RNLI calls on new volunteers to join its fundraising crew in Wexford

Just like the charity’s lifeboats, the RNLI’s fundraising team need a dedicated volunteer crew. Volunteers are at 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.

Grainne O’Brien is the secretary of the Kilmore Quay Guild. Growing up in a family steeped in fishing and volunteering for the lifeboat, she had an early appreciation of the significance of fundraising for the charity in her community.

‘I come from a fishing family and my grandfather Paddy Hayes and my uncle John Hayes were both crew on the lifeboat in Kilmore Quay. From a kid growing up, I always knew the importance of the lifeboat to our community. I first got involved in volunteering as a teenager helping out in the shop over the summer breaks. Then when I moved home after been away in Galway and Athlone, I wanted to give something back so I started by helping out in the shop again and then I got involved in fundraising and now I am the secretary of the Kilmore Quay Guild.’

For Grainne the reward for her fundraising efforts comes when she sees the volunteer crew respond to the pager and the lifeboat go to sea.

‘I can see what the crew do in our community and it can at times be life and death situations they are responding to. I also enjoy the camaraderie and the mixing between those volunteering in the shop, in fundraising and the lifeboat crew - we do have a lot of laughs along the way. It really is a great organisation and I would encourage others who are interested to come along and give it a try and see what is involved.’

This is something echoed by Mary Creedon, RNLI Fundraising Partnership Lead who hails the selfless efforts of people like Grainne: ‘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 in Courtown, Wexford, New Ross, Kilmore Quay, Hook/Fethard and Rosslare, or to apply, click on this link rnli.org/OneCrewVolunteers

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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.