Get on board and volunteer with Craster RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is holding a Volunteer Recruitment Day at the lifeboat station between 10am and 3pm in a bid to attract extra volunteers to a diverse range of roles.

Operational volunteers are needed to help crew and launch the lifeboats and volunteers are also needed to help with fundraising activities.

The charity is hoping to attract people from all walks of life and new recruits don’t need to have sea-going experience to get involved.

Matty Bolam, RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer for Craster explained: ‘Only 10 percent of our new recruits come with professional maritime experience, our current lifeboat crew is testament to this as we have a fencer landscaper, a paramedic and domestic appliance repair techinician.

‘The RNLI provides comprehensive training to turn ordinary people into lifesavers and by volunteering, people will gain some fantastic experience, knowledge and skills. And for those who don’t want to get involved on the lifeboats, there are other support and fundraising opportunities with the RNLI in Craster.’

Matty added:

To qualify as lifeboat crew, volunteers need to be:

• Aged 17 – 55

• Living or working in Craster or relatively close

• Physically fit

Members of the lifeboat crew and RNLI fundraising volunteers will be at the lifeboat station during the event to meet people who are interested in volunteering.

Amber French, RNLI Volunteering Adviser said: ‘Everyone is welcome to come along to find out how they can get involved, around 95 per cent of RNLI people are volunteers and find the experience an extremely rewarding one. It’s a great way to make new friends whilst helping to save lives at sea.’

The RNLI Volunteer Recruitment Day is at Craster Lifeboat Station, 2 West End, Craster, Alnwick, NE66 3TS, from 10am to 3pm.

For more information on volunteering contact [email protected] or, call: 01202 663346

Picture caption

The photograph shows the RNLI crew at Craster in action. Photo credit: RNLI

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Matty Bolam at: [email protected] or call: 07736314401

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.