Sheerness RNLI celebrates women volunteers on International Women’s Day
Volunteers at Sheerness RNLI are celebrating the vital role women play at the lifeboat station as part of International Women's Day.
From volunteer lifeboat crew to fundraisers, water safety officers and press officers, women form an important part of the team helping the Royal National Lifeboat Institution continue its lifesaving work.
Among them, at the charity’s Isle of Sheppey station, is Rachel Collier, 49, who joined the crew eight years ago simply because she loved the water and thought the role looked exciting.
Rachel had no previous maritime experience when she first volunteered, but today she serves as one of the station’s coxswains.
She said: “I had no maritime experience at all when I joined, but now I’m a coxswain. I never knew I could achieve so much, so to any women out there thinking about joining the RNLI – come and have a go and see what you can achieve.”
Kim Braysher, 52, joined the crew in April 2023 and now serves as an inshore lifeboat navigator. Like Rachel, she began with no maritime background but was keen to volunteer her time.
She said: “Joining the RNLI means you become the lifeline someone needs. You become part of a team that makes a real difference. Your skills and passion can help keep our coasts and rivers safe.”
Fundraising volunteer Jodie Ketteridge, 47, who lives on a barge with her family and regularly sails with her nine-year-old son, said volunteering is a way of giving back to the sailing community while setting an example for the next generation.
She said: “It’s important to give back to the sailing community and to show my son that women play a vital role in every aspect of the RNLI. Having Rachel as one of the coxswains is also such an inspiration.”
The station’s dedicated fundraising team is also supported by Helen Gourley, who has volunteered for around three years to help give back to the local community.
Maya Wheeler, 59, is also a fundraiser and said she has been fascinated by the RNLI since her days working as a journalist and did not hesitate to volunteer locally when the opportunity arose.
She said: “It’s been a pleasure to work alongside some amazing women since joining.”
Zoe Spoor, 38, is one of the newest members of the fundraising team. With family ties to the RNLI stretching back years, she said getting involved herself felt like a natural step.
She added: “Seeing Rachel become coxswain shows there are no limits to a woman’s role within the RNLI. I hesitated for a long time before getting involved, but I wish I hadn’t.”
The station also wants to recognise the work of Clare Streeter, Sheerness RNLI’s Launch Authority and Water Safety Officer, who plays a key role in ensuring crews are tasked safely and that the public are educated about staying safe around the county’s coast and rivers.
The station’s volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Megan Carr, is also among the women helping support the charity’s work behind the scenes.
Megan, 25, said the RNLI has always been close to her heart.
She said: “My dad volunteered as crew at Gravesend RNLI for many years, so it’s always been a charity that means a lot to my family. I’m a local reporter, so I joined the station to lend a hand using my skill set to help promote the work the charity does for our community.
"It is wonderful to volunteer alongside such dedicated and hard-working women."
Anyone interested in volunteering with Sheerness RNLI can find out more about the current roles available below:
https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/launch-authority-sheerness-605434.html
https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/boathouse-manager-sheerness-605439.html
Key facts about the RNLI
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, 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.