New volunteers needed in Conwy county to help RNLI save lives at sea

Water Safety Officers develop water safety and lifesaving plans and work with partners to help influence improved safety, to reduce the number of preventable deaths and incidents that occur within local coastal communities. New volunteers are sought to take up these vital roles, for which full training is provided.

Just like the charity’s lifeboats, the RNLI’s fundraising team need a dedicated volunteer crew. Volunteers are the heart of the RNLI and make up 95% of its people. They are ordinary people who do extraordinary things and without them, the organisation couldn’t continue to save lives at sea.

But it’s not all about volunteering on lifeboats or at a station, there are many other ways people can give a little or a lot of their time to support the RNLI and make their own lifesaving difference.

Myfanwy Jones joined as volunteer in March 2017 as Lifeboat Visits Officer and in 2021 became Water Safety Advisor. Myfanwy decided to take up volunteering having previously worked for the RNLI. She says:

‘I got to know many of the crew in the region and admired them all. When I was asked to consider the voluntary position of visits officer at Llandudno, I didn’t hesitate I wanted to give something back to these wonderful people. 

‘By volunteering for the RNLI, people are joining a worthy cause and playing their part in saving lives at sea. What surprises and delights my volunteers is the passion that we put into the visits team and the huge amount of knowledge we accrue both from the organisation and each other.  The best part of it all is the people; appreciating how nice, generous and selfless people can be.’

Sue Perkins is the fundraising chair at Llandudno after joining the RNLI six years ago. Her love of the RNLI stems much further back as she has fond childhood memories of the excitement generated by a lifeboat launch, as it was located right next to her school. She says:

‘In later years as a yachtie, I become to understand what the RNLI stood for. What I love most about being a volunteer is the opportunity to meet with people from all walks of life, to hold events and to be able to tell everyone about the work of the RNLI. ‘

Nick Evans RNLI Fundraising Partnership Lead said:

‘Without our volunteers, the RNLI simply would not be able to operate the way it does today. With 92% of the RNLI’s income coming from donations, the charity relies on the generosity of supporters and on the dedication of our fundraising volunteers to help raise essential funds. Thousands of community fundraising volunteers organise a wide range of activities and events each year, contributing their time, energy and skills to raise money to save lives at sea. Some of our fundraisers have been volunteering for many years while some just join us for a few months in the year depending on what their commitments allow.

‘We now really need to bolster that support and grow our volunteer fundraising crew. If you like to have fun, enjoy meeting new people and want to join a motivated and enthusiastic team, we encourage you to find out more and apply. You will learn new skills, gain experience and have the rewarding satisfaction of giving back. The RNLI will also provide all the necessary training and support so you can carry out your chosen role effectively.’

To find out more about how you can sign up to be a fundraising volunteer at the RNLI, or to apply, click on this link rnli.org/OneCrewVolunteers

To find out more about the Water Safety Officer roles , please visit:

Conwy: https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/volunteer-water-safety-officer-conwy-512466.html

Llandudno: https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/volunteer-water-safety-officer-llandudno-512471.html

Ends

Please find attached an image of Myfanwy Jones who joined as volunteer in March 2017 as Lifeboat Visits Officer and in 2021 became Water Safety Advisor

RNLI media contacts 

For more information, please contact Danielle Rush, RNLI Media Relations Manager for Wales, the West and the Isle of Man on 07786 668829 or [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.