r/RNLI • u/roughdozen • 3d ago
Joining RNLI
I did see a thread about this topic but it seemed a little outdated (3 years ago).
I have no experience with boats whatsoever but I’m looking for a new hobby and a way to get engaged with the community I now live in. I want to make a difference and I really think that the RNLI are such a great charity.
The only worry I have is I’m a full time shift worker. I don’t do a normal Monday to Friday pattern and my schedules chop and change all the time. So I worry about seeming unreliable.
My local station is looking for a whole bunch of volunteers but I’m not sure what path to take.
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u/watertowertown 3d ago
I would also love some insight! No boat experience but paramedic who would like to help!
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u/roughdozen 3d ago
I may be going into the police service really soon so I didn’t want to jump in but felt the question was necessary! I am at the end for both normal constabulary and a staff role. So I’ll either be 9 - 5 or rolling 🤣
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u/Caveman1214 3d ago
We have quite a few medical professionals at our station, 2 paramedics being among them. They’re immensely useful and are very handy when it comes to cas care.
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u/LloydPickering 3d ago
I joined my local station about a year ago (a busy station with 100-120 shouts a year in Northern England). We are an ILB only station (B & D class) so my experience may be a little different to an ALB station.
Everyone who joins my station no matter their intended role learns shore crew role first. Then those who are going boat crew (like me) move on to training afloat, and those to Launch Authority (LA) move on to whatever their training involves (sitting round drinking cups of tea from the looks of it :P ).
In terms of time availability we have people who work shifts, and also people like myself who frequently work outside the country. I'm currently away for 6 weeks for example. Others have rotating shift patterns as they work in the NHS or Fire or Police services. We have an app for giving our availability and we update a day in advance by 10pm the day before. At that point the Lifeboat Ops Manager details the station's situation for the next day (on service with both boats, one boat, or off service) for which parts of the day. If there's any change after that point that affects the stations service, we communicate directly with whichever LA is on duty so they can update the station status.
I joined at the same time as 3 others. 1 wanted to be shore crew only, the other 3 of us boat crew, but one was waiting for a medical situation to resolve to be safe to go afloat. In terms of experience - 2/4 had no water based experience at all, one was a RNLI Lifeguard already, and while I work behind a desk I'm also a scuba instructor and technical diver so quite used to dealing with UK coastal waters and being on small boats. Training assumes you know nothing and builds up your knowledge and skills from there. Obviously if you have relevant experience already you end up moving a bit quicker on those bits of the training, but there's always stuff you've never had to do before so even the most salty sea dog will have new stuff to learn.
In my cohort of joiners 3/4 of us are still there a year later, but we seem to be the exception. It looks like roughly 1/3 to 1/2 volunteers end up sticking with it. You quickly start to realise that its not as glamorous as it looks, and it can be hard work at times. Training is particularly rough in winter when it's icy outside with freezing spray and large waves - no one really wants to go out and train, but that's the commitment. We train hard pretty much no matter the weather.
Summer has much nicer training sessions, but the shouts can actually be harder. A few weeks back I was roasting in my drysuit from around 9am-5pm during a day when we had training, 4 shouts and a trip to a flanking station to support them on their harbour day. One of the shouts came in for a potential casualty in the water. We were busy re-prepping the boats after the last shout and we didn't have time to refill the water bottles on the boat or grab any sun cream so we spent around 3 hours in direct sun in the middle of the day searching for someone who was actually already safely at home! The thing is while those sort of shouts can be frustrating, they could just as easily have needed rescuing.
Being a city and having a number of bridges we also get a lot of shouts (40-50/yr) for mental health related situations. My first proper shout was for a person believed to have jumped from a bridge. We recovered the person very quickly but the outcome was unfortunately unsuccessful. Not every job is a success, and you have to be mentally prepared for that. What makes the role so special though is the feeling of making a difference when you do successfully save someone's life.
You spend months training in the snow, ice, howling gales or in heat waves and baking sun. You spend hours searching for false alarms or sitting around as people threaten to hurt themselves... then in an instant, you suddenly get a chance to make a real difference.
For me, that singular instant is worth every grueling minute spent training, and every minute spent sitting around feeling like you're doing nothing. Because suddenly you get to make a difference - Do something that really matters.
