Microsoft UK’s ‘Beyond the Badge’ series spotlights extraordinary people within Microsoft who go beyond the day job to achieve amazing things. This latest instalment focuses on Tom Atkinson, a Cloud Solution Architect who also volunteers for York Rescue Boat, an independent lifesaving charity that patrols the River Ouse and surrounding waterways.
A passion for water
Tom’s journey started long before he ever stepped on board a Microsoft call.
“I’ve always been passionate about being on the water,” he says. “I was a Sea Cadet when I was younger and that shaped a lot of who I am.”
That passion eventually led to him becoming a qualified powerboat instructor and, as it turns out, a perfect fit for a lifesaving organisation.
In 2017, during an Armed Forces Day event in Wakefield, Tom wandered past a York Rescue Boat stall. A friendly conversation turned into an application.
“I just thought this is something I could really get into.”
He joined that same year and has been part of the team ever since.
Anytime, anywhere
York Rescue Boat is an independent search and rescue charity based in York, North Yorkshire.
Established in 2014 following a tragic series of river-related deaths in the city, the charity began with a small group fundraising from the back of a car. Since then, it has evolved into a highly trained and respected team, known for its life-saving work both locally and across the country.
“The bulk of what we deal with is mental health incidents,” Tom explains. “Most calls are ‘concerns for safety’ – someone threatening to enter the water or in crisis.”
Tom still remembers his first hands‑on rescue: a young woman distressed in floodwater, intent on ending her life.
“We talked her round and got her to safety. It was my first official life saved. That one stays with you. ”
And the impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. As Tilly Hall, York Fire Station’s Crew Manager, puts it: “The river here is one of the biggest risks in York, so having the York Rescue Boat on call is invaluable.”
Making it work
With such high stakes, call-outs can happen at any moment, sometimes multiple times a week. Tom can be mid‑meeting when his phone rings.
“I’ve got an agreement with my manager. If I get a call-out during the day, I respond. I’m usually on call 24‑7.”
That flexibility matters.
“Most of the customers I work with are Yorkshire‑based, so they understand exactly what York Rescue Boat does. And if I know I’ve got a big workshop or something I can’t step away from, I take myself off-call. It works.”
To help colleagues understand sudden absences, Tom even built a Power Automate flow.
“When I get a call-out, it sends a message to my team and blocks out my calendar. So, if I disappear from a meeting, they know why.”
Training, floods, patrols, prevention
As Tom readily shares, no two call-outs are the same.
“We respond to requests from the police and fire service for a wide range of incidents, from people in the water, missing persons, and concerns for safety, to animals in distress, broken‑down boats, and occasionally some very unexpected recoveries.”
Beyond the reactive, York Rescue Boat is also unique in its proactive patrols. The team identifies high‑risk moments such as weekends, bank holidays or university events, and gets ahead of them.
“Our motto is educate, prevent, rescue – in that order,” Tom says.
That means foot patrols, boat patrols, and regular water‑safety presentations across schools, scout groups, women’s institutes, and community organisations. “Our oldest attendee was about 98. We thrive on helping people understand more.”
Outside of responding and working on prevention, there’s also training. A lot of training.
“We train constantly with boats, search techniques, flood response, mental‑health first aid, and conflict management,” Tom explains. “It’s crucial we stay on top of our game.”
Emotional weight
Tom is candid in his evaluation of life on the water and doesn’t hide the challenges he faces: “Some call-outs end positively. Some don’t.
“Fatalities are part of what we do. It takes a toll and can get on top of you. We’ve got trauma support available, but for me… I try to think about the family. We’re often giving them closure and that helps me cope.”
After one recent incident, Tom messaged his manager asking for a day off to decompress.
“She was completely understanding. My team checked in on me for days afterwards. That support means everything.”
Tom also describes how York Rescue Boat itself functions like a family with all the benefits and quirks.
“We’re like a family in every sense,” he laughs. “We trust each other with our lives. It just works.”
“Volunteering has had a significant impact on me, both personally and professionally. It’s changed my perspective on what really matters, and it’s helped me become a better mentor, particularly when supporting younger or less experienced colleagues.”
The experience has reinforced the value of empathy, teamwork, and measured decision‑making in high‑pressure situations, says Tom – all of which carry over into his role at Microsoft.
“At its heart, this work matters because it allows me to make a genuine difference to someone in crisis, using skills I’ve spent years developing. York Rescue Boat often describes itself as one big family, and that sense of trust and shared purpose is something I carry with me every day.”