Joining

Please note we will not be taking any new members until 2011. Any new applications at this time will be added to a waiting list.

The Team consists of about forty members, the majority of which are full members (we aim to have around 35 full members). Before attaining full member status, prospective members under go an eighteen month probationary period. The purpose of the probationary period is to allow an individual to become familiar with the working practices of the Team, and also to allow individuals to 'bed in' with the other Team members. It is important that you are a 'team player'.

What do we expect from a new member? Firstly, we expect you to have competent hill skills and a good degree of hill fitness. You also need to be resident in Lothian and Borders. In addition, especially during the first eighteen months, you need to be able to make a commitment to attend the majority of the Team training. The Team trains three Wednesdays a month, plus has adhoc training exercises at weekends (roughly one each quarter). It is also beneficial if you are familiar with the upland areas of Lothian and Borders. In return, you will receive training in first aid and search and rescue skills.

The process begins with completing the form below. Behind the scenes, this should generate a mail to three individuals within the Team, and you should receive an acknowledgement within a week. However, as it is impractical for the Team to take on new members on an adhoc basis, we have 'induction nights', usually about twice a year. The purpose of these induction nights is to invite you along to the Team base, and to meet some of the members. There will be a short presentation on the role of the Team, and more in depth discussions about training and commitment. It also gives you a chance to see if the Team is for you, and also allows the Team to put a face to the name and have an informal discussion about your experience to date.

All being well, you will then receive an invitation to join as a probationary member. Upon joining, you will receive a training log book. This outlines the core skills that will hopefully be covered over the forthcoming eighteen months. The log book is maintained by yourself, and is used to record training received. The majority of the training is done in-house via skills transfer. However, some training is provided by external agencies, as needs dictate. In addition, you will be assigned a mentor/buddy. The purpose of the mentor is to guide you through the eighteen months, and also to introduce you to the other members. In addition, they are also there to assist with any queries you may have.

Lastly, probationary members are sometimes called out during 'live' callouts. This is at the discretion of the Team Leader (or deputies).

If you are still interested in exploring membership of the Team further, please complete the following form and the Team Leader will get back to you.

First Name:
Surname:
Address:
Postal Town:
Post Code:
Phone:
Email:
Outdoor/Hill Experience: