Could YOU be a Lifesaver? RNLI Weymouth Seeks New Recruits

Weymouth is one of our busiest lifeboat stations on England’s south coast. It operates two lifeboats – Ernest and Mabel, a Severn class all-weather lifeboat, and Jack & Phyl Cleare, a B class Atlantic 85. Last year Weymouth RNLI volunteer crew launched the lifeboats 77 times, going to the aid of 77 people and saving 8 lives.

The RNLI is made up around 95% volunteers and when you say RNLI, most people will be able to conjure up images of orange boats with their volunteer crews in their yellow jackets and wellies scrambling to their positions to go to the aid of someone in difficulty on or in the sea. But there are countless shore based volunteers that are also working all year round to make that rescue happen.

These shop volunteers, fundraisers and water safety advisers, amongst many others are just as vital and amazing as our boat crews.

So what’s in it for you?

Join an inclusive and diverse organisation

• Have fun, meet new people and join a motivated and enthusiastic team who are making a difference
• Learn skills and gain experience to enhance your CV
• Gain the satisfaction of giving back
• Training to fulfil your volunteer role will be provided and reasonable out of pocket expenses reimbursed

In particular, Weymouth Lifeboat Station is looking for new volunteers to take up the following shore based roles:

Lifeboat Management Group Chairperson

Are you a team player with good communication skills and able to chair a meeting effectively with an interest in/knowledge of the RNLI?

The Chairperson of the Lifeboat Management Group is a key leadership role locally and ensures that all functions of the local station are co-ordinated, information shared, and develops a joint approach in representing the activities of the RNLI to the local community

Fundraising Roles

We have several roles available in our fundraising group. The RNLI has a network of local fundraising teams organising a wide range of activities and events which last year raised £14 million to save lives at sea.

Each team is supported by a Community Manager, although the range and frequency of fundraising events is determined by the team members themselves, under the leadership of the Fundraising Chair.

Fundraising Treasurer

Do you have good interpersonal and communication skills, with organisational administration & IT, skills and experience of accounting procedures?

Then you could be our volunteer Fundraising Treasurer for Weymouth.

You will be maintaining accurate online records of financial transactions relating to the local group, and be the main point of contact in relation to reporting and auditing, presenting a financial report at meetings and completing an annual statement of accounts, and assisting fundraising events and activities.

Fundraising Secretary

You will enable volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews to save lives at sea by carrying out and supporting vital fundraising activity in your local community.

If you have excellent interpersonal and team working skills, good IT skills with access to the internet and email, are a brilliant organiser and administrator and are confident handling cash then we need you.

The Fundraising Secretary supports the Fundraising group at Weymouth by being the primary point of contact for the fundraising group in Weymouth, and dealing with all group correspondence, regularly distributing information to other members. You will also order fundraising materials and organise any printing, as help out at fundraising events.

Fundraising and Events Volunteer

Our fundraising volunteers are the backbone of our fundraising efforts. You will enable volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews to save lives at sea by carrying out and supporting vital fundraising activity in your local community.

If you are enthusiastic, flexible, open to change and willing to contribute and try out new ideas and would like to get involved in your local community then please get in touch.

Water Safety Adviser

As a Water Safety Adviser, you will help saves lives at sea as part of a team contributing towards the local Community Lifesaving Plans by going into the community and delivering RNLI water safety advice. Part of this role is to identify local risks and work with partners to deliver targeted interventions.

You will have good communication and people skills and possibly some experience of public speaking but if not, the desire to gain some skills and/or confidence in this area. Knowledge or experience of coastal or inland waterway environment and local water-based activity is desirable.

Recent activity the team has been involved in includes life jacket clinics, safety presentations to local sailing clubs and stalls at local events where they promote the ‘float to live’ message and local water safety information.

Shop Volunteers

The RNLI shops started life as simple cake stalls, run by volunteers and their supporters to raise money for the local Lifeboats and stations. These stalls started selling commemorative RNLI products in around 1920 and quickly moved on to selling souvenirs and Christmas cards. The first shop to be run as part of an actual station opened in 1990.

For many people, buying something from an RNLI shop will be the first time that they come into contact with our Charity, and as a shop volunteer you could be the person that engages them to support us now, and in the future.

Your welcoming, organised and efficient nature will ensure that our shops are a friendly and attractive place to shop, fully representing the RNLI values.

You will help save lives at sea by generating vital funds as well as promoting the work of the RNLI to customers and raising awareness of key safety messages.

Gemma Baker Community Manager said: ‘Volunteering with us gives people the opportunity to make a real difference in their local community, to save lives and become part of the larger RNLI family. We can’t keep people safe without the support of our wonderful volunteers, who truly make a difference every day no matter which role they are fulfilling.

Becoming a volunteer, whatever the role, is a great chance to play a crucial part in helping to save lives. We’re looking for enthusiastic people who would like to become a part of our important work of saving lives at sea. If you are interested in finding out more can contact me [email protected] or take a look at the volunteering page on our website. And come along to our recruitment morning at Weymouth station on Saturday 10 June. We’ll be there from 10am till midday and can answer any questions you may have.’

The RNLI provides first class training and equipment, guidance and support to all volunteers, from volunteer lifeboat crew to shop volunteers and event marshals. Find out more about the opportunities available near you at www.rnli.org/volroles.

Notes to editors

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected] .

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org/press.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. 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 142,200 lives.

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.