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New water safety volunteers needed to help RNLI make lifesaving impact

Lifeboats News Release

The RNLI is looking for new water safety volunteers to join its lifesaving crew in the Vale of Glamorgan with a tidal cut-off initiative at Sully Island.

Female RNLI volunteer in navy polo shirt.

RNLI/Nigel Millard

Volunteers are the heart of the RNLI and make up 97% of the charity’s frontline lifesavers. Just like the lifeboats, the RNLI’s Water Safety Team need a dedicated volunteer crew. Ordinary people who do extraordinary things and without them, the charity couldn’t continue to save lives at sea.

The Water Safety Team contribute to the RNLI’s vision of saving every one, by developing and implementing water safety initiatives and working with partners to help drive positive impact in their local communities.

Now the team are on the lookout for new volunteer Water Safety Advisors to join them as they introduce a new tidal cut-off initiative at Sully Island. Chris Cousens, RNLI Regional Water Safety Lead said:

‘There are many ways people can give a little or a lot of their time to support the RNLI and make their own lifesaving difference. We’re looking for new volunteer Water Safety Advisors to join our team and help minimise the risk of tidal cut off at Sully Island.

‘Sully Island is a small island less than half a mile offshore from Sully, Vale of Glamorgan. The rocky causeway between Sully Island and the mainland is covered by the tide roughly three hours before high tide on each incoming tide. As such the causeway becomes submerged quickly and can leave people trapped on the island or swept into the water if crossing the causeway as it becomes submerged.

‘As a Water Safety Adviser you will be engaging with members of the public looking to cross the causeway at times we know are of high risk. Full training is provided for these vital lifesaving roles and this is a really exciting time to join the RNLI’s one crew, as we celebrate our 200th anniversary throughout 2024.’

*Please note the volunteer Water Safety Advisor role is not an operational lifesaving role and there are no response or rescue responsibilities.

To find out more about the role and how you can sign up click here: Volunteer Water Safety Advisor - Sully Island. Applications close on Sunday 24 March.

Media contacts

For further information please contact Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on [email protected] or 07977 728 315.

Alternatively, you can contact the RNLI press office on 01202 336789 / [email protected].

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, Twitter 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.