RNLI lifeguards receive a £5,000 boost towards lifesaving work in North Devon

RNLI lifeguards provide patrols at Croyde Beach from Easter until the end of October. The RNLI has been working with local communities to help improve safety cover in coastal areas outside of lifeguarding hours, which includes creating access to rescue boards and first aid kits for trained lifesavers.

The donation will be used towards provision of lifesaving equipment and an extension of patrol hours during the busy school holiday period as part of the RNLI Community Lifesaving initiative.

Derrick Lloyd, Managing Director of J&J Wilson Supermarkets, said: ‘We chose the RNLI because we feel it is relevant as all of our shops are in holiday parks around the coast in England, Wales and Scotland.

‘Croyde is a very popular beach with holidaymakers and we are pleased our donation will be used to further safety cover in the area.

‘This will be the third £5,000 cheque we have donated to the RNLI, with others going to Hunstanton RNLI and Porthcawl RNLI.’

The donation was raised through the Nisa MADL (Making A Difference Locally) charity which helps independently run local stores to add value to their communities.

Vaughan Lawson, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor in North Devon, said: ‘We are extremely grateful for the boost to our lifeguarding service at Croyde and thank Nisa Supermarket at Ruda Holiday Park for choosing to support the RNLI.

‘This generous donation will help to fund more lifesaving equipment at the beach and improve safety cover outside the lifeguard patrol hours of 10am to 6pm.’


Notes to editors
• Photo shows: Area Manager JJ Wilson and Nisa Supermarkets, Mick Coates, Ruda Holiday Park representative, Peter Miller, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, Vaughan Lawson and Senior Croyde RNLI Lifeguard, Josh Simpson.
• More information about Nisa MADL charity can be found here.


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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 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 146,000 lives.

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