

Find the email address for your local area.

Coastguard area | Email address |

1 | area1@mcga.gov.uk |

2 | area2@mcga.gov.uk |

3 | area3@mcga.gov.uk |

4 | area4@mcga.gov.uk |

5 | area5@mcga.gov.uk |

6 | area6@mcga.gov.uk |

7 | area7@mcga.gov.uk |

8 | area8@mcga.gov.uk |

9 | area9@mcga.gov.uk |

10 | area10@mcga.gov.uk |

11 | area11@mcga.gov.uk |

12 | area12@mcga.gov.uk |

13 | area13@mcga.gov.uk |

14 | area14@mcga.gov.uk |

15 | area15@mcga.gov.uk |

16 | area16@mcga.gov.uk |

17 | area17@mcga.gov.uk |

18 | area18@mcga.gov.uk |

Volunteer as a coastguard

What the Coastguard Rescue Service does

The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of volunteers and is part of HM Coastguard.

As a coastguard rescue officer you may have to:

help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water

search for missing people

report and deal with pollution and other hazards

help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding

gather information for the coastguard operations centre

What to expect as a volunteer

As a coastguard rescue officer you:

could be called out at any time of the day or night

may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours

may have to carry out physically demanding tasks, for example carrying heavy equipment to rescue sites

As a volunteer you will not be paid. You can claim a small amount for your time and expenses.

Volunteering and working

You can have a full time job and still be a coastguard rescue officer.

You can still go on holiday - just let your coastguard manager know when you’re going to be away.

Training and equipment

This will include training in:

first aid

water rescue

map work

search techniques

communications

skills you need for your local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue

Training is often held in the evenings or at weekends.

You’ll be given all the equipment and protective clothing that you need.

Who can apply

All of the following must apply:

you’re aged 18 or over

you have a full driving licence

you live or work within 30 minutes of the rescue station - check the map to find your nearest station

Health and fitness

You need to be reasonably fit and generally in good health. You must also:

weigh 120kg or less

have a waist measurement of 110cm or less

You must take a health and fitness test, and meet eyesight and hearing requirements.

How to apply

Contact your local area management team to find out if there are any volunteering opportunities.

To do this, you need to find which team is responsible for your area.

Find the coastguard station you want to volunteer at on the map.

Check which area the station is in, for example ‘Area 1’.

Area contact details

Find the email address for your local area.

Coastguard area | Email address |

1 | area1@mcga.gov.uk |

2 | area2@mcga.gov.uk |

3 | area3@mcga.gov.uk |

4 | area4@mcga.gov.uk |

5 | area5@mcga.gov.uk |

6 | area6@mcga.gov.uk |

7 | area7@mcga.gov.uk |

8 | area8@mcga.gov.uk |

9 | area9@mcga.gov.uk |

10 | area10@mcga.gov.uk |

11 | area11@mcga.gov.uk |

12 | area12@mcga.gov.uk |

13 | area13@mcga.gov.uk |

14 | area14@mcga.gov.uk |

15 | area15@mcga.gov.uk |

16 | area16@mcga.gov.uk |

17 | area17@mcga.gov.uk |

18 | area18@mcga.gov.uk |

Volunteer as a coastguard

What the Coastguard Rescue Service does

The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of volunteers and is part of HM Coastguard.

As a coastguard rescue officer you may have to:

help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water

search for missing people

report and deal with pollution and other hazards

help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding

gather information for the coastguard operations centre

go to schools, clubs and other public places to tell people about staying safe at sea and along the coast

What to expect as a volunteer

As a coastguard rescue officer you:

could be called out at any time of the day or night

may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours

may have to carry out physically demanding tasks, for example carrying heavy equipment to rescue sites

As a volunteer you will not be paid. You can claim a small amount for your time and expenses.

Volunteering and working

You can have a full time job and still be a coastguard rescue officer.

You can still go on holiday - just let your coastguard manager know when you’re going to be away.

Training and equipment

This will include training in:

first aid

water rescue

map work

search techniques

communications

skills you need for your local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue

Training is often held in the evenings or at weekends.

You’ll be given all the equipment and protective clothing that you need.

Who can apply

All of the following must apply:

you’re aged 18 or over

you have a full driving licence

you live or work within 30 minutes of the rescue station - check the map to find your nearest station

Your local station may have further requirements, for example you may need to live closer to the station.

Health and fitness

You need to be reasonably fit and generally in good health. You must also:

weigh 120kg or less

have a waist measurement of 110cm or less

You must take a health and fitness test, and meet eyesight and hearing requirements.

How to apply

Contact your local area management team to find out if there are any volunteering opportunities.

To do this, you need to find which team is responsible for your area.

Find the coastguard station you want to volunteer at on the map.

Check which area the station is in, for example ‘Area 1’.

Area contact details

Find the email address for your local area.

Coastguard area | Email address |

1 | area1@mcga.gov.uk |

2 | area2@mcga.gov.uk |

3 | area3@mcga.gov.uk |

4 | area4@mcga.gov.uk |

5 | area5@mcga.gov.uk |

6 | area6@mcga.gov.uk |

7 | area7@mcga.gov.uk |

8 | area8@mcga.gov.uk |

9 | area9@mcga.gov.uk |

10 | area10@mcga.gov.uk |

11 | area11@mcga.gov.uk |

12 | area12@mcga.gov.uk |

13 | area13@mcga.gov.uk |

14 | area14@mcga.gov.uk |

15 | area15@mcga.gov.uk |

16 | area16@mcga.gov.uk |

17 | area17@mcga.gov.uk |

18 | area18@mcga.gov.uk |

weigh 120kg or less

Volunteer as a coastguard

What the Coastguard Rescue Service does

The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of volunteers and is part of HM Coastguard.

As a coastguard rescue officer you may have to:

help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water

search for missing people

report and deal with pollution and other hazards

help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding

gather information for the coastguard operations centre

go to schools, clubs and other public places to tell people about staying safe at sea and along the coast

What to expect as a volunteer

As a coastguard rescue officer you:

could be called out at any time of the day or night

may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours

may have to carry out physically demanding tasks, for example carrying heavy equipment to rescue sites

As a volunteer you will not be paid. You can claim a small amount for your time and expenses.

Volunteering and working

You can have a full time job and still be a coastguard rescue officer.

You can still go on holiday - just let your coastguard manager know when you’re going to be away.

Training and equipment

This will include training in:

first aid

water rescue

map work

search techniques

communications

skills you need for your local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue

Training is often held in the evenings or at weekends.

You’ll be given all the equipment and protective clothing that you need.

Who can apply

All of the following must apply:

you’re aged 18 or over

you have a full driving licence

you live or work within 30 minutes of the rescue station - check the map to find your nearest station

Your local station may have further requirements, for example you may need to live closer to the station.

Health and fitness

You need to be reasonably fit and generally in good health. You must also:

weigh 120kg or less

have a waist measurement of 110cm or less

You must take a health and fitness test, and meet eyesight and hearing requirements.

How to apply

Contact your local area management team to find out if there are any volunteering opportunities.

To do this, you need to find which team is responsible for your area.

Find the coastguard station you want to volunteer at on the map.

Check which area the station is in, for example ‘Area 1’.

Area contact details

Find the email address for your local area.

