Thanks for taking the time to visit the JustGiving page for the Durham Branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

 

Our goal is to raise £1,000 towards the training budget requirements for our nearest lifeboat station at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.

Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station is the oldest operational Lifeboat Station in Great Britain. It was established in 1800 and was taken over by the RNLI in 1865.

It is also the busiest Lifeboat Station on the North East coast.

Training forms a major part of becoming a lifeboat crew member and continues throughout the years of service. 

Training is what turns a volunteer into a life saver and begins from the time that a volunteer first enters the lifeboat station. The first 12 months of service is spent as a probationary crew member. During this time it is expected that basic skills are mastered and the crew member becomes familiar with what is expected of him or her.

The Lifeboat College, Poole
Crew members will attend the Lifeboat College at Poole periodically as their careers are developed. Specialist courses are available that are aimed at providing the expertise that cannot always be provided at home. Courses include boat handling, where crews receive a mix of practical training both at sea and within the specially developed simulator allowing extreme conditions to be experienced. Survival training is also provided within the specially built pool where all real life sea conditions may be replicated.

Mobile Training
Mobile Training provides specialist training for crew members with the least disruption to work and family commitments. Mobile training is normally carried out within the classroom facilities that are provided within the specially designed mobile training units. Training is carried out to suit the crew member’s desires, normally in the evenings. Specialist training provided in is way covers such subjects as first aid, marine radio and navigation.Training provided in this way is very popular with crew.

Local Training
Day to day training is carried out at the lifeboat station. Training lasts for approximately 2 hours during which time the lifeboat may go to sea on a training exercise. When at sea on exercise, the crew members carry out tasks to become familiar with the lifeboat and the equipment which is used. Combined exercises with the local Coastguard and the RAF search and rescue helicopter crews are normal. Each individual crew members training requirements are closely monitored by the coxswain and observed periodically by the Area Training Assessor and RNLI Divisional Inspector.

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.