Calshot joins new RNLI Women in SAR conference for International Women's Day
Calshot joins new RNLI Women in SAR conference for International Women's Day
Lifeboats News Release
For this year’s International Women’s Day, the RNLI held a special two day conference for female crew members to celebrate their achievements and inspire new volunteers to get involved at their local lifeboat station.
RNLI/Kelley Leonard
Female RNLI Volunteers at Women in SARS Conference
Calshot RNLI was thrilled that one of their volunteer boat crew members, Kelley Leonard, was chosen to attend and represent Calshot at this new celebratory event.
Women in SAR (search and rescue) is a new conference at the RNLI College in Poole to celebrate female volunteers across the charity. Numbers at the event were limited, with only around 40 invited attendees from across the country able to secure a place.
Kelley has been a volunteer at Calshot for five years, working her way up from shore crew to become an integral part of the lifeboat crew. In her day job as an Emergency Care Assistant for South Central Ambulance Service, she is used to working under pressure and delivering when it counts. One particularly memorable shout was featured on the BBC Programme Saving Lives At Sea, involving the resuscitation of an unconscious jet skier.
The conference itself was a mix of tours, talks and time afloat in a variety of exercises around the coast at Poole. Talks included inspirational women from across the region and internationally, with speakers from the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, the RNLI Beach Lifeguard Team, the first female helm from Cullercoats RNLI, a commander from the Royal Navy and a Director of the HMRC.
There were also international speakers sharing their lessons from being on the frontline of drowning prevention campaigns and work from Bangladesh and Tanzania.
Getting out on the water with other volunteers was also a great opportunity to learn from fellow crew members and experience the wide variety of equipment that the RNLI deploys across the charity. The group carried out exercises on Atlantic B class lifeboats, smaller D class lifeboats along with the larger all-weather vessels. The team practised helicopter drills, slow speed transfers and man-overboard drills.
Of the event, Kelley said: ‘The RNLI is a diverse charity, often recognised for training and working with people from all walks of life. To represent our volunteer crew at Calshot was a big honour and meeting up with the fellow crew members was a great chance to exchange stories and advice from our lifesaving work.
'Seeing the charity embrace International Women’s Day just goes to show the impact that all crew members can make, volunteering their time so that they’re ready to head out to sea in all weather, any time the pagers sound.’
Calshot RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Jane Banting added:
‘We’re incredibly thankful to all of our volunteers during this busy month at the station. As ever, your support means they are always prepared with the best kit and training, ready to help save lives at sea. We’re grateful that Kelley was able to experience a variety of what the RNLI can do in Poole at this special conference.’
RNLI Calshot Media Contacts
For more information please contact:
Justyn Leonard, Lifeboat Press Officer on 07540 920678 or email [email protected]
Neil Lewin, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07727 600518 or email [email protected]
RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789
RNLI/Kelley Leonard
Volunteers standing in front of lifeboats at RNLI College
RNLI/Kelley Leonard
Female volunteers at the Women in SARS Conference in Poole
RNLI/Kelley Leonard
Joint exercises with Coastguard Helicopter
RNLI/Kelley Leonard
Practising coming alongside on a D Class lifeboat
RNLI/Kelley Leonard
The volunteers at 2024's Women in SARS Conference
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.