Coastguard area | Email address |

1 | area1@mcga.gov.uk |

2 | area2@mcga.gov.uk |

3 | area3@mcga.gov.uk |

4 | area4@mcga.gov.uk |

5 | area5@mcga.gov.uk |

6 | area6@mcga.gov.uk |

7 | area7@mcga.gov.uk |

8 | area8@mcga.gov.uk |

9 | area9@mcga.gov.uk |

10 | area10@mcga.gov.uk |

11 | area11@mcga.gov.uk |

12 | area12@mcga.gov.uk |

13 | area13@mcga.gov.uk |

14 | area14@mcga.gov.uk |

15 | area15@mcga.gov.uk |

16 | area16@mcga.gov.uk |

17 | area17@mcga.gov.uk |

18 | area18@mcga.gov.uk |

Volunteer as a coastguard

What the Coastguard Rescue Service does

The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of volunteers and is part of HM Coastguard.

As a coastguard rescue officer you may have to:

help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water

search for missing people

report and deal with pollution and other hazards

help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding

gather information for the coastguard operations centre

go to schools, clubs and other public places to tell people about staying safe at sea and along the coast

What to expect as a volunteer

As a coastguard rescue officer you:

could be called out at any time of the day or night

may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours

may have to carry out physically demanding tasks, for example carrying heavy equipment to rescue sites

As a volunteer you will not be paid. You can claim a small amount for your time and expenses.

Volunteering and working

You can have a full time job and still be a coastguard rescue officer.

You can still go on holiday - just let your coastguard manager know when you’re going to be away.

Training and equipment

This will include training in:

first aid

water rescue

map work

search techniques

communications

skills you need for your local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue

Training is often held in the evenings or at weekends.

You’ll be given all the equipment and protective clothing that you need.

Who can apply

All of the following must apply:

you’re aged 18 or over

you have a full driving licence

you live or work within 30 minutes of the rescue station - check the map to find your nearest station

Your local station may have further requirements, for example you may need to live closer to the station.

Health and fitness

You need to be reasonably fit and generally in good health. You must also:

weigh 120kg or less

have a waist measurement of 110cm or less

You must take a health and fitness test, and meet eyesight and hearing requirements.

How to apply

Contact your local area management team to find out if there are any volunteering opportunities.

To do this, you need to find which team is responsible for your area.

Find the coastguard station you want to volunteer at on the map.

Check which area the station is in, for example ‘Area 1’.

Area contact details

Find the email address for your local area.

Coastguard area | Email address |

1 | area1@mcga.gov.uk |

2 | area2@mcga.gov.uk |

3 | area3@mcga.gov.uk |

4 | area4@mcga.gov.uk |

5 | area5@mcga.gov.uk |

6 | area6@mcga.gov.uk |

7 | area7@mcga.gov.uk |

8 | area8@mcga.gov.uk |

9 | area9@mcga.gov.uk |

10 | area10@mcga.gov.uk |

11 | area11@mcga.gov.uk |

12 | area12@mcga.gov.uk |

13 | area13@mcga.gov.uk |

14 | area14@mcga.gov.uk |

15 | area15@mcga.gov.uk |

16 | area16@mcga.gov.uk |

17 | area17@mcga.gov.uk |

18 | area18@mcga.gov.uk |

Volunteer as a coastguard

What the Coastguard Rescue Service does

The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of volunteers and is part of HM Coastguard.

As a coastguard rescue officer you may have to:

help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water

search for missing people

report and deal with pollution and other hazards

help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding

gather information for the coastguard operations centre

go to schools, clubs and other public places to tell people about staying safe at sea and along the coast

What to expect as a volunteer

As a coastguard rescue officer you:

could be called out at any time of the day or night

may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours

may have to carry out physically demanding tasks, for example carrying heavy equipment to rescue sites

As a volunteer you will not be paid. You can claim a small amount for your time and expenses.

Volunteering and working

You can have a full time job and still be a coastguard rescue officer.

You can still go on holiday - just let your coastguard manager know when you’re going to be away.

Training and equipment

This will include training in:

first aid

water rescue

map work

search techniques

communications

skills you need for your local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue

Training is often held in the evenings or at weekends.

You’ll be given all the equipment and protective clothing that you need.

Who can apply

All of the following must apply:

you’re aged 18 or over

you have a full driving licence

you live or work within 30 minutes of the rescue station - check the map to find your nearest station

Your local station may have further requirements, for example you may need to live closer to the station.

Health and fitness

You need to be reasonably fit and generally in good health. You must also:

weigh 120kg or less

have a waist measurement of 110cm or less

You must take a health and fitness test, and meet eyesight and hearing requirements.

How to apply

Contact your local area management team to find out if there are any volunteering opportunities.

To do this, you need to find which team is responsible for your area.

Find the coastguard station you want to volunteer at on the map.

Check which area the station is in, for example ‘Area 1’.

Area contact details

Find the email address for your local area.

Coastguard area | Email address |

1 | area1@mcga.gov.uk |

2 | area2@mcga.gov.uk |

3 | area3@mcga.gov.uk |

4 | area4@mcga.gov.uk |

5 | area5@mcga.gov.uk |

6 | area6@mcga.gov.uk |

7 | area7@mcga.gov.uk |

8 | area8@mcga.gov.uk |

9 | area9@mcga.gov.uk |

10 | area10@mcga.gov.uk |

11 | area11@mcga.gov.uk |

12 | area12@mcga.gov.uk |

13 | area13@mcga.gov.uk |

14 | area14@mcga.gov.uk |

15 | area15@mcga.gov.uk |

16 | area16@mcga.gov.uk |

17 | area17@mcga.gov.uk |

18 | area18@mcga.gov.uk |


I would really like to give something back to society by volunteering for the Coast Guard but I am unemployed right now and have very little disposable income to call my own. I do have a lot of free time, however. Are there any costs to be incurred in volunteering for the Coast Guard?

As a volunteer you will not be paid. You can claim a small amount for your time and expenses.

Volunteer as a coastguard

What the Coastguard Rescue Service does

The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of volunteers and is part of HM Coastguard.

As a coastguard rescue officer you may have to:

help rescue people trapped on the coast, for example on cliffs, stuck in mud or in the water

search for missing people

report and deal with pollution and other hazards

help emergency services and local authorities during emergencies, for example flooding

gather information for the coastguard operations centre

go to schools, clubs and other public places to tell people about staying safe at sea and along the coast

carry out duties for the Receiver of Wreck, for example dealing with wreckage or dead whales and dolphins on the shoreline

What to expect as a volunteer

As a coastguard rescue officer you:

could be called out at any time of the day or night

may have to work in hazardous situations for long hours

may have to carry out physically demanding tasks, for example carrying heavy equipment to rescue sites

Volunteering and working

You can have a full time job and still be a coastguard rescue officer.

You must ask your employer if you can respond to emergencies during work hours before you become a volunteer.

You can still go on holiday - just let your coastguard manager know when you’re going to be away.

Training and equipment

You must pass initial training by HM Coastguard, followed by regular training to keep your skills up to date.

This will include training in:

first aid

water rescue

map work

search techniques

communications

skills you need for your local area, for example rope rescue, mud rescue

Training is often held in the evenings or at weekends.

You’ll be given all the equipment and protective clothing that you need.

