Crantock Surf Life Saving Club are launching this appeal and hoping to raise £4,000 to support the repair and future proofing of the clubhouse as well as purchasing a new container to store essential kit.

Anyone who visits Crantock beach will be familiar with our clubhouse, perching on the rocks amongst the dunes. This unimposing little hut is a vital resource for us and the RNLI in the provision of life-saving and rescue services throughout the year. Over the last few years, the combination of tides and swell, exacerbated by the changing course of the River Gannel has resulted in the clubhouse taking a bit of a battering as the surrounding dunes are being eaten away. In late September the steps providing access to the beach from the clubhouse were washed away.

This is key to our lifesaving provision as extreme degradation of the dunes has significantly hindered access to the clubhouse meaning that larger pieces of rescue equipment can no longer be kept on site. A container in the car park will ensure we have easy access to equipment so we can respond to emergencies quickly.

Longer term we plan to relocate the clubhouse to a different location on the beach, but this will take time to plan so there is a pressing need to futureproof the current site and our equipment so we are ready for the 2020 season. Any improvements we do will be planned carefully so that we can reuse materials should we move to a new site.

So whether you live in Crantock, visit regularly or have just visited once, please consider supporting our appeal - it really will make such a huge difference to us, our community and our visitors. We're only a small volunteer-led charity so any support or help we can get will be very gratefully received.