Lifelines Volunteer Responders

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We’re glad you’re here

Whatever your involvement with voluntary emergency response, these extra resources are for you. Whether you’re a volunteer responder, family member, friend or employer.

Mountain rescue team with stretcher
Basics VolunteerRNLI staff on a lifeboat
Red Cross Volunteer

Below you'll find out more about our resources, what other volunteer responders have said about Lifelines, additional videos and the latest news. You can also find out about booking a course and there’s also a list of the organisations offering support to the volunteer responder community.

Thank you for everything you do to take care of your fellow citizens. Please look after yourselves and each other.

Get the support you need

Our resources provide you with information and advice across a wide range of subjects...
If you need to talk to someone now or want to find out more about the support available go to our Find Help page. Some organisations also have specific services available to their volunteers - these are listed below.

“I really dug into the Lifelines website last night. A lot of quality information useful to all - even if you consider yourself in a “good place”.  We never know what’s round the corner for ourselves or the others we work or play with”.

Volunteer Responder, Mountain Rescue

"The Lifelines Scotland resources are hugely informative and engaging"

Volunteer Responder, Coastguard

Additional videos and resources

Below are some extra service specific videos and resources that you may find helpful...

Support from other organisations

Detailed here is support specific to your service. For national resources available to us all, visit our find help page.
National Support Services
There are lots of places you can get help and support when you need it. Please don't struggle on alone. Listed on our Find Help page are national resources for all responders, their families and the general public.
Mountain Rescue in Scotland
Mountain Rescue (MR) volunteers in Scotland, and their household family members, have access to Police Scotland's Employee Assistance Programme (Provided by Vivup). This is an advice and counselling service, provided by trained counselling and welfare practitioners. For more information, phone 0800 046 5593, 24/7 or visit the website. Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) has also entered into an agreement with the Rivers Centre to provide Post Incident Support to all teams in Scotland should that be required in relation to MR incidents . Details of how to initiate that support can be found on their wellbeing information area along with a toolkit for managing the risks of psychological injury.
RNLI
The RNLI website has information and resources for RNLI volunteer community. Contact the Volunteering team on: 01202 663301 (9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday) or email.
British Cave Rescue Council
If you are involved in British Cave Rescue you can also check out some wellbeing resources on the their website. You can also contact the Wellbeing Officer, Ron Price, by email.
SHOUT Blue Light
Shout is a 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. To access a dedicated service for the emergency responder community, text BLUELIGHT to 85258 any time day or night to be connected to a trained and supervised crisis volunteer.

Book a course as a Volunteer Emergency Responder

You can access the online self-directed module Staying Well Road Trip  and we've provided some tips on how you can run this as a group within your team.

Our facilitator-led courses are aimed at all volunteer emergency responders in Scotland (for example Mountain Rescue, Search and Rescue, RNLI, Coastguard, Flood Volunteers, Red Cross, St Andrews First Aid, 4x4 Response).

Check out our course availability and book a (no cost) place on our training page.

We wish to include as many response volunteers as possible. If unsure please contact our Advisor.

Stones balancing

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