Who can apply

All of the following must apply:

you’re aged 18 or over

you have a full driving licence

you live or work within 30 minutes of the rescue station - check the map to find your nearest station

Your local station may have further requirements, for example you may need to live closer to the station.

Health and fitness

You need to be reasonably fit and generally in good health. You must also:

weigh 120kg or less

have a waist measurement of 110cm or less

You must take a health and fitness test, and meet eyesight and hearing requirements.

If you have type 1 diabetes there will be restrictions on what activities you can do. Contact crsenquiries@mcga.gov.uk to find out if you can apply.

How to apply

Contact your local area management team to find out if there are any volunteering opportunities.

To do this, you need to find which team is responsible for your area.

Check the map of coastguard stations in the UK. If you cannot access the map, contact crsenquiries@mcga.gov.uk.

Find the coastguard station you want to volunteer at on the map.

Check which area the station is in, for example ‘Area 1’.

Email the relevant area - you can find the contact details in the table. Use the subject line ‘coastguard rescue service enrolment’. Do not send your CV or any other attachments.

Area contact details

Find the email address for your local area.

Coastguard area | Email address |

1 | area1@mcga.gov.uk |

2 | area2@mcga.gov.uk |

3 | area3@mcga.gov.uk |

4 | area4@mcga.gov.uk |

5 | area5@mcga.gov.uk |

6 | area6@mcga.gov.uk |

7 | area7@mcga.gov.uk |

8 | area8@mcga.gov.uk |

9 | area9@mcga.gov.uk |

10 | area10@mcga.gov.uk |

11 | area11@mcga.gov.uk |

12 | area12@mcga.gov.uk |

13 | area13@mcga.gov.uk |

14 | area14@mcga.gov.uk |

15 | area15@mcga.gov.uk |

16 | area16@mcga.gov.uk |

17 | area17@mcga.gov.uk |

18 | area18@mcga.gov.uk |

Volunteer as a coastguard

What the Coastguard Rescue Service does

search for missing people

What to expect as a volunteer

As a coastguard rescue officer you:

Volunteering and working

Training and equipment

This will include training in:

first aid

water rescue

map work

search techniques

communications

Who can apply

All of the following must apply:

you’re aged 18 or over

you have a full driving licence

Health and fitness

weigh 120kg or less

How to apply

Area contact details

Coastguard area | Email address |

1 | area1@mcga.gov.uk |

2 | area2@mcga.gov.uk |

3 | area3@mcga.gov.uk |

4 | area4@mcga.gov.uk |

5 | area5@mcga.gov.uk |

6 | area6@mcga.gov.uk |

7 | area7@mcga.gov.uk |

8 | area8@mcga.gov.uk |

9 | area9@mcga.gov.uk |

10 | area10@mcga.gov.uk |

11 | area11@mcga.gov.uk |

12 | area12@mcga.gov.uk |

13 | area13@mcga.gov.uk |

14 | area14@mcga.gov.uk |

15 | area15@mcga.gov.uk |

16 | area16@mcga.gov.uk |

17 | area17@mcga.gov.uk |

18 | area18@mcga.gov.uk |


My daughter is 6 years old and suffering from dyslexia. We just been informed by the GP just now. We want to inform about the dyslexia to the school. Who do we contact in school about my child's special needs ?

If you think your child may have special educational needs, contact the SEN co-ordinator, or ‘SENCO’ in your child’s school or nursery.

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Overview

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can affect a child or young person’s ability to learn. They can affect their:

behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends

reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia

ability to understand things

concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD

physical ability

Who to talk to

Contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery.

Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND.

Support your child can receive

Your child may be eligible for:

SEN support - support given in school, like speech therapy

an education, health and care (EHC) plan - a plan of care for children and young people aged up to 25 who have more complex needs

If you or your child got support before September 2014 this will continue until your local council changes it to an EHC plan.

Special educational needs support

Your child will get SEN support at their school or college.

Your child may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan if they need more support than their school provides.

Children under 5

SEN support for children under 5 includes:

a written progress check when your child is 2 years old

a child health visitor carrying out a health check for your child if they’re aged 2 to 3

a written assessment in the summer term of your child’s first year of primary school

making reasonable adjustments for disabled children, like providing aids like tactile signs

Nurseries, playgroups and childminders registered with Ofsted follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. The framework makes sure that there’s support in place for children with SEND.

Talk to a doctor or health adviser if you think your child has SEND but they do not go to a nursery, playgroup or childminder. They’ll tell you what support options are available.

Children between 5 and 15

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:

a special learning programme

extra help from a teacher or assistant

to work in a smaller group

observation in class or at break

help taking part in class activities

extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult

help communicating with other children

support with physical or personal care difficulties, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet

Young people aged 16 or over in further education

Contact the college before your child starts further education to make sure that they can meet your child’s needs.

The college and your local authority will talk to your child about the support they need.

Extra help

An education, health and care (EHC) plan is for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through special educational needs support.

EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.

Requesting an EHC assessment

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan.

A young person can request an assessment themselves if they’re aged 16 to 25.

A request can also be made by anyone else who thinks an assessment may be necessary, including doctors, health visitors, teachers, parents and family friends.

If they decide to carry out an assessment you may be asked for:

any reports from your child’s school, nursery or childminder

doctors’ assessments of your child

a letter from you about your child’s needs

The local authority will tell you within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan is going to be made for your child.

Creating an EHC plan

Your local authority will create a draft EHC plan and send you a copy.

You have 15 days to comment, including if you want to ask that your child goes to a specialist needs school or specialist college.

Your local authority has 20 weeks from the date they receive the request for the assessment to give you the final EHC plan.

Disagreeing with a decision

You can challenge your local authority about:

their decision to not carry out an assessment

their decision to not create an EHC plan

the special educational support in the EHC plan

the school named in the EHC plan

If you cannot resolve the problem with your local authority, you can appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal.

Personal budgets

You may be able to get a personal budget for your child if they have an EHC plan or have been told that they need one.

It allows you to have a say in how to spend the money on support for your child.

There are 3 ways you can use your personal budget. You can have:

direct payments made into your account - you buy and manage services yourself

an arrangement with your local authority or school where they hold the money for you but you still decide how to spend it (sometimes called ‘notional arrangements’)

third-party arrangements - you choose someone else to manage the money for you

You can have a combination of all 3 options.

Independent support for children of all ages

Independent supporters can help you and your child through the new SEN assessment process, including:

replacing a statement of special educational needs with a new EHC plan

moving a child from a learning difficulty assessment (LDA) to an EHC plan

You can find out how to get local support through:

Council for Disabled Children

Information, Advice and Support Service Network

your local authority website and search for ‘Local Offer’

If your child got support before September 2014

Your child will move to an education, health and care (EHC) plan. This will normally happen at a planned review, or when your child moves school. Your council will tell you which.

Your child will already be getting SEN support if they used to get help through:

School Action or School Action Plus

Early Years Action or Early Years Action Plus

Support after your child leaves school

If your child has a statement of special educational needs, they’ll have a ‘transition plan’ drawn up in Year 9. This helps to plan for their future after they leave school.

They’ll continue to get support during further education. Your child can also ask for an EHC assessment if they need more help than the school or college can provide.

Help and advice

You can call the Contact a Family helpline for help and advice.

You can also get help from Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).

