5 March 2009 The NCI is currently in its 15th year of operations.  There are now 40 stations and over  1,700 active volunteers around the UK coastline with more stations either under negotiation or in the pipeline. As reported at the joint meetings in October 2008, the Board of Trustees have concluded that additional resource is needed if the charity is to continue to develop and meet today’s needs. The decision has therefore been taken to establish an Advisory Board (AB) to provide key support to the Trustees in the continuing development of the NCI.

The AB will assist the Trustees in maintaining an operational overview of NCI. This will involve consideration and discussion of key issues and projects affecting both current and future activities of the charity and will include the provision of specialist advice on a range of projects raised by the Board of Trustees, individual stations and the AB itself. The Trustees are conscious of the financial climate and the probability that fundraising may well become more difficult in the future. The majority of the work of the AB will therefore be conducted electronically once it is fully up and running.

A Co-ordinator will manage the affairs of the AB, process issues for review and report on a regular basis to the Chairman of the Trustees on matters under consideration by the Board. A permanent appointment for this position will be announced once a suitable candidate has been found.

The Advisory Board will consist of up to 12 NCI members appointed by the Trustees for a two year term and may be reappointed by mutual consent on completion. Working groups will be established from within to deal with specific issues, and additional expertise may also be co-opted from other sources from time to time as appropriate to consider particular projects.

Commenting on the need for an Advisory Board, Jon Gifford, NCI Chairman, said:

“We have grown dramatically over the past years proving both the need for our operation and its support by volunteers whether of maritime background or otherwise. The Advisory Board will be concerned with all facets of the NCI and will be of strategic importance in helping to ensure a secure future for our charity as a coastal surveillance operation offering a well organised service focusing on safety at sea and along our coastline.”