£1M fund helps local volunteer learn lifesaving skills
A recently recruited volunteer crew member at Appledore RNLI lifeboat station has had a vital part of their crew training funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
Matthew Rowe, 35, from Appledore recently travelled to RNLI College in Poole, Dorset, to complete the charity’s Crew Emergency Procedures course.
A key part of the course is the sea survival element, which enables new volunteer crew to be trained in a variety of crucial subjects including how to ‘abandon ship’ with a 4m jump into water; team survival swimming and coping in a liferaft in simulated darkness; how to deal with fires aboard lifeboats; how to right a capsized inshore lifeboat; and the importance of lifejackets.
Training took place in the Sea Survival Centre at the charity’s college, which includes a 25m wave-generating survival tank, allowing trainees to experience first-hand some of the scenarios they may encounter at sea should they ever need to abandon their lifeboat.
The training was funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK registered charity that connects science, safety and society by supporting quality research and promoting skills and education. The Foundation is funding the Sea Survival element of RNLI’s Crew Emergency Procedures courses for a second 5 year period from January 2016 to December 2020. This additional funding of £1.06M will bring their total support for RNLI crew training to just over £2.46M*.
Talking about the training, Matthew, who volunteers as both ILB and ALB boat crew said:
‘The training given during the sea survival course is amazingly effective; the balance of classroom time and practical is perfect. One minute you are learning the principles of sea survival via a classroom presentation, and the next you are doing it for real in the sea survival pool! Speaking personally, I can’t think of a better way to learn.’
RNLI spokesperson Niki Tait (DLA and Press Officer at Appledore RNLI) said: ‘The support given by Lloyd’s Register Foundation is hugely important to the RNLI. We are extremely grateful the Foundation has chosen to continue to fund sea survival training, which teaches essential core skills to our volunteer crew.'
‘This training is vital to help keep volunteers as safe as possible while on rescues. It equips volunteers with sea survival skills and provides them with the courage, poise and self-confidence to save lives even in the most perilous seas.’
This donation is the latest in Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s relationship with the RNLI, which was recognised in 2010 when it received the Group Supporter Award from HRH Prince Michael of Kent in recognition of its valuable support of the charity.
Notes to Editors
*Lloyd’s Register Foundation donated £1M to the RNLI over 5 years from 2010–2015; and £400K over 2 years from 2008–2009, taking over the obligations of the Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust in 2013.
About Lloyd's Register Foundation
Lloyd’s Register Foundation is a charitable foundation which aims, through grant making, to connect science, safety and society by supporting research of the highest quality and promoting skills and education.
Photos:
Matthew Rowe, Copyright Mark Williams
For more information please telephone 01237423163 or nikitait@hotmail.co.uk
Key facts about the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen, Carrybridge and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.
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