Flint RNLI crew member joins RNLI’s Women in Search and Rescue Training Week

Ahead of International Women’s Day (8 March), around 80 women from across the RNLI, each fulfilling a variety of lifeboat station roles, came together for the RNLI’s #WomenInSAR Training Week.

The action-packed five-day event aimed to bring together women from our RNLI lifeguard and lifeboat teams across the UK and Ireland to inspire, connect and share their experiences while learning new skills.

Flint RNLI was thrilled that one of our volunteers, Carly McCarthy attended the event, representing Flint station and learning more about the women in SAR community.

Carly McCarthy has volunteered at the station for 10 years. After qualifying as a Helm last year, she now leads lifeboat crews during service calls and supports the training of fellow crew members.

Reflecting on her experience at the Women in Search and Rescue Week, Carly said:

‘I was delighted to be chosen to represent Flint at this event. It has been a fantastic opportunity to connect with other women volunteers across the UK, share experiences, and gain valuable knowledge.’

‘Historically, operational roles like lifeboat crew have often been seen as roles for men. However, I hope we continue to break boundaries and demonstrate that women are equally deserving of a place on the lifeboat. By challenging these perceptions, we can inspire future generations of lifesavers to follow in our footsteps.’

Attendees in afloat operational roles were put through their paces in the Crew Emergency Procedures course in the Sea Survival Pool and headed out on exercises on both RNLI inshore and all-weather lifeboats. They also took part in a mix of networking, confidence and leadership workshops.

Jill Hepburn, RNLI Head of Region in Scotland, said:

‘The RNLI’s Women in SAR Training Week has been a fantastic opportunity for women to come together, share knowledge and grow stronger as a community, all while learning new lifesaving skills.

‘We’re working hard to create a more diverse RNLI and a crucial part of that is encouraging women into search and rescue roles. We’re incredibly proud of all our volunteers, lifeguards and staff who continue to support our mission to save lives at sea.’

To find out more about volunteering at the RNLI, including current vacancies, please visit:

rnli.org/support-us/volunteer

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and around 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 146,000 lives.

Pictured - Erin Brown and Carly McCarthy during a recent training exercise.

Picture Credit: RNLI/Gavin Jones