Your child will get SEN support at their school or college.

Overview

behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends

reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia

ability to understand things

concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD

physical ability

Who to talk to

Contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery.

Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND.

Support your child can receive

Your child may be eligible for:

SEN support - support given in school, like speech therapy

If you or your child got support before September 2014 this will continue until your local council changes it to an EHC plan.

Special educational needs support

Your child may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan if they need more support than their school provides.

Children under 5

SEN support for children under 5 includes:

a written progress check when your child is 2 years old

a child health visitor carrying out a health check for your child if they’re aged 2 to 3

a written assessment in the summer term of your child’s first year of primary school

making reasonable adjustments for disabled children, like providing aids like tactile signs

Children between 5 and 15

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:

a special learning programme

extra help from a teacher or assistant

to work in a smaller group

observation in class or at break

help taking part in class activities

extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult

help communicating with other children

support with physical or personal care difficulties, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet

Young people aged 16 or over in further education

Contact the college before your child starts further education to make sure that they can meet your child’s needs.

The college and your local authority will talk to your child about the support they need.

Extra help

EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.

Requesting an EHC assessment

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan.

A young person can request an assessment themselves if they’re aged 16 to 25.

If they decide to carry out an assessment you may be asked for:

any reports from your child’s school, nursery or childminder

doctors’ assessments of your child

a letter from you about your child’s needs

The local authority will tell you within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan is going to be made for your child.

Creating an EHC plan

Your local authority will create a draft EHC plan and send you a copy.

Your local authority has 20 weeks from the date they receive the request for the assessment to give you the final EHC plan.

Disagreeing with a decision

You can challenge your local authority about:

their decision to not carry out an assessment

their decision to not create an EHC plan

the special educational support in the EHC plan

the school named in the EHC plan

Personal budgets

You may be able to get a personal budget for your child if they have an EHC plan or have been told that they need one.

It allows you to have a say in how to spend the money on support for your child.

There are 3 ways you can use your personal budget. You can have:

direct payments made into your account - you buy and manage services yourself

third-party arrangements - you choose someone else to manage the money for you

You can have a combination of all 3 options.

Independent support for children of all ages

Independent supporters can help you and your child through the new SEN assessment process, including:

replacing a statement of special educational needs with a new EHC plan

moving a child from a learning difficulty assessment (LDA) to an EHC plan

You can find out how to get local support through:

Council for Disabled Children

Information, Advice and Support Service Network

your local authority website and search for ‘Local Offer’

If your child got support before September 2014

Your child will already be getting SEN support if they used to get help through:

School Action or School Action Plus

Early Years Action or Early Years Action Plus

Support after your child leaves school

Help and advice

You can call the Contact a Family helpline for help and advice.

You can also get help from Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:

Overview

behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends

reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia

ability to understand things

concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD

physical ability

Who to talk to

Contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery.

Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND.

Support your child can receive

Your child may be eligible for:

SEN support - support given in school, like speech therapy

If you or your child got support before September 2014 this will continue until your local council changes it to an EHC plan.

Special educational needs support

Your child will get SEN support at their school or college.

Your child may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan if they need more support than their school provides.

Children under 5

SEN support for children under 5 includes:

a written progress check when your child is 2 years old

a child health visitor carrying out a health check for your child if they’re aged 2 to 3

a written assessment in the summer term of your child’s first year of primary school

making reasonable adjustments for disabled children, like providing aids like tactile signs

Children between 5 and 15

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:

a special learning programme

extra help from a teacher or assistant

to work in a smaller group

observation in class or at break

help taking part in class activities

extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult

help communicating with other children

support with physical or personal care difficulties, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet

Young people aged 16 or over in further education

Contact the college before your child starts further education to make sure that they can meet your child’s needs.

The college and your local authority will talk to your child about the support they need.

Extra help

EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.

Requesting an EHC assessment

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan.

A young person can request an assessment themselves if they’re aged 16 to 25.

If they decide to carry out an assessment you may be asked for:

any reports from your child’s school, nursery or childminder

doctors’ assessments of your child

a letter from you about your child’s needs

The local authority will tell you within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan is going to be made for your child.

Creating an EHC plan

Your local authority will create a draft EHC plan and send you a copy.

Your local authority has 20 weeks from the date they receive the request for the assessment to give you the final EHC plan.

Disagreeing with a decision

You can challenge your local authority about:

their decision to not carry out an assessment

their decision to not create an EHC plan

the special educational support in the EHC plan

the school named in the EHC plan

Personal budgets

You may be able to get a personal budget for your child if they have an EHC plan or have been told that they need one.

It allows you to have a say in how to spend the money on support for your child.

There are 3 ways you can use your personal budget. You can have:

direct payments made into your account - you buy and manage services yourself

third-party arrangements - you choose someone else to manage the money for you

You can have a combination of all 3 options.

Independent support for children of all ages

Independent supporters can help you and your child through the new SEN assessment process, including:

replacing a statement of special educational needs with a new EHC plan

moving a child from a learning difficulty assessment (LDA) to an EHC plan

You can find out how to get local support through:

Council for Disabled Children

Information, Advice and Support Service Network

your local authority website and search for ‘Local Offer’

If your child got support before September 2014

Your child will already be getting SEN support if they used to get help through:

School Action or School Action Plus

Early Years Action or Early Years Action Plus

Support after your child leaves school

Help and advice

You can call the Contact a Family helpline for help and advice.

You can also get help from Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).

a special learning programme

Overview

behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends

reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia

ability to understand things

concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD

physical ability

Who to talk to

Contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery.

Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND.

Support your child can receive

Your child may be eligible for:

SEN support - support given in school, like speech therapy

If you or your child got support before September 2014 this will continue until your local council changes it to an EHC plan.

Special educational needs support

Your child will get SEN support at their school or college.

Your child may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan if they need more support than their school provides.

Children under 5

SEN support for children under 5 includes:

a written progress check when your child is 2 years old

a child health visitor carrying out a health check for your child if they’re aged 2 to 3

a written assessment in the summer term of your child’s first year of primary school

making reasonable adjustments for disabled children, like providing aids like tactile signs

Children between 5 and 15

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:

a special learning programme

extra help from a teacher or assistant

to work in a smaller group

observation in class or at break

help taking part in class activities

extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult

help communicating with other children

support with physical or personal care difficulties, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet

Young people aged 16 or over in further education

Contact the college before your child starts further education to make sure that they can meet your child’s needs.

The college and your local authority will talk to your child about the support they need.

Extra help

EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.

Requesting an EHC assessment

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan.

A young person can request an assessment themselves if they’re aged 16 to 25.

If they decide to carry out an assessment you may be asked for:

any reports from your child’s school, nursery or childminder

doctors’ assessments of your child

a letter from you about your child’s needs

The local authority will tell you within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan is going to be made for your child.

Creating an EHC plan

Your local authority will create a draft EHC plan and send you a copy.

Your local authority has 20 weeks from the date they receive the request for the assessment to give you the final EHC plan.

Disagreeing with a decision

You can challenge your local authority about:

their decision to not carry out an assessment

their decision to not create an EHC plan

the special educational support in the EHC plan

the school named in the EHC plan

Personal budgets

You may be able to get a personal budget for your child if they have an EHC plan or have been told that they need one.

