Applications
Thank you for reading this far! We hope that you haven't been put off, but have now got an idea of the commitment and community that binds our team together. You don't need to be an expert mountaineer, with incredible fitness, or have exceptional hill skills, but we are looking for people who have a solid experience of the fells in all seasons, and who are keen to learn and give something back. Hill fitness, compassion, endurance, knowledge, and a desire to learn are key
We have produced a short information booklet that describes in more detail, the process of applying to join the team, through to becoming a full team member, and the pathway that this follows. It also hopefully answers many of your questions, that you are likely to have, when considering whether to join a team. Click on the link below to download the booklet. If you have any questions after reading through the booklet, please email the training team on training@lamrt.org.uk, and we will do our best to answer your queries.
If you are keen to join, the next step is to come and meet us at a Base Open Day. We have one confirmed in mid-September confirmed each year, and if more new trainees are required we may operate another intake in mid-March each year. For anyone interested in applying to join the team, it's essential to attend a Base Open Day. Keep an eye out on our socials for adverts of these. The next date is Saturday 20th September 2025, 10:00-12:00. To reserve a place at the Base Open Day, please email training@lamrt.org.uk.
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After attending the Base Open Day, you then typically have a few weeks to complete an application form, to submit it by the end the month. All application forms submitted are acknowledged within 24 hours, and automatically a copy is sent to the Training Officer, Team Secretary, and one of the Leadership Group. On the normal annual intake, the applications are all collected at the end of September, and discussed by the Training Group.
There are two types of potential applicants, that we have to advise especially carefully;
1) Students - with the University of Cumbria campus in Ambleside, it's natural for some outdoorsy students to consider applying to join the team. As a rule, we don't accept anyone without a permanent address in our patch, and taking on students on a three year course, for a probation that might take typically 12-18 months, isn't a viable use of our time or resources. Also, we don't want you to detract from your studies, and impact on your future. If you are living in the area, and doing postgraduate studies or attending as a mature student, then there may be a place for you, but please get in touch to discuss this beforehand, and we'll be able to advise you better.
2) Existing or former Mountain Rescue team members - some people in other teams contact us requesting to 'transfer' to our team. That's not an option, as each team even within the Lake District, operates differently, due to vastly varied terrain and types of incidents responded to. We treat all applicants exactly the same, so if you are an existing mountain rescue member in a different team, you'll follow exactly the same application process as a totally new potential volunteer. Our application process is robust, and we've had other mountain rescue types not succeed before. To avoid any possible politics between teams, we won't consider anyone who has not completely left (no training, call outs, etc) their previous team for an absolute minimum period of 6 months (ideally 12 months plus) before they apply to LAMRT. Everyone is treated equally, and it's cleaner and fairer that way. There are no short cuts, and it's the same process for all.
Successful applicants are then invited to an evening interview at base, usually the week afterwards, and for those who are successful at this stage, you will be invited to a fell assessment the week after. This is the final stage in the application process, after which references would be taken up. Once the Training Group has met to review all the applications, a recommendation of who to accept is made to the Team Operational Leads, and subject to their agreement, offers of trainee positions are then sent out. The pathway from application to full team membership, is outlined in the diagram below.
As you will see, there is extensive training and support provided throughout a probationary period, with targets of training attendance, and then rescue attendance when you become hill-going, as detailed in the pathways diagram above. We are keen that this process should nurture and develop applicants from hill lovers, to mountain rescuers. LAMRT has a strong ethos of equality and diversity, and we genuinely welcome applications from all backgrounds.
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It's the last thing in the world that we want, for anyone to be put off considering applying because they think they're not an elite climber, or fast and strong enough. Just ask us if you are unsure. No one on the team attends every single rescue or training session each year, although a few try, and whilst we are looking for commitment to the team, we are all very aware that everyone has a life (family, work, etc) outside the team too, and that must remain of primary importance.
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As a last thought, we rely on each other, especially during tough rescues. Before you think about applying, ask yourself three quick scenarios:
1) Would you be confident navigating to lead your team mates over Crinkle Crags and down Hell Ghyll in total darkness and heavy rain or snow, only using a map and compass?
2) Just checking if your knowledge of the patch is sufficient, if a call out message came through, saying an incident was at Pike of Carrs / Dunney Beck / Stythwaite Steps / Blindtarn Moss / Rossett Ghyll, would you know where it was?
3) How would your employer / partner / friends / family react if you left at a moments notice on a rescue and came back 4 hours later soaking wet and tired, or if you attended training or meetings on average one evening each week?
If you weren't sure about any of the questions, now's maybe now quite the right time to consider joining the team. It's worth making sure you're ready when you want to join, and to make your application is strong as possible. There's a huge commitment required during the probationary period, and we want you to get through it, not to struggle. Some moments in mountain rescue will be among the most rewarding of your life, and others will be the most challenging. It's not for everyone.
After reading all this, it focuses just on becoming a full team member, and earning the coveted red jacket, but that's not the end of the journey - really it's just the very start. Once you're a team member, you'll join one of the Operational Groups within the team (equipment, vehicles, training, property, medical, wellbeing, technical, etc), as there's as much work to do behind the scenes, as there is on the 'glamour' of rescues. In fact there's more unseen work than rescues, and all potential team members need to get stuck in to assist with this, and to share the workload across the whole team.
And what do you get in return? There's the satisfaction of helping those in need on the rescues, and once you're a full team member, even more training opportunities are opened to you. You could train in off road driving, as a remote rescue medical technician, winter training, working with helicopters, swiftwater rescue, rope rescue technicians, and much more. You won't possibly have the time to train and qualify in all aspects of rescue, but hopefully you'll find your niche of interest and expertise to train and develop in. Joining mountain rescue is the start of an amazing journey for you.
If you've any queries at all, please get in touch at training@lamrt.org.uk. Thank you and good luck!