Exmouth RNLI looking to recruit additional volunteers
Exmouth RNLI are currently looking for volunteers to support their small team of dedicated volunteers to either help staff the RNLI Shop, as Fundraisers or to help as members of the Lifeboats Visits Team to provide free tours for the public at Exmouth RNLI Lifeboat Station.
The Lifeboat Visits Team host guided tours of the lifeboat station that take place on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year, during school holidays and at other times for organised groups who book a dedicated tour through the RNLI Exmouth website.
Lifeboat Visits Officer, Bill Lodge, would now like to hear from members of the community who would consider becoming involved. Full training will be given. Bill says:
‘Over the past three and a half years we have had an increasing demand from the public to visit our station and see the Shannon class lifeboat
R and J Welburn, its launch and recovery system and D class inshore lifeboat
George Bearman II. We are now seeking additional guides to ensure we can provide the required coverage in the future. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our charity and the work of our life-saving volunteers in Exmouth.
‘We hope to attract people who are enthusiastic and have good communication skills, who are confident to deliver short talks to a diverse group of visitors throughout the year. Training will be given and prospective visitor guides will need to commit to a minimum of 2 shifts per month, normally on weekends.’
The shop is generally open most days subject to weather constraints, and volunteer availability, with volunteers working anything from 1 shift (3.5 hours) a month, to 2 shifts a week. Exmouth RNLI are looking for people to volunteer, particularly for shifts on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. No previous retail experience is required and full training in all aspects of the shop will be given.
Exmouth RNLI Volunteer Shop Manager, Pat Atkinson, said, ”Our volunteers all help for differing reasons, but they all also have a common desire to support and raise money for the RNLI to help save lives at sea. Whilst some of our volunteers are of advancing years, as well as willingly giving their time to the RNLI, they also benefit from friendship and companionship from being part of the Exmouth RNLI family.”
“We also attend many ‘outside’ events during the year, having a stall and selling RNLI merchandise and raising awareness of the RNLI, often with our Community Safety Officer at our side. Examples are various Community events in Exmouth Town, (Transplant Awareness Day, Armed Forces Day etc), at the Met Office in Exeter, Budleigh Salterton Gala week – again, our volunteers give up their time to man these events and this is a great opportunity for anyone wishing to come along and join us in this rewarding work.”
The Lifeboat Station is also looking to increase its number of volunteer fundraisers. Covering Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and the neighbouring villages of Lympstone and Woodbury, local RNLI fundraisers help to organise an Open Day, Coffee Mornings, Sea Sunday and Christmas Carol services each year. There is also a dedicated team of volunteers to carry out supermarket and street collections, in all weathers.
Chair of the Exmouth RNLI Fundraising Team, Robin Humphreys, said “We are always looking for new volunteers, opportunities and ideas to help fundraise for our RNLI lifeboat station, so if you'd like to get involved, we'd love to hear from you.”
To volunteer for any of these roles, please contact RNLI Volunteering at 01202 664366 or via email at
[email protected] or online at
http://www.rnli.org/volroles
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.