It allows you to have a say in how to spend the money on support for your child.

There are 3 ways you can use your personal budget. You can have:

direct payments made into your account - you buy and manage services yourself

third-party arrangements - you choose someone else to manage the money for you

You can have a combination of all 3 options.

Independent support for children of all ages

Independent supporters can help you and your child through the new SEN assessment process, including:

replacing a statement of special educational needs with a new EHC plan

moving a child from a learning difficulty assessment (LDA) to an EHC plan

You can find out how to get local support through:

Council for Disabled Children

Information, Advice and Support Service Network

your local authority website and search for ‘Local Offer’

If your child got support before September 2014

Your child will already be getting SEN support if they used to get help through:

School Action or School Action Plus

Early Years Action or Early Years Action Plus

Support after your child leaves school

Help and advice

You can call the Contact a Family helpline for help and advice.

You can also get help from Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).

extra help from a teacher or assistant

Overview

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can affect a child or young person’s ability to learn. They can affect their:

behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends

reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia

ability to understand things

concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD

physical ability

Who to talk to

Contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery.

Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND.

Support your child can receive

Your child may be eligible for:

SEN support - support given in school, like speech therapy

If you or your child got support before September 2014 this will continue until your local council changes it to an EHC plan.

Special educational needs support

Your child will get SEN support at their school or college.

Your child may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan if they need more support than their school provides.

Children under 5

SEN support for children under 5 includes:

a written progress check when your child is 2 years old

a child health visitor carrying out a health check for your child if they’re aged 2 to 3

a written assessment in the summer term of your child’s first year of primary school

making reasonable adjustments for disabled children, like providing aids like tactile signs

Children between 5 and 15

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:

a special learning programme

extra help from a teacher or assistant

to work in a smaller group

observation in class or at break

help taking part in class activities

extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult

help communicating with other children

support with physical or personal care difficulties, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet

Young people aged 16 or over in further education

Contact the college before your child starts further education to make sure that they can meet your child’s needs.

The college and your local authority will talk to your child about the support they need.

Extra help

EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.

Requesting an EHC assessment

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan.

A young person can request an assessment themselves if they’re aged 16 to 25.

If they decide to carry out an assessment you may be asked for:

any reports from your child’s school, nursery or childminder

doctors’ assessments of your child

a letter from you about your child’s needs

The local authority will tell you within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan is going to be made for your child.

Creating an EHC plan

Your local authority will create a draft EHC plan and send you a copy.

Your local authority has 20 weeks from the date they receive the request for the assessment to give you the final EHC plan.

Disagreeing with a decision

You can challenge your local authority about:

their decision to not carry out an assessment

their decision to not create an EHC plan

the special educational support in the EHC plan

the school named in the EHC plan

Personal budgets

You may be able to get a personal budget for your child if they have an EHC plan or have been told that they need one.

It allows you to have a say in how to spend the money on support for your child.

There are 3 ways you can use your personal budget. You can have:

direct payments made into your account - you buy and manage services yourself

third-party arrangements - you choose someone else to manage the money for you

You can have a combination of all 3 options.

Independent support for children of all ages

Independent supporters can help you and your child through the new SEN assessment process, including:

replacing a statement of special educational needs with a new EHC plan

moving a child from a learning difficulty assessment (LDA) to an EHC plan

You can find out how to get local support through:

Council for Disabled Children

Information, Advice and Support Service Network

your local authority website and search for ‘Local Offer’

If your child got support before September 2014

Your child will already be getting SEN support if they used to get help through:

School Action or School Action Plus

Early Years Action or Early Years Action Plus

Support after your child leaves school

Help and advice

You can call the Contact a Family helpline for help and advice.

You can also get help from Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).


We have a son who is 14 years old and he is still having difficulty to understand things. He is currently receiving special educational needs support. We think he might need more support than what he receive from SEND Is additional assessment required whether he needs more support than SEND ?

Your child may be eligible for:

Overview

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can affect a child or young person’s ability to learn. They can affect their:

behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends

reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia

ability to understand things

concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD

physical ability

Who to talk to

If you think your child may have special educational needs, contact the SEN co-ordinator, or ‘SENCO’ in your child’s school or nursery.

Contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery.

Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND.

Support your child can receive

Your child may be eligible for:

SEN support - support given in school, like speech therapy

an education, health and care (EHC) plan - a plan of care for children and young people aged up to 25 who have more complex needs

If you or your child got support before September 2014 this will continue until your local council changes it to an EHC plan.

Special educational needs support

Your child will get SEN support at their school or college.

Your child may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan if they need more support than their school provides.

Children under 5

SEN support for children under 5 includes:

a written progress check when your child is 2 years old

a child health visitor carrying out a health check for your child if they’re aged 2 to 3

a written assessment in the summer term of your child’s first year of primary school

making reasonable adjustments for disabled children, like providing aids like tactile signs

Nurseries, playgroups and childminders registered with Ofsted follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. The framework makes sure that there’s support in place for children with SEND.

Talk to a doctor or health adviser if you think your child has SEND but they do not go to a nursery, playgroup or childminder. They’ll tell you what support options are available.

Children between 5 and 15

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:

a special learning programme

extra help from a teacher or assistant

to work in a smaller group

observation in class or at break

help taking part in class activities

extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult

help communicating with other children

support with physical or personal care difficulties, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet

Young people aged 16 or over in further education

Contact the college before your child starts further education to make sure that they can meet your child’s needs.

The college and your local authority will talk to your child about the support they need.

Extra help

An education, health and care (EHC) plan is for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through special educational needs support.

EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.

Requesting an EHC assessment

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan.

A young person can request an assessment themselves if they’re aged 16 to 25.

A request can also be made by anyone else who thinks an assessment may be necessary, including doctors, health visitors, teachers, parents and family friends.

If they decide to carry out an assessment you may be asked for:

any reports from your child’s school, nursery or childminder

doctors’ assessments of your child

a letter from you about your child’s needs

The local authority will tell you within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan is going to be made for your child.

Creating an EHC plan

Your local authority will create a draft EHC plan and send you a copy.

You have 15 days to comment, including if you want to ask that your child goes to a specialist needs school or specialist college.

Your local authority has 20 weeks from the date they receive the request for the assessment to give you the final EHC plan.

Disagreeing with a decision

You can challenge your local authority about:

their decision to not carry out an assessment

their decision to not create an EHC plan

the special educational support in the EHC plan

the school named in the EHC plan

If you cannot resolve the problem with your local authority, you can appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal.

Personal budgets

You may be able to get a personal budget for your child if they have an EHC plan or have been told that they need one.

It allows you to have a say in how to spend the money on support for your child.

There are 3 ways you can use your personal budget. You can have:

direct payments made into your account - you buy and manage services yourself

an arrangement with your local authority or school where they hold the money for you but you still decide how to spend it (sometimes called ‘notional arrangements’)

third-party arrangements - you choose someone else to manage the money for you

You can have a combination of all 3 options.

Independent support for children of all ages

Independent supporters can help you and your child through the new SEN assessment process, including:

replacing a statement of special educational needs with a new EHC plan

moving a child from a learning difficulty assessment (LDA) to an EHC plan

You can find out how to get local support through:

Council for Disabled Children

Information, Advice and Support Service Network

your local authority website and search for ‘Local Offer’

If your child got support before September 2014

Your child will move to an education, health and care (EHC) plan. This will normally happen at a planned review, or when your child moves school. Your council will tell you which.

