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International Volunteer Managers Day: meet some of the RNLI’s volunteer managers
Today (5 November) marks International Volunteer Managers Day (IVMDay), which was founded in 1999 to recognise all managers of volunteers and the important roles they have to play.
We all know that without our thousands of volunteers, the RNLI would be unable to save lives at sea. Our incredible volunteers are supported across our RNLI communities by a group of volunteer managers, many of whom are volunteers themselves.
To mark IVMDay, we wanted to shine the spotlight on just some of our volunteer managers and the work they do.
Who are our volunteer managers?
Our volunteer managers at the RNLI are both volunteers and staff. Volunteer managers can be involved with the recruitment, selection, induction, support, training and recognition of our volunteers. Overall, volunteer managers are responsible for their teams and ensuring everyone is supported to fulfil their role and contribute to saving lives at sea.
Meet some of our volunteer managers
Daimon Fergus, Lifeboat Operations Manager
Many of our volunteer managers are volunteers themselves, giving their time not only to their own volunteer role but also to support others. Lifeboat Operations Managers are just one of the many volunteer manager roles across the RNLI. Daimon Fergus has been volunteering with Bundoran RNLI for over 30 years, starting out as lifeboat crew. He now volunteers as Lifeboat Operations Manager for the station, with overall responsibility for its operational readiness, including supporting and managing volunteer crews, helping ensure training and exercises are carried out, maintaining high operational standards, and making sure the station is ready to respond whenever the pager goes off.
Speaking about his role, Daimon says: ‘My favourite thing about the role is the people. Being part of a dedicated team of volunteers who are committed to saving lives at sea is incredibly rewarding. Seeing individuals develop their skills and confidence and watching the team work together during training and service, gives me a real sense of pride in what we give back to our local community.
‘The commitment and passion that volunteers bring to the RNLI is amazing. Everyone gives their time freely alongside work and family commitments, all with the same goal of helping others. Knowing that you've helped support and develop a team that can make a difference when people need us most is hugely satisfying. Their dedication, teamwork and willingness to give their time to help others is what makes the RNLI such a special organisation to be part of.’
Jason Luff, Senior Community Manager
Other volunteer managers are members of RNLI staff. Jason Luff has been a Senior Community Manager at the RNLI for the past four years. Based in Devon, he supports a team of Community Managers in the South West of England, who empower and lead engagement volunteers to raise as much money as possible to fund our lifeboat service. He also finds time to volunteer himself, as part of the crew at Exmouth Lifeboat Station.
Jason says: ‘My favourite thing about managing a team of volunteers is knowing that the hard work we do is directly helping us to save lives at sea. It is great to see directly how much the RNLI means to our people, and the passion they have for our lifeboats and what we do.
‘In fact, this energy and passion from our volunteers inspired me to become volunteer crew myself, which in turn, has become my passion!’
Linda-Gene Byrne, Regional Water Safety Lead
In Ireland, Linda-Gene Byrne has been Regional Water Safety Lead for three years, leading water safety and drowning prevention in the region to ensure a joined-up approach to water safety with maximum impact on lifesaving.
Linda says: ‘As a volunteer manager, I love knowing that the work we do truly matters. We have a great team of 120 water safety volunteers, an education manager, a water safety delivery support and partners, and all are helping to save lives and change behaviours, which in turn helps reduce the number of families who have to endure the devastating loss of a loved one through drowning.
‘The role is a great mix of office-based and getting out and about meeting and supporting volunteers and delivering water safety message at events or with partners. You get to meet great people and see beautiful parts of the country.
‘The most rewarding thing about working with volunteers is being surrounded by people who are committed to making a difference. Whether they're delivering water safety messages in schools or local communities, supporting events and clubs, their dedication helps save lives and prevent families in their local communities from experiencing the tragedy of drowning. Being part of that shared purpose is incredibly fulfilling, and I have met some many wonderful people and am blown away by their dedication.’
Everything you need in your role
If you’re a volunteer manager, the RNLI has some useful resources and guides to help support you and the volunteers you manage during all aspects of volunteering, from recruitment and induction, ongoing volunteer management (including problem solving and recognition), through to when they leave the RNLI. You can search for the resources you need on our volunteer resources page.
Get in touch
If you do have any feedback or questions, please do get in touch with our team at [email protected].