‘I’m really proud of you’ - Newhaven RNLI celebrates Mother’s Day
For many RNLI volunteers, being on call means that special occasions like Mother’s Day can be interrupted by the sound of a pager at any moment.
However, for their family members, this sound acts as a reminder of just how proud they are of their loved ones heading out to save lives at sea.
This Mother’s Day, we look towards the children who proudly support their parents who volunteer with the RNLI.
Sam Briggs is a Tier 2 crew member at Newhaven RNLI, where she has volunteered for three years. Her son Jake, 16, has hopes of becoming an RNLI beach lifeguard later this year.
In their free time, Jake and his mum are members of the Newhaven Sailing Club, where Jake has been sailing since he was six years old. Growing up around the sea and seeing his mum volunteer with the RNLI has led Jake to learn more about water safety and the work of the lifeboat crews.
Jake says he feels proud of his mum and the work she does at the RNLI. He adds: ‘It’s interesting having a mum who volunteers with the RNLI. You get to hear the stories of the different rescues and learn about the boats.’
When Sam’s pager first went off, Jake said: ‘It wasn’t very dramatic. I was a bit confused about what the noise was at first, but then she said it was the lifeboat and next minute she was gone. It’s become a very normal sound in our house.’
Jake added: ‘I don’t really worry when she goes out on a shout because she’s so resilient. If I were to describe her in a few words, I would use confident, loud, cheerful and nice.’
‘I’ve always seen my mum as brave from when she used to work in A&E. Always saving people’s lives. Bravery is just something that I’ve been exposed to my whole life.’
Alongside volunteering as crew at Newhaven RNLI, Sam works as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner.
Jake adds: ‘I’m most proud of the amount of skills my mum has. She balances her RNLI volunteer role, her full-time job and still takes care of me. I think some people don’t realise how stressful it can be.’
For Mother’s Day this year, Jake has a simple message for his mum, Sam:
‘Happy Mother’s Day. I’m really proud of you.’
Ruth Bessant, RNLI Families Support Manager, said: ‘The families of our volunteers are the unsung heroes of the RNLI as, whilst it is immensely rewarding, volunteering is a big responsibility and demand on time.
‘Jake’s experience of his mum’s volunteering is resolutely positive. Without the backing of their families, many of our crew would not be able to go to sea in an emergency or show up for weekly training.
‘We aim to make support available to all family members to acknowledge their sacrifices and help them enjoy being a part of the RNLI volunteering experience too.’
Notes to editor:
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Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and around 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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