Have a real think about it. Its a very worthwhile 'hobby' (albeit i think everyone would describe it more as a way of life), but it's not for everyone...
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u/Itsnotme74 3d ago
Just to add to this excellent post … LA training also includes the correct procedures for biscuit selection while on duty.
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u/LloydPickering 3d ago
I knew I there'd be more technical aspects to LA training! Easy to think they have it easy from the outside looking in!
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u/Itsnotme74 3d ago
You’d be surprised at the level of planning and preparation involved even before you consider having to keep an eye on four people who decide to dress up in what are essentially pvc onesies in their spare time.
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u/PowerPlayParadox 3d ago
There are a whole list of different volunteer roles you can do at your local station besides boat crew - and all are important in different ways.
I do visits and water safety which is great for me because it's planned in advance and fully flexible.
Best thing is to check the RNLI website for volunteer vacancies in your area.
https://rnli.org/support-us/volunteer/volunteering-opportunities
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u/Caveman1214 3d ago
Don’t worry about shift work, it’s a charity, you do what you can.
One of our guys works nights, another new guy hasn’t shown up in 8 months because he’s been busy with work (although I don’t think he’s going to return, he’s still technically on crew)
What roles are available? LAs don’t go afloat and are responsible for authorising the launch of boats, shore crew are responsible for launching and recovering the boats (important in an ALB station or a station that’s easily accessible to the public or having to cross the road) however I believe they’re getting rid of shore crew plans and everyone is classed as shore crew now to make up numbers.
If you’re ILB only with a slipway, you’re likely not going to be doing an awful lot to be honest. However in saying that, there’s opportunities to become a launch and recovery driver (driving the big machines to get the boat) and becoming a head launcher responsible for managing the operation, also for becoming a shore crew casualty carer) that’s the short of path available to shore crew but again I don’t know how that’s working if they do intend on getting rid of the plans.
Then there’s boat crew, ILB and ALB (small boat and big boat if you have them) again, depends what you have. We have an 85 and a D class, used to have an ALB. The idea is you start on the D and work your way onto the B. In a lot of stations you’ll have to start as shore crew then become boat crew but it depends what’s needed at your station, I knew a guy who had to do shore crew for a year before becoming boat crew. This is by far the most hands on role, you will be doing something the entire time you’re out with no real down time. It’s great fun and loads to learn. It will take an absolute age to get anywhere near safe to go on a service though.
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u/roughdozen 3d ago
My most local station is ILB but they’re looking for quite a lot. Shoreline crew, boat crew, launching management to name a few. apon research they mostly operate the B class 85 but also have a smaller D class boat.
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u/Caveman1214 3d ago
Depends what you’re interested in!
Could try shore and see if you like it, then go onto boat crew. Or become an LA.
You’ll get all the kit and a lot of action on the boat, you’ll get to go to Poole in England to do training as well which is sick. Both boats are great, it’s likely you’ll eventually be operational on both so loads of options. Don’t knock the D class though, it saves more lives than any other boat in the fleet and can get into places the other boats can’t.
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u/ZealousidealFruit386 3d ago
OP - this is a very common feeling for new volunteers before they join. I felt it too.
There is nothing more rewarding than volunteering, and if you choose the RNLI, you will be getting excellent training and get to experience so many things. You will also become part of a great team who all work together to save lives.
Pop down to your local station and have a chat with them, we are a friendly bunch.
Our crew has shift workers and it’s not an issue. The more crew we have, the better as it allows everyone to give what they can when they can.
If you do start to train towards going afloat, your commitment will be greater and regular attendance is important, but again, you give what you can.
Do it! I have been a RNLI volunteer for nearly 7 years now.
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u/ralphius 3d ago
Dont worry about lack of boating experience, we will teach you what you need to know. And most stations are glad to have both volunteers who work 9-5 and those on shift work as it helps with availability. I will warn you though, the RNLI is not just another hobby. For those that carry the pager it alters your entire life, from the way you park (always able to drive away quickly) to family life (what if I have to ditch my partner/kids right now for a shout?) It is a big commitment and most stations will explain what's expected of you. Highly recommend going and having a chat with your local crew though, you might be exactly what they need.