Your child will already be getting SEN support if they used to get help through:

School Action or School Action Plus

Early Years Action or Early Years Action Plus

Support after your child leaves school

If your child has a statement of special educational needs, they’ll have a ‘transition plan’ drawn up in Year 9. This helps to plan for their future after they leave school.

They’ll continue to get support during further education. Your child can also ask for an EHC assessment if they need more help than the school or college can provide.

Help and advice

You can call the Contact a Family helpline for help and advice.

You can also get help from Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).

Overview

behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends

reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia

ability to understand things

concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD

physical ability

Who to talk to

Contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery.

Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND.

Support your child can receive

Your child may be eligible for:

SEN support - support given in school, like speech therapy

If you or your child got support before September 2014 this will continue until your local council changes it to an EHC plan.

Special educational needs support

Your child will get SEN support at their school or college.

Your child may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan if they need more support than their school provides.

Children under 5

SEN support for children under 5 includes:

a written progress check when your child is 2 years old

a child health visitor carrying out a health check for your child if they’re aged 2 to 3

a written assessment in the summer term of your child’s first year of primary school

making reasonable adjustments for disabled children, like providing aids like tactile signs

Children between 5 and 15

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:

a special learning programme

extra help from a teacher or assistant

to work in a smaller group

observation in class or at break

help taking part in class activities

extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult

help communicating with other children

support with physical or personal care difficulties, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet

Young people aged 16 or over in further education

Contact the college before your child starts further education to make sure that they can meet your child’s needs.

The college and your local authority will talk to your child about the support they need.

Extra help

EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.

Requesting an EHC assessment

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan.

A young person can request an assessment themselves if they’re aged 16 to 25.

If they decide to carry out an assessment you may be asked for:

any reports from your child’s school, nursery or childminder

doctors’ assessments of your child

a letter from you about your child’s needs

The local authority will tell you within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan is going to be made for your child.

Creating an EHC plan

Your local authority will create a draft EHC plan and send you a copy.

Your local authority has 20 weeks from the date they receive the request for the assessment to give you the final EHC plan.

Disagreeing with a decision

You can challenge your local authority about:

their decision to not carry out an assessment

their decision to not create an EHC plan

the special educational support in the EHC plan

the school named in the EHC plan

Personal budgets

You may be able to get a personal budget for your child if they have an EHC plan or have been told that they need one.

It allows you to have a say in how to spend the money on support for your child.

There are 3 ways you can use your personal budget. You can have:

direct payments made into your account - you buy and manage services yourself

third-party arrangements - you choose someone else to manage the money for you

You can have a combination of all 3 options.

Independent support for children of all ages

Independent supporters can help you and your child through the new SEN assessment process, including:

replacing a statement of special educational needs with a new EHC plan

moving a child from a learning difficulty assessment (LDA) to an EHC plan

You can find out how to get local support through:

Council for Disabled Children

Information, Advice and Support Service Network

your local authority website and search for ‘Local Offer’

If your child got support before September 2014

Your child will already be getting SEN support if they used to get help through:

School Action or School Action Plus

Early Years Action or Early Years Action Plus

Support after your child leaves school

Help and advice

You can call the Contact a Family helpline for help and advice.

You can also get help from Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).

Your child may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan if they need more support than their school provides.

Overview

behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends

reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia

ability to understand things

concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD

physical ability

Who to talk to

Contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery.

Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND.

Support your child can receive

Your child may be eligible for:

SEN support - support given in school, like speech therapy

If you or your child got support before September 2014 this will continue until your local council changes it to an EHC plan.

Special educational needs support

Your child will get SEN support at their school or college.

Children under 5

SEN support for children under 5 includes:

a written progress check when your child is 2 years old

a child health visitor carrying out a health check for your child if they’re aged 2 to 3

a written assessment in the summer term of your child’s first year of primary school

making reasonable adjustments for disabled children, like providing aids like tactile signs

Children between 5 and 15

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:

a special learning programme

extra help from a teacher or assistant

to work in a smaller group

observation in class or at break

help taking part in class activities

extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult

help communicating with other children

support with physical or personal care difficulties, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet

Young people aged 16 or over in further education

Contact the college before your child starts further education to make sure that they can meet your child’s needs.

The college and your local authority will talk to your child about the support they need.

Extra help

EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.

Requesting an EHC assessment

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan.

A young person can request an assessment themselves if they’re aged 16 to 25.

If they decide to carry out an assessment you may be asked for:

any reports from your child’s school, nursery or childminder

doctors’ assessments of your child

a letter from you about your child’s needs

The local authority will tell you within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan is going to be made for your child.

Creating an EHC plan

Your local authority will create a draft EHC plan and send you a copy.

Your local authority has 20 weeks from the date they receive the request for the assessment to give you the final EHC plan.

Disagreeing with a decision

You can challenge your local authority about:

their decision to not carry out an assessment

their decision to not create an EHC plan

the special educational support in the EHC plan

the school named in the EHC plan

Personal budgets

You may be able to get a personal budget for your child if they have an EHC plan or have been told that they need one.

It allows you to have a say in how to spend the money on support for your child.

There are 3 ways you can use your personal budget. You can have:

direct payments made into your account - you buy and manage services yourself

third-party arrangements - you choose someone else to manage the money for you

You can have a combination of all 3 options.

Independent support for children of all ages

Independent supporters can help you and your child through the new SEN assessment process, including:

replacing a statement of special educational needs with a new EHC plan

moving a child from a learning difficulty assessment (LDA) to an EHC plan

You can find out how to get local support through:

Council for Disabled Children

Information, Advice and Support Service Network

your local authority website and search for ‘Local Offer’

If your child got support before September 2014

Your child will already be getting SEN support if they used to get help through:

School Action or School Action Plus

Early Years Action or Early Years Action Plus

Support after your child leaves school

Help and advice

You can call the Contact a Family helpline for help and advice.

You can also get help from Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).

EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.

Overview

behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends

reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia

ability to understand things

concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD

physical ability

Who to talk to

Contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery.

Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND.

Support your child can receive

Your child may be eligible for:

SEN support - support given in school, like speech therapy

If you or your child got support before September 2014 this will continue until your local council changes it to an EHC plan.

Special educational needs support

Your child will get SEN support at their school or college.

Your child may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan if they need more support than their school provides.

Children under 5

SEN support for children under 5 includes:

a written progress check when your child is 2 years old

a child health visitor carrying out a health check for your child if they’re aged 2 to 3

a written assessment in the summer term of your child’s first year of primary school

making reasonable adjustments for disabled children, like providing aids like tactile signs

Children between 5 and 15

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:

a special learning programme

extra help from a teacher or assistant

to work in a smaller group

observation in class or at break

help taking part in class activities

extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult

help communicating with other children

support with physical or personal care difficulties, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet

Young people aged 16 or over in further education

Contact the college before your child starts further education to make sure that they can meet your child’s needs.

The college and your local authority will talk to your child about the support they need.

Extra help

EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.

Requesting an EHC assessment

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan.

A young person can request an assessment themselves if they’re aged 16 to 25.

