TYNEMOUTH VOLUNTEER LIFEBRIGADE (TVLB)
On Call 24/7 : 365 Days of the year : Whatever the weather.
The Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade is a voluntary shore based coastal search and rescue service founded in 1864. We are a Declared Facility to HM Coastguard for Rope Rescue, Water Rescue, Coastal Search and Rescue and also have advanced first aid capabilities.
THE WATCH HOUSE MUSEUM
The Museum displays artefacts, pictures and relics from old shipwrecks chronicling the history of lifesaving on our coastline since 1864. Click on the link below for more information and opening times.
TVLB BRITISH WOOL GANSEY
Now for sale via our knitwear partner Jo Storie designed in Northumberland and knitted in in a small artisanal factory in Cumbria, using yarn from British farmers in Yorkshire Mill and finally embroidered in Whitley Bay
Latest news
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Recently we met with Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team and carried out a joint exercise in the grounds of Tynemouth Priory and Castle.Located just a few hundred metres away from our Watch House, the Priory is a location we may get called to and it was great for both teams to be able to spend some time familiarising themselves with the layout and the challenges of working safely at the location, especially at night.On this occasion the scenario involved locating two casualties – followed by providing casualty care and then extracting both to the main entrance.A big thanks to the team at the Priory for facilitating the training opportunity, and a shout out to Sarah, the wife of one of our Captains, who was one of the ‘willing’ casualties for the night!
144/26 – Sunday 8th November 2026 – 01.02h – HM Coastguard tasked the Brigade & South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade (SSVLB) to support a multi-agency search of the River Tyne near to Newcastle city centre following a report that a person may have entered the water. After around two hours of detailed searches, and with no one located, all rescue resources were stood down. Number of Brigade members in attendance: Five
143/26 – Thursday 5th November 2026 – 14.28h – HM Coastguard tasked the Brigade, Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team & Cullercoats RNLI to support Northumbria Police with a report of a person in the water at Whitly Bay beach. A thorough search of the area was carried out with no one located who required any assistance. A short while later, the Police accessed CCTV which showed the casualty leaving the area and so it was deduced that they were no longer in the water, with all rescue resources then stood down. Number of Brigade members in attendance: Six
142/26 – Sunday 1st November 2026 – 03.48h – HM Coastguard tasked the Brigade & South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade (SSVLB) to support Northumbria Police & the North East Ambulance Service with a person in crisis in Newcastle. As team members arrived on scene, it was confirmed that the casualty was now in a place of safely and both rescue teams were stood down.Number of Brigade members in attendance: Six
Over the past month, our Rescue Team attended nine incidents – this is the lowest number of calls during October since 2020 and continues a trend since August of a reduction in demand for TVLB.Given that the month started with six calls in six days, it was a welcome relief to only have a further three incidents across the remaining 25 days. Although the month has been below average, our current total of 141 calls for the year is still our second highest achieved by the end of October.Across the nine incidents, we have attended the following:– Two calls supporting Northumbria Police with casualties in crisis– Two incidents involving people injured on rocks – Three false alarms with good intent – Preparing a landing site for a Coastguard Rescue Helicopter – One report of a person in the water who was rescued by the RNLIA big thanks to our volunteers for being on hand when needed, and also to the partner agencies and fellow rescue teams we regularly work alongside.
our history
The Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade (TVLB) is the oldest and one of only 3 remaining active Volunteer Life Brigades in the UK. The TVLB was formed following the tragic loss of 32 souls from the stricken ships of the S.S.Stanley and the schooner Friendship on 24th November 1864 at the Black Middens rocks at Tynemouth.