RNLI Mablethorpe is recruiting volunteers to help save lives at sea

It’s been a busy summer for the lifeboat crew and the volunteers are now looking for extra people to join their team to help spread the charity’s lifesaving messages.

Of course all volunteers are subject to the current COVID-19 restrictions and as such the lifeboat station is currently closed to visitors. Therefore, introductions and training will take place when safe and able to be carried out under strict pandemic social distancing measures.

There are a number of roles including lifeboat crew, shore crew who help launch and recover the lifeboats and tractor drivers whose role it is to transport the lifeboats between the station and the sea, all of which are vital to saving lives at sea.

RNLI Mablethorpe is home to two inshore lifeboats, on call 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, and is funded entirely by donations. To date this year, Mablethorpe’s two lifeboats have been launched a total of 27 times, 25 of these during the lockdown period with eight lives having been saved.

The charity is hoping to attract people from all walks of life and new recruits don’t need to have sea-going experience to get involved. Team players with good general fitness and the ability to learn new skills would be ideally suited to the role. Potential recruits must live or work within six miles of the station and be between 17 and 55 years of age.

Mark Chambers, RNLI Volunteer Deputy Launching Authority explained: ‘Only 10 percent of our new recruits come with professional maritime experience; our current lifeboat crew is testament to this as we have volunteers from all walks of life. We are seeking enthusiastic people who have some spare time and who are looking for a new challenge.’

The RNLI provides comprehensive training (subject to current COVID-19 regulations) to turn ordinary people into lifesavers and by volunteering people will gain some fantastic experience, knowledge and skills with the team in Mablethorpe. Around 95 percent of RNLI people are volunteers and find the experience an extremely rewarding one. It’s a great way to make new friends whilst helping to save lives at sea.

To qualify as lifeboat crew, volunteers need to be:

· Aged 17 – 55

· Living or working within six miles of the station at Mablethorpe

· Generally fit and healthy

For more information, contact Mark Chambers on 07989 125128, or Dale Chapman on 07834 924834.

RNLI Media contacts

For more information please contact Debbie Kendrick, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected]

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.

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.