Which organisation do you work for?
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
What sort of voluntary work do you do, and where?
I'm a crew member of the Beaumaris Lifeboat. A crew member has lots of duties because we're one of the emergency services. We help recover a lot of boats and tow them back to land. We also rescue people who are in difficulties, transfer the casualties to hospital by working alongside the coastguard, paramedics and helicopters.
How did you get started?
It probably wasn't the usual way. About two years ago, I got involved with the Beaumaris lifeboat day and I helped out with the PA system, making all the announcements, and I got hooked! I went down to the lifeboathouse a few times and decided to fill in the application forms. I didn't have any experience of sailing before I joined, so I suppose I did it the hard way!
How long have you been a volunteer?
Just under two years now.
Are there any special skills you need to be a volunteer?
You don't necessarily need specific skills to begin with. The RNLI have an on-going competence-based training programme which ensures that you're brought up to basic level in the beginning and then you continue to learn. It covers first aid, helicopter transfer, towing, communication and a lot more.
You're really put through your paces on a training course in Cowes on the Isle of Wight where you learn about mechanics and handling different boats.
How many hours a week/month do you give?
It varies obviously from week to week - I was out on call-out last night for about two hours. We get together for training for about four or five hours a week. My employers are very good and support my voluntary work with the Beaumaris Lifeboat.
What are the best and worst things about being a volunteer?
The best thing is to be able to help people in need - it's really satisfying to know you've made a difference.
The worst thing is probably when you're fast asleep and you're pager goes off.
How can others get involved?
Lots of people in the local community know who's on the lifeboat, so just ask them about it. Or you can come along to the boathouse whenever we're around to find out about the lifeboat.
your comments
Rob, RNLI crew
What a bizarre comment from the winchman. Look at the reduction in the number of Coastguard centres - which are government run. The Charitable status of the RNLI enables them to keep more boats and stations working. If it were government funded you'd have one boathouse every 50 miles by now. Where stations have closed it's usually because the stations either side have got faster boats and the service is far from diminished. The RNLI training is approved by the MCA (err, who run the Coastguard service). And a volunteer is not the same as an amateur. Remember that any Coastguard attending an incident is normally a volunteer (auxiliary) too.
Mon Dec 27 22:56:22 2004
Mike Thomas, Anglesey
It is about time that everybody that takes part in a sport or pastime (sailing, climbing etc.) that may result in the calling out an emergency service should take the responsibility and either pay for or have insurance to cover any costs incurred.
If this were a volunteer or professional service this payment should cover all costs. Including cover for possible risk of injury or worse to members of the relevant rescue service.
Wed Aug 4 13:16:07 2004
Joe Mac, helicopter winchman .
I think that the Lifeboat service must be nationalised. The service has diminished over the years and boats withdrawn. Proper training could be provided by Government as with the rest of the coastguard service. These amateurs have recently demonstrated their efficiency, when one incident involved THESS lifeboats and a SAR Helicopter.
Mon Jul 19 12:56:41 2004
Graham Owen from Llangoed had no real experience of sailing before he joined the Beaumaris Lifeboat, but now he's a fully-fledged member of the crew and he loves it.
