The RNLI is looking for lifeguards to help save lives at sea in Portsmouth

Last year RNLI lifeguards, who cover over 240 beaches across the UK and Channel Islands, saw more people than ever visit a lifeguarded beach – more than 20 million – the highest number recorded since the charity that saves lives at sea introduced its lifeguard patrols in 2001.

Now the charity wants to hear from potential lifesavers who will play a vital role in keeping people safe this year while they enjoy the summer at the Hampshire beaches of Eastney and Southsea.

Successful applicants will undergo first-class training to build valuable skills – from handling lifesaving equipment on the beach to first aid and casualty care.

Tom Ward, Seasonal RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor in Hampshire and West Sussex, said:

‘Working as a beach lifeguard is a rewarding job that helps you develop many different skills: adaptability, teamwork, fitness, and inclusivity. It is a great way to stay active and form friendships with members of the team while keeping people safe to enjoy the beach.

We are looking for people with courage, determination and the ability to put their training into action and make the right decision if someone’s life is in danger. Prevention is also first and foremost as it allows everyone to have a better understanding of the environment.

Safety advice is to swim between the red and yellow flags and if you have any questions, please go and ask an RNLI lifeguard.’

Craig Maltby, RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for Hampshire and West Sussex, said:

‘We are very excited to be patrolling the beaches of Hampshire and West Sussex for 2022 season. We will be training our lifeguards in preparation for this season, and our inductions include basic lifesaving skills, such as rescue board and tube training. Each lifeguard will undergo a three-day casualty care course, and this prepares them when dealing with minor and major first aids for the season ahead. Finally, we will be training lifeguards in West Sussex on IRBs (inshore rescue boats) and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) to ensure we can keep members of the public safe at all times.

The RNLI Lifeguard Service in West Sussex is currently weekends only and will go full time from Saturday 14 May. The Portsmouth beaches are peak season and go live from early July.’

The RNLI is looking for individuals who hold a National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ), ILS Beach/Surf Lifeguard award or equivalent. If you do not hold one, there will be courses running in Portsmouth and other neighbouring areas through these links https://rlssuk.tahdah.me/event and https://www.slsgb.org.uk/education/courses/

Find out more about how you can be a frontline lifesaver and apply to be part of our brilliant lifeguarding team at https://jobs.rnli.org/vacancy/lifeguards-chichester-southsea-467931.html

This year RNLI Lifeguards will be at the following beaches in Hampshire and West Sussex:

Littlehampton East (East): Weekends and Bank Holidays Only 30 April – 8 May. Daily 14 May – 4 September. Patrol times 10am – 6pm.

Littlehampton East (West): Daily 14 May – 4 September. Patrol times 10am – 6pm.

Bognor Regis: Daily 9 July – 4 September. Patrol times 10am – 6pm

Southsea Central: Daily 2 July – 4 September. Patrol times 10am – 6pm

Southsea East: Daily 2 July – 4 September. Patrol times 10am – 6pm

Eastney: Daily 2 July – 4 September. Patrol times 10am – 6pm

Ends

Note for Editors:

RNLI lifeguards are trained to spot and assess danger on the beach by conducting vital risk assessments. They aim to prevent accidents before they happen; therefore, up to 95% of their work is preventative.

RNLI lifeguards began patrolling beaches in 2001 and are now an essential part of the charities’ seamless rescue service that saves lives from the beach to the open sea. In 2021, our lifeguards in Chichester responded to incidents, helped people, and took preventative actions to ensure safety on the West Sussex beaches.

• To learn more about the RNLI lifeguards go to https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeguards-and-beaches/how-we-keep-beaches-safe

• A video of RNLI lifeguards recruitment can be viewed at https://summerjobs.rnli.org/become-a-lifeguard/about-the-role

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Simona Matache, RNLI South East Media Placement, on 0779 0772665 or email [email protected], or Paul Dunt, RNLI South East Regional Media Officer, on 0778 5296252 or email [email protected], or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336 789 or email [email protected]

RNLI online

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

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.

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.