If they decide to carry out an assessment you may be asked for:

any reports from your child’s school, nursery or childminder

doctors’ assessments of your child

a letter from you about your child’s needs

The local authority will tell you within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan is going to be made for your child.

Creating an EHC plan

Your local authority will create a draft EHC plan and send you a copy.

Your local authority has 20 weeks from the date they receive the request for the assessment to give you the final EHC plan.

Disagreeing with a decision

You can challenge your local authority about:

their decision to not carry out an assessment

their decision to not create an EHC plan

the special educational support in the EHC plan

the school named in the EHC plan

Personal budgets

You may be able to get a personal budget for your child if they have an EHC plan or have been told that they need one.

It allows you to have a say in how to spend the money on support for your child.

There are 3 ways you can use your personal budget. You can have:

direct payments made into your account - you buy and manage services yourself

third-party arrangements - you choose someone else to manage the money for you

You can have a combination of all 3 options.

Independent support for children of all ages

Independent supporters can help you and your child through the new SEN assessment process, including:

replacing a statement of special educational needs with a new EHC plan

moving a child from a learning difficulty assessment (LDA) to an EHC plan

You can find out how to get local support through:

Council for Disabled Children

Information, Advice and Support Service Network

your local authority website and search for ‘Local Offer’

If your child got support before September 2014

Your child will already be getting SEN support if they used to get help through:

School Action or School Action Plus

Early Years Action or Early Years Action Plus

Support after your child leaves school

Help and advice

You can call the Contact a Family helpline for help and advice.

You can also get help from Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan.

Overview

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can affect a child or young person’s ability to learn. They can affect their:

behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends

reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia

ability to understand things

concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD

physical ability

Who to talk to

Contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery.

Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND.

Support your child can receive

Your child may be eligible for:

SEN support - support given in school, like speech therapy

If you or your child got support before September 2014 this will continue until your local council changes it to an EHC plan.

Special educational needs support

Your child will get SEN support at their school or college.

Your child may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan if they need more support than their school provides.

Children under 5

SEN support for children under 5 includes:

a written progress check when your child is 2 years old

a child health visitor carrying out a health check for your child if they’re aged 2 to 3

a written assessment in the summer term of your child’s first year of primary school

making reasonable adjustments for disabled children, like providing aids like tactile signs

Children between 5 and 15

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:

a special learning programme

extra help from a teacher or assistant

to work in a smaller group

observation in class or at break

help taking part in class activities

extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult

help communicating with other children

support with physical or personal care difficulties, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet

Young people aged 16 or over in further education

Contact the college before your child starts further education to make sure that they can meet your child’s needs.

The college and your local authority will talk to your child about the support they need.

Extra help

EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.

Requesting an EHC assessment

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan.

A young person can request an assessment themselves if they’re aged 16 to 25.

If they decide to carry out an assessment you may be asked for:

any reports from your child’s school, nursery or childminder

doctors’ assessments of your child

a letter from you about your child’s needs

The local authority will tell you within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan is going to be made for your child.

Creating an EHC plan

Your local authority will create a draft EHC plan and send you a copy.

Your local authority has 20 weeks from the date they receive the request for the assessment to give you the final EHC plan.

Disagreeing with a decision

You can challenge your local authority about:

their decision to not carry out an assessment

their decision to not create an EHC plan

the special educational support in the EHC plan

the school named in the EHC plan

Personal budgets

You may be able to get a personal budget for your child if they have an EHC plan or have been told that they need one.

It allows you to have a say in how to spend the money on support for your child.

There are 3 ways you can use your personal budget. You can have:

direct payments made into your account - you buy and manage services yourself

third-party arrangements - you choose someone else to manage the money for you

You can have a combination of all 3 options.

Independent support for children of all ages

Independent supporters can help you and your child through the new SEN assessment process, including:

replacing a statement of special educational needs with a new EHC plan

moving a child from a learning difficulty assessment (LDA) to an EHC plan

You can find out how to get local support through:

Council for Disabled Children

Information, Advice and Support Service Network

your local authority website and search for ‘Local Offer’

If your child got support before September 2014

Your child will already be getting SEN support if they used to get help through:

School Action or School Action Plus

Early Years Action or Early Years Action Plus

Support after your child leaves school

Help and advice

You can call the Contact a Family helpline for help and advice.

You can also get help from Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).


I live in England and i have bought a big chunk of land from my neighbour in the countryside. I would like to use it for wheat farming and other developments. Should i change and put  my names on the rural land register?

You only need to register land that you want to claim payments on. This includes land that:

Register land with the Rural Land Register

Overview

You must use the Rural Land Register (RLR) to register agricultural land.

You can register any type of land or property with HM Land Registry.

You must register your land with both the RLR and HM Land Registry to claim from most land-based funding schemes, including:

Environmental Stewardship schemes

the English Woodland Grant Scheme

Register with your local Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (RPID) office if your land is in Scotland.

What to register

you farm

qualifies for land-based payment schemes, for example because it has environmental value

What you’ll get

You’ll get a complete set of maps showing your registered land.

Who can register

Customer registration

You need to register as a customer with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) before you register your land. You’ll need to tell them:

the name and address of your business

who is legally responsible for your business

the address of your land, including the grid reference or postcode

who your main contact person should be and what powers they should have

The main contact person can be yourself, a person legally responsible for your business or someone independent (an agent).

You can give an agent full powers (empowerment) to deal with your land registration or partial powers (for example, they can access information but not change it).

The Rural Payments Agency has produced a leaflet about the different levels of empowerment you can give your contact person.

Call the RPA to give this information for the first time or change existing contact details for your business.

You’ll receive a Single Business Identifier for your business, and each person will get a Personal Identifier. You’ll need these to register your land.

Landlords and tenants

Either the landlord or the tenant can register land on the Rural Land Register, but the land can only be registered once.

However, it’s possible for the landlord to claim funds under one land scheme and their tenant to claim under another.

How to register land or change a registration

You can use the RLE1 form to:

register new land for the first time

make changes to land already on the Rural Land Register, for example if the boundaries change or if you sell the land to someone else

Fill in the form and post it to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). You can either download the form below or ask the RPA to send you a pre-printed copy.

You’ll need to give your Single Business Identifier - you’ll get this when you complete the customer registration process for the first time.

You also need to enclose a map with a visible scale if you’re registering land for the first time, or if your boundaries have changed. Mark your land boundaries clearly with a fine-tipped pen.

Read the guidance on filling out form RLE1.

Contacting the RPA

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

The Rural Land Register only covers land in England.

If your land is in more than one country, you’ll need to register each piece of land separately for each country.

Contact the Rural Payments Agency if you have land in more than one country and have questions about your land in England.

Use the numbers below if you have land in more than one country and have questions about land in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales.

Land in Scotland

Land in Northern Ireland

Land in Wales

Find out about call charges.

you farm

Overview

You can register any type of land or property with HM Land Registry.

Environmental Stewardship schemes

the English Woodland Grant Scheme

What to register

you farm

What you’ll get

You’ll get a complete set of maps showing your registered land.

Who can register

Customer registration

the name and address of your business

who is legally responsible for your business

the address of your land, including the grid reference or postcode

Landlords and tenants

How to register land or change a registration

You can use the RLE1 form to:

register new land for the first time

Read the guidance on filling out form RLE1.

