The team’s most important resource is its volunteers, and we’re always on the lookout for the right people to join the team.

There are two main types of role within CRO; our Operational Members carry out the team’s surface and underground rescues and assist with maintenance, administration, and fundraising. If you would like to help with fundraising and the administration of the team but don’t have the desire or skills to go on call-outs then perhaps you could be our next Support Member!

Being an Operational Member is both physically and mentally demanding and requires a certain level of fitness and resilience as well as the technical skills used by the team. We expect team members to be regularly active in outdoor activities such as hillwalking, caving, climbing, and fellrunning and to be confident, and competent, in navigating on open moorland in the day and night and in bad weather. A knowledge of the area in which we operate is essential.

You will have great interpersonal and communication skills and must be able to work well as part of a team when under pressure, treating casualties respectfully and with compassion for their predicaments whilst motivating those around you do the best they can.

The team is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and although we don’t expect team members to attend every call-out you must have reasonable availability. For this reason, we expect members to live in CRO’s operational area and have a driving license and transportation to get to callouts.

We train together regularly and members are expected to attend Wednesday evening activities at our depot as well as other regular training sessions. In addition, you will assist with maintenance, administration, and fundraising to ensure that we are ready to respond when the call for help comes in.

The minimum age to join as an Operational Member is 18 and although there’s no upper age cut-off, we would expect candidates have the prospect of at least a few years of service ahead of them.

We usually have one intake of new Operational Members annually in September but this is dependent on team needs and there may be years where there’s no intake.

Successful candidates do six months Stage 1 probation, focusing on training for the basic skills needed to be safe and useful on callouts.  This is followed by a further six months Stage 2 probation, where candidates attend callouts while completing further training.

If this sounds like a lot, it is! Being part of CRO is a commitment, and the call outs can be tough and at any time of day or night, but in return you’ll be part of a great team, learning new skills, making new friends and providing an essential service to the local community and the visitors who come to enjoy our beautiful part of the country.

As an alternative to being an Operational member, experienced and active cavers can join as an Associate Member. Associate Members do not attend surface incidents or other regular team activities, but will be called out for major cave rescues.  Associate Members are expected to take part in two cave rescue training weekends per year.

As a Support Member you will have an essential role in carrying out activities that ensure that we are able to maintain the team in a state of readiness throughout the year. One of the key activities for Support members is fundraising. As a charity we are reliant upon the generosity of others through their donations to the team. You will assist by seeking out fundraising or grant opportunities and attending events within the community to help raise awareness of the team. In addition, there may be times during longer rescues where support is needed at the depot ensuring that the team have both the equipment and the food they need to continue their work.

In return for giving us your time, you’ll be part of a fantastic close-knit team and learn what it takes to provide a 24/7 cave and mountain rescue service. We’ll teach you skills such as basic life support, and you’ll be able to add volunteering with us to your C.V. We recruit Support Members at all times of the year.