The Association is a charity comprised of Trustees elected from its member teams, and Operational Officers who develop standards and governance.

These Officers are appointed from member teams and outside agencies, and comprise experts in pre-hospital medical care, search, flood response and safety. The Association produces governing standards for its 36 teams, and is a member of the UK Government’s UKSAR Operator’s Group – the official group which governs all of the UK’s onshore and offshore search and rescue operations.

The UKSAR Operator’s Group comprises:

•             HM Coastguard (MCA)
•             The Ministry of Defence (RAF)
•             National Police Chief Council lead for SAR England and Wales
•             Police Scotland
•             Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA)
•             Association of Ambulance Chief Executives
•             Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
•             Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS)
•             Association of Lowland Search and Rescue (ALSAR)
•             Mountain Rescue Council for England and Wales (MREW)
•             Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMC)
•             British Cave Rescue Council (BCRC)
•             Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
•             Police Services Northern Ireland (PSNI)
•             Department of Justice Northern Ireland
•             Association of Air Ambulances