Barry Dock RNLI support lifeguards in new support role in UK first

Barry Dock RNLI and RNLI South East Wales lifeguards worked together to develop the new volunteer role after identifying the growing challenge of large numbers of lost children at Whitmore Bay during busy periods. The new pilot scheme forms part of the wider Barry Dock Lifeboat Station OneCrew approach and aims to provide additional support to lifeguards during peak beach days.

The role has been designed to support RNLI lifeguards during particularly busy periods on the beach, helping free them up to remain focused on keeping people safe in and around the water.

On hot sunny days like this Bank Holiday, Barry Island beach can become extremely busy very quickly, with RNLI lifeguards sometimes dealing with upwards of 50 lost children in a single day. The new role has been introduced to help ensure lifeguards can keep their attention on the water, watching swimmers and responding to incidents if needed.

Nine trained volunteers are involved in the pilot scheme, with all volunteers having completed training and DBS checks ahead of the launch. The volunteers will be based in a gazebo alongside the RNLI lifeguards and will act as the main point of contact for missing children on the beach. They will also patrol the beach, provide general water safety advice and hand out lost children wristbands.

The volunteers will be easily recognisable in bright red RNLI caps and will all carry radios to remain in constant contact with RNLI lifeguards. Parents and carers using the lost children wristbands, will be able to write a contact number on the band, helping volunteers reunite children and families much more quickly if they become separated on the beach.

The volunteers are not trained to enter the water or carry out rescues, and any child missing for more than 20 minutes, or believed to have last been seen in the water, will immediately become the responsibility of the RNLI lifeguards.

The support team will particularly operate during periods of hot weather, exceptionally busy beach days and around high and low tides, when visitor numbers at Barry Island often increase significantly.

Matt Childs, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, said:

“Barry Island is an incredibly busy beach during the summer months and on some days our lifeguards can be dealing with large numbers of lost children alongside everything else happening on the beach.”

“Our lifeguards’ priority must always be keeping their eyes on the water and watching over people enjoying the sea. This new volunteer support role is designed to help with that by supporting families, helping reunite lost children quickly and providing an extra visible safety presence on the beach.”

The RNLI is encouraging anyone visiting the coast this half term week and throughout the summer, to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags.

If you find yourself struggling in the water, remember Float to Live:

• Tilt your head back and put your ears in the water
• Try to stay calm and try to control your breathing
• Make like a starfish and move your hands to help you stay afloat
• It’s OK if your legs sink because we all float differently

With warm weather forecast and thousands expected to visit Barry Island over the coming days, the RNLI is looking forward to welcoming people to the beach and helping everyone enjoy the coast safely. Visitors are also being encouraged to help look after the coastline by taking litter home or using the bins provided.

And remember, if you see someone else struggling in the water:

• Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard

Notes to editors

• The new lifeguard support role is being piloted at Barry Island during the 2026 summer season.
• The volunteers supporting the scheme are separate from RNLI lifeguards and are not trained water rescue personnel.
• Lost children wristbands will be available from the RNLI team on the beach.
• Barry Island RNLI lifeguards patrol the beach daily between 10.00-18.00 every day throughout the summer season.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Lisa Newberry, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Wales & West, [email protected]

Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]

Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.