RAYNET (The Radio Amateurs Emergency Network) is the UK's national voluntary communications service provided for the community by licensed radio amateurs. We can provide a flexible communications service for major civil emergencies or related exercises and local community events.

RAYNET has provided additional communications at major incidents involving aircraft, trains, flooding, evacuations, telephone exchange failures, missing persons searches, adverse weather, oil/chemical pollution etc. 

We have also provided safety communications for large-scale community events.

RAYNET is regarded as a professional support organisation by both statutory and volunteer emergency service organisations.

RAYNET volunteers normally use their own equipment to provide communications. Voice transmissions are the norm, but typed messages in the form of data transmissions are being increasingly used, allowing 100% accurate messages to be passed over both long and short distances.

In some areas, experimentation is also under way with the use of vehicle-tracking systems and amateur television.

RAYNET, under the terms of the amateur radio license, is permitted to pass messages on behalf of

British Red Cross St John Ambulance St Andrew's Ambulance Association Women's Royal Voluntary Service Salvation Army any Government Department any Category 1 responder as defined in the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) any Category 2 responder as defined in the Civil Contingencies Act (2004

CIVIL CONTINGENCIES ACT 2004: LIST OF RESPONDERS
Schedule 1 of the Civil Contingencies Act lists the responders subject to its provisions.  The Act splits local responders into two categories and imposes a different set of requirements on each category. Category 1 and 2 responders in England and Wales are listed below.
Section 13 of the Act enables Ministers to amend the list of responders with the agreement
of Parliamen

Category 1 responders (core responders) Emergencies services Police forces British Transport Police Fire authorities Ambulance services Maritime and Coastguard Agency Local authorities All principal local authorities Port Health Authorities Health bodies Primary Care Trusts Acute Trusts Foundation Trusts Local Health Boards (in Wales) Any Welsh NHS Trust Health Protection Agency Government agencies Environment Agency Scottish Environment Agency

Category 2 responders (co-operating responders) Utilities Electricity distributors and transmitters Gas distributors Water and sewerage undertakers Telephone service providers Transport Network Rail Train Operating Companies London Underground Transport for London Airport operators Harbour authorities Highways Agency Health bodies Strategic Health Authorities Government agencies Health and Safety Executive