RNLI volunteers from Scotland share their stories for International Women's Day

Supported by thousands of women in fundraising, water safety, engineering and staff teams, 15% of RNLI operational crew are women. This includes afloat crew, shore crew, launch authorities and lifeboat operation managers.

Mhairi Ross, a 48-year-old paramedic and nurse, also volunteers as a navigator on the Wick RNLI lifeboat, bringing both her emergency and medical knowledge, and navigational skills, to the volunteer crew.

Last year was a standout year for Mhairi as she was not only nominated for The Royal College of Nursing Scotland People’s Choice Award to recognise her work on the frontline, but she also took on ‘The Long Row Home’ with partner, Allan Lipp – a world-record attempt to circumnavigate Great Britain by rowing boat.

Mhairi says: ‘The nomination for The People’s Choice Award was an unexpected but humbling honour. It’s a privilege to be able to use my skills as a nurse or paramedic, alongside my volunteer role with the RNLI.

‘Growing up in the Outer Hebrides, I developed a deep appreciation for the sea and an early awareness of the RNLI’s lifesaving mission. Every job you do is an important one. It’s precious to know you’ve saved somebody’s life, but the calls we go out on where someone hasn’t survived are just as vital.’

Mhairi adds: ‘The Long Row Home was incredibly challenging. A lot of people didn’t believe we could do it, but we gave it our all and raised over £78,000 for the RNLI and Scottish Air Ambulance in the process.

‘Never in our wildest dreams did we think we could raise anywhere close to such a phenomenal amount of money.’

As a volunteer with the RNLI, her passion for sea safety and education has been a driving force in her volunteer work, from teaching schoolchildren about water safety to getting involved in the older generations within the community.

Mhairi says: ’Part of what I love about the RNLI is telling stories of the sea and teaching people how to stay safe. The prevention aspect is just as rewarding as saving lives.’ 

Mhairi encourages others to get involved, saying: ‘Just do it. Go along, speak to your local station. There are so many roles for women in the RNLI now—shore crew, fundraising, community engagement, and more. It’s an incredible opportunity to be part of something meaningful and make friends for a lifetime.’

In Fraserburgh, 21-year-old personal trainer Eilidh Sutherland became the station’s youngest volunteer crew member when she completed her training and got her pager in October 2024. She’s also the first female lifesaver in her family history, which goes back 2 generations.

Eilidh says: ‘I’ve joined my dad, Vic, my Uncle David and my cousin, Declan, on the crew here at Fraserburgh RNLI. My Grandad, Victor Snr, was the Second Coxswain, and his twin brother, Albert, who was also Coxswain before that.

‘I’d say I was inspired to join the RNLI by my dad. It’s nice to continue our family tradition of lifesaving.’

She adds: ‘I’m just as capable as everyone else on the crew and they’re all incredibly supportive – from training to working together on a rescue. We have so much respect for one another.’

When asked what she’d say to other women interested in volunteering for the RNLI, she says: ‘There is literally nothing you cannot learn. Even though I grew up around the RNLI through my dad’s role of coxswain and my mum’s fundraising, I don’t have a maritime background, so I’ve had to learn everything from tying knots to handling ropes.

‘If you’re willing to work hard and help people, then you can do it. There’s no divide – everyone's so supportive.’

At Kessock RNLI, for the first time in the station’s history, the volunteer crew put the lifeboat afloat with an all-female team for a training exercise, consisting of a launch authority, tractor driver, boat crew and a helm.

With a collective volunteer service of over 50 years, female crew members make up roughly one-third of the crew at Kessock RNLI. In November 2022, Jane Heir became the station’s first female helm, and in October last year, Sylvia Rankin became the first female Launch Vehicle Driver at Kessock RNLI.

RNLI media contacts

Emma Lees, RNLI Communications Placement for Scotland, [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