Minehead RNLI lifeboat station seek volunteers to join life-saving family

As life is returning to normal with thousands of people out and about enjoying the coast, this year has been one of the busiest ever for the RNLI lifeboat and lifeguard crews across the country. However, the crews can’t do their jobs without the important work of the volunteers.

Jason Luff, RNLI Community Manager, said:

‘Minehead RNLI lifeboat station and shop work together as one crew. The volunteers working in the shop play a vital role in raising the funds which enable the lifeboat crew to respond to those in peril at sea. As many of our RNLI shops all over the UK have returned to their normal opening hours, we are looking to fill a number of volunteer roles within the shop and lifeboat team.’

Both the non-operational and operational volunteer roles are vital parts to being able to save lives at sea. In 2020, RNLI lifeboats launched 8,239 times and saved the lives of 239 people. Altogether, RNLI shops around the country attract almost 1 million visitors every year, selling a wide range of products from jam to clothing, and key rings to model boats, where money raised goes towards running the lifeboats, equipment, and training.

The non-operational roles that currently need filling are:

Volunteer Shop Manager – where you will be responsible for ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the shop, volunteer training and management, interacting with customers and ensuring all shop volunteers champion the RNLI One Crew ethos while building its reputation on the local area.

Shop Volunteers – You could be the person that engages someone with the RNLI for the first time. Providing a high level of customer service and ensuring the shop is a friendly and welcoming place for those that visit.

Fundraising Group Members - You will enable volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews to save lives at sea by carrying out and supporting vital fundraising activity in your local community.

Community Presenter - You will deliver key messages to raise the profile of the RNLI and generate vital funds to help save lives at sea.

The operational roles that need filling are:

Inshore Lifeboat Crew – You will help us save lives at sea by ensuring that our lifeboats are in a state of permanent readiness and crewing the lifeboat on service and exercise, under the command of the Helm.

Phil Sanderson, lifeboat helm at Minehead says,

‘I have been a volunteer crew member at Minehead for 31 years now and I always say it is the best club in town. We have a great team of volunteers carrying out a wide range of roles, all of whom contribute in their own important way.

Whenever I'm at the station it is always nice to poke my head in the shop and have a chat with the lovely people that run it. We are all part of one crew saving lives at sea.’

The RNLI are always looking for help in any capacity, so don’t be afraid to come and join us because we’d be delighted if you did. It really is like joining a family and wherever you go you are welcomed.’

To find out more about the roles and where to apply visit: www.rnli.org/volroles

Notes to editor

· Jason Luff, RNLI Community Manager, is available for interview on request.

· Please see attached images

1. Phil Sanderson Minehead RNLI lifeboat helm (credit: RNLI / Nigel Millard)

2. Minehead RNLI lifeboat station and shop (credit: Nicholas Leach)

RNLI contacts

For more information, please contact Jason Luff, Community Manager on [email protected]. or 07890 024840.

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org/press.

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.