RAYNET is the acronym for the Radio Amateurs Emergency Network. The organisation was formed in 1953 after severe flooding on the east coast of England, when radio amateurs provided emergency communications cover. RAYNET members assisted after the Lockerbie disaster in 1988. More recently RAYNET assisted with communications following the flooding in Gloucestershire in 2007.
After disasters and emergencies regular lines of communication, be they landline or mobile
telephone or even the emergency services own communication systems, are either overloaded or do not work because of the terrain. In many countries licenced radio amateurs have formed voluntary groups who train to provide communications to the public services in such emergencies.
RAYNET members also take part in training exercises and provide communications in local community events throughout the UK. In the Yorkshire area these include fell running, long distance walks and one off events such as The Tour de France and the UCI Road World Championships. While nationally such events include the Great North Run. Attendance at these events serves several functions: it provides useful practice for members of the groups, it provides excellent training opportunities for 
new members, and it helps to provide the event organisers with safety cover in that messages or calls for assistance can be relayed between the event marshals or stewards and the events base control. In this role RAYNET is helping the organisers of such events to provide safety cover for public and participants alike.
RAYNETs role is purely to provide communications at these events; it is not involved in their organisation or running.
Membership of RAYNET is open to all adults with an interest in radio communications and in supporting their community. You don’t need to have a radio licence to join us
Members are often:-
- Amateur Radio Licence Holders
- Marine Band VHF Licence Holders
- PMR Users
- CB Users
- Ex Emergency Services and Ex Military people who wish to continue to serve their community
- Members and Ex Members of the Scout and Guide Associations
- People interested in radio – but potentially with no experience
- People who want to make a difference in their community
- All of these people are welcome, regardless of experience or age. The only things you will need to bring is your enthusiasm, commitment and basic health and fitness.
No matter what skills and abilities you bring to the group, we will support and train you to achieve what you want within the group.
Some of the equipment we use requires the user to be licenced by Ofcom, however, there are many radios and tasks that do not require radio licences or experience, but for those that wish to become licenced we will support and help you to achieve your goal.
Membership is achieved through submitting an initial Membership Application followed by an informal meeting with two of our committee members to ensure that candidates understand what we do and what will be expected of them.
We do have a number of events in the year where we camp out over the weekend which will include a BBQ etc.
If you would like to join, or discuss potential membership with one of the team, please send a message.