Contacting the RPA

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

The Rural Land Register only covers land in England.

Land in Scotland

Land in Northern Ireland

Land in Wales

Find out about call charges.

Overview

You can register any type of land or property with HM Land Registry.

Environmental Stewardship schemes

the English Woodland Grant Scheme

What to register

you farm

What you’ll get

You’ll get a complete set of maps showing your registered land.

Who can register

Customer registration

the name and address of your business

who is legally responsible for your business

the address of your land, including the grid reference or postcode

Landlords and tenants

How to register land or change a registration

You can use the RLE1 form to:

register new land for the first time

Read the guidance on filling out form RLE1.

Contacting the RPA

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

The Rural Land Register only covers land in England.

Land in Scotland

Land in Northern Ireland

Land in Wales

Find out about call charges.


My Aunt lives in scotland and has inherited through a will from our late grandfather two pieces of land in scotland and in England simultaneously. She has a plan to register and sell the one in England. . Whom can she contact to get advise?

Overview

You must use the Rural Land Register (RLR) to register agricultural land.

You can register any type of land or property with HM Land Registry.

You must register your land with both the RLR and HM Land Registry to claim from most land-based funding schemes, including:

Environmental Stewardship schemes

the English Woodland Grant Scheme

Register with your local Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (RPID) office if your land is in Scotland.

What to register

You only need to register land that you want to claim payments on. This includes land that:

you farm

qualifies for land-based payment schemes, for example because it has environmental value

What you’ll get

You’ll get a complete set of maps showing your registered land.

Who can register

Customer registration

You need to register as a customer with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) before you register your land. You’ll need to tell them:

the name and address of your business

who is legally responsible for your business

the address of your land, including the grid reference or postcode

who your main contact person should be and what powers they should have

The main contact person can be yourself, a person legally responsible for your business or someone independent (an agent).

You can give an agent full powers (empowerment) to deal with your land registration or partial powers (for example, they can access information but not change it).

The Rural Payments Agency has produced a leaflet about the different levels of empowerment you can give your contact person.

Call the RPA to give this information for the first time or change existing contact details for your business.

You’ll receive a Single Business Identifier for your business, and each person will get a Personal Identifier. You’ll need these to register your land.

Landlords and tenants

Either the landlord or the tenant can register land on the Rural Land Register, but the land can only be registered once.

However, it’s possible for the landlord to claim funds under one land scheme and their tenant to claim under another.

How to register land or change a registration

You can use the RLE1 form to:

register new land for the first time

make changes to land already on the Rural Land Register, for example if the boundaries change or if you sell the land to someone else

Fill in the form and post it to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). You can either download the form below or ask the RPA to send you a pre-printed copy.

You’ll need to give your Single Business Identifier - you’ll get this when you complete the customer registration process for the first time.

You also need to enclose a map with a visible scale if you’re registering land for the first time, or if your boundaries have changed. Mark your land boundaries clearly with a fine-tipped pen.

Read the guidance on filling out form RLE1.

Contacting the RPA

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

The Rural Land Register only covers land in England.

If your land is in more than one country, you’ll need to register each piece of land separately for each country.

Contact the Rural Payments Agency if you have land in more than one country and have questions about your land in England.

Use the numbers below if you have land in more than one country and have questions about land in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales.

Land in Scotland

Land in Northern Ireland

Land in Wales

Find out about call charges.

Overview

Environmental Stewardship schemes

the English Woodland Grant Scheme

What to register

you farm

What you’ll get

Who can register

Customer registration

the name and address of your business

Landlords and tenants

You can use the RLE1 form to:

register new land for the first time

Contacting the RPA

Land in Scotland

Land in Northern Ireland

Land in Wales

Find out about call charges.


My brother relocated abroad to live with his wife in Indonesia after several years of trying to secure a settlement visa for his Indonesian wife failed. He decided to renounce his British Citizenship and spend more time with his family. Now his marriage has failed and he would like to resume his British Citizenship and return to Uk. How much fee will he pay to get biometric information taken in order to resume his British Citizenship?

You’ll also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

Give up (renounce) British citizenship or nationality

Overview

You can apply to give up (renounce) your British citizenship or status. If accepted, you’ll get a ‘declaration of renunciation’ that you can use to show that you’re no longer British.

You might do this, for example, if you want to become a citizen of another country that does not allow dual citizenship.

You can renounce your:

British citizenship

British overseas territories citizenship

British overseas citizenship

British subject status

British national (overseas) status

You can give up more than one at a time.

Giving up your citizenship or status only affects you and not any other members of your family - although it could affect the status of any children you have in future.

Your right to live in the UK will be affected if you give up citizenship.

When you can give up your citizenship

You can only give up your British citizenship or status if either of the following apply:

you already have another citizenship or nationality

you’re going to get another citizenship or nationality after giving up your British citizenship or status

You must also be:

aged 18 or over (unless you’re under 18 and married)

of sound mind (unless it’s decided that it’s in your best interest)

Apply

Fill in the form online. You’ll usually be able to keep your documents while your application is being processed.

If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory, you have to apply in person or by post instead. Check which you can do with your governor’s office.

If you live elsewhere, you can apply by post. This will take much longer than applying online because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Avoid applying by post, especially if you need your documents back by a specific date.

It is taking longer than usual to process applications because of coronavirus. This will not affect the decision.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

After you've applied

You’ll get a ‘declaration of renunciation’ if your application is successful. This will be your application form, officially signed and stamped.

The date your citizenship or status stops will be shown on the form.

Your supporting documents will be returned to you whether you’re successful or not.

Time limits if you’re getting another citizenship

You’ll have 6 months from when you received your declaration to get another citizenship - otherwise the declaration will no longer be valid and you’ll keep your British citizenship or status.

Resume your British nationality

In some cases it’s possible to resume your British nationality after renouncing it.

Read the guidance to check if you can apply.

It is taking longer than usual to process applications because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This will not affect the decision. You’ll get extra time to provide your fingerprints, photo and additional information, and to book a citizenship ceremony.

How to apply

If you live elsewhere, you can apply by post. This will take much longer than applying online because of coronavirus. Avoid applying by post, especially if you need your documents back by a specific date.

Get help to apply online

do not have internet access

Fee

Pay the current fee for registration.

Your fee will not be refunded if your application is refused.

If you’re applying from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory

You’ll be told the fee for providing your biometric information when you apply.

Supporting documents

You’ll need to provide:

your copy of your declaration of renunciation (either form RN1 or R6)

your passport, or certificate of naturalisation or registration for your current citizenship or nationality

an official letter or statement from the country you’re currently a citizen or national of saying that if you had not given up your British citizenship you’d have lost or failed to get your current citizenship or nationality

If you gave up United Kingdom and Colonies citizenship you’ll also need to provide:

the birth, naturalisation or registration certificate of the person you have the connection to the UK with, and evidence of your relationship to that person, for example a birth, marriage or civil partnership certificate

evidence that you gave up citizenship because you believed you’d be deprived of your citizenship of a Commonwealth country unless you did so - this should be a separate letter explaining this plus any supporting documents

You may have to provide different documents if you originally gave up citizenship for a reason other than you’d have lost or failed to get citizenship of another country - read the guidance for details.

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

You’ll be told how to provide your biometric information and supporting documents when you apply.