Hoylake RNLI volunteer joins charity’s Women in Search and Rescue Training Week

The five-day event, which started on 2 March, brought together women who serve in frontline operational roles from RNLI lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland, providing a unique opportunity to inspire, connect and share their experiences while learning new skills.

Emily proudly represented Hoylake RNLI at the event, as one of the station’s four dedicated female operational volunteers. With over 20 years of voluntary service alongside her career as a firefighter, she has held lifesaving roles including as an all-weather lifeboat crew member and navigator, hovercraft crew member, and Water Safety Advisor. She previously served as the station's first-ever female deputy second coxswain.

Attendees at the Women in SAR week, including Emily, were put through their paces on the Crew Emergency Procedures course in the RNLI’s sea survival training pool, and headed out afloat on a Shannon class all-weather lifeboat for command training.

The delegates also took part in a range of networking, confidence and leadership workshops, aligned to the ‘Give to Gain’ theme of this year’s International Women’s Day.

Speakers at the event included RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes and Chair Janet Legrand, as well as Head of Region in the North and East, Rebecca Felton, and the charity’s first female full-time Coxswain, Di Bush.

Emily said: ‘It was a fantastic opportunity to meet other like minded crew from across the UK and Ireland. The training promoted the importance of teamwork and supporting each and every crew member, to achieve our collective goal to save everyone we can.’

Jill Hepburn, RNLI Head of Region in Scotland, said: ‘International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder that when we give our time, skills and support to one another, we all gain strength, confidence and opportunity.

‘Our Women in SAR Training Week is a brilliant example of this in action — bringing women together to share knowledge, build capability and grow as a supportive, skilled community while developing vital lifesaving expertise.

‘At the RNLI, we know that creating a more diverse and inclusive organisation makes us stronger and more effective in our mission to save lives at sea.’

‘We’re incredibly proud of all our frontline staff and volunteers who continue to give so much in service of others.’

Regional International Women’s Day events in the RNLI also took place in Swords, Ireland and Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex.

To find out more about volunteering at the RNLI, including current vacancies, please visit: rnli.org/support-us/volunteer

Notes to editor

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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For more information, please contact:

Dan Whiteley, Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 851 316 or email [email protected]

Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager on 07977 728 315 or email [email protected]

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789

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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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