
Kippford RNLI seeks new volunteers
Have you got what it takes to save lives at sea? Kippford RNLI are looking for new operational volunteers to join the lifeboat and shore crew. An open recruitment event is taking place on Sunday 9th February.
As the charity that saves lives at sea the RNLI is operated almost entirely by volunteers and the team at Kippford lifeboat station are no exception. Housing a D Class inshore lifeboat, the station has been in existence since 1966 and is run by a team of volunteers.
There are a wide range of operational roles in the RNLI including lifeboat crew, shore crew and launch authority positions. Maritime experience is not required as there is a comprehensive training structure in place for all volunteers.
Gareth Jones, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Kippford RNLI, says: ‘volunteering with the RNLI requires commitment and a desire to help others. We have a small, dedicated crew here in Kippford and we now have the opportunity to welcome some new people to the team. I’d encourage anyone who may be interested to come along to our recruitment event on the 9th of February to find out more.’
Anyone interested in joining the Kippford crew should be over 18 years of age and for lifeboat crew must be under 55 years of age. You should be physically fit, live or work close to the lifeboat station and be able to commit to the training requirements as well as respond to the pager when the call for help comes.
Laura Wilson, volunteer crew member at Kippford, says: ‘I’ve been volunteering with the RNLI for 6 years and in that time I’ve made great friends and learned lots of new skills. Being on the lifeboat can be challenging but it’s also extremely rewarding when you are able to put your training into practice to help someone in difficulty. I’ve loved my time volunteering so far and I’m looking forward to helping the next generation of Kippford lifesavers on their journey.’
The Kippford RNLI volunteer recruitment day takes place at the lifeboat station from 10-12 on Sunday 9th October. Potential volunteers will be able to look around the station and lifeboat and spend some time chatting with current crew to find out more about the role and next steps. More details of the event can be found on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/kippfordRNLI or by emailing [email protected]
Notes to editors
· Kippford Lifeboat Station has been operating since 1966. To learn more about the station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/kippford-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
Laura Wilson, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07756 125917, [email protected]
Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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.