Cowes RNLI Volunteer Joins Women’s Training Week Ahead of IWD 2025
In the week before International Women’s Day, women from across the RNLI gathered for a week of training and connection.
Saturday 8 March is International Women’s Day 2025 which aims to celebrate and promote the achievements of women. For 2025, the theme for International Women’s Day is Accelerate Action, asking women and allies to increase momentum and urgency in addressing biases that women may face.
This week, 57 women from 47 stations across the RNLI, each fulfilling a variety of lifeboat station roles, came together for the RNLI’s #WomenInSAR Training Week at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset.
The action-packed five-day event aimed to bring together women from RNLI lifeguard and lifeboat teams across the UK and Ireland to inspire, connect and share their experiences while learning new skills.
Women represent 15% of operational crew across the RNLI. At Cowes Station, 25% of volunteers are female.
Crys O'Connell, Cowes RNLI volunteer and RNLI administrator, has just returned from the event. Crys said:
“It was a jam-packed week, with training, refreshers and taster sessions from a variety of courses and opportunities to step up into different roles. It continued into the evenings with guest speakers, and it was awesome to discover the backgrounds and experiences of other crew. I would encourage any current or aspiring female volunteers to make the most of future opportunities like this.”
To find out more about volunteering at the RNLI, including current vacancies, please visit: rnli.org/support-us/volunteer
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Notes to editor:
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For information about influential women in the RNLI’s history, please visit: https://rnli.org/magazine/magazine-featured-list/2024/may/15-influential-women-of-the-rnli
RNLI media contacts
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Sofia Voudouroglou, Cowes RNLI Volunteer Deputy Press Officer 07594051372/ [email protected]
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George Chastney, Cowes RNLI Volunteer Press Officer 07530 254052/ [email protected]
For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 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 142,700 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.
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.