As a registered charity Coastwatch Redcar is totally dependant on donations from a number of sources and without this funding would be unable to fulfil its obligations. We have a team of approximately 25 watch offiers including management, all of whom are unpaid volunteers working 365 days a year to maintain visual and electronic surveillance along our stretch of coastline.

 

All the electronic equipment needs to be high quality and as such is costly to purchase and maintain and of course there are energy and communications bills to pay. All the funding has to be raised through the generosity of the general public and local businesses. The building which we operate from is listed and we have a duty to maintain all the interior and all of the lookout on the top floor of the building. Over the last couple of years Coastwatch has been successful in obtaining grants for some of the interior refurbishments but of course maintenance is an ongoing task.

 

Most of the equipment we have installed is for the safety of the public and the environment through our monitoring of the sea and foreshore. However, there is equipment that has been installed which can be accessed by the public.

 

On the east and west side of the lookout we have introduced webcams which can be accessed through the website via our members page. They offer excellent picture quality of the Esplanade and the wind farm across to Hartlepool and to the sea area and esplanade to the east. Ideal for anyone visiting the area or boat owners wanting to put to sea. In addition there is a weather station, again accessed via any page showing the current conditions at Redcar. If you are a regular user of these facilities and feel you could leave us a small donation you can do this on the website via the donate buttons or through our facebook page.