Rescue Lifeboat UK

Have you thought about what you’re going to do for Go Orange day yet?

This coming Friday sees the launch of a new (hopefully) annual event to raise cash and awareness for the independent lifeboat stations.

Go Orange Day takes place across the UK as well as on the Island and supporters are being asked to do something to help.

Whether that be wearing orange for the day and telling people why, or doing an orange themed sponsored something or other.

Whatever you can do to help will be greatly appreciated by the Independent Lifeboat Stations who rely on funds from the public to keep going.

They do an amazing job and give their time freely, so please consider what you can do to help on this special day.

Get in touch with Michaela White on 812178 if you can help.

Source: ventnorblog.com

FUNDRAISERS brandished buckets to ask for cash on ferries today.
They joined a national effort to support the 100 independent lifeboat crews that operate across the country.

On both the Gosport ferries and Isle of Wight services, orange buckets were be passed around.

The day has been dubbed Go Orange for the Indies Day and will benefit eight local units who are members of the Solent Sea Rescue Organisation.

It was set up in 1977 by Hampshire County Council and has saved hundreds of lives. Gosport Councillor Peter Edgar, chairman of the Solent Sea Rescue Organisation, said: 'I hope people will support the charity in these difficult economic times.

'The members give freely of their time and expertise.'

Source: portsmouth.co.uk

Norfolk's coastline is protected by lifeboats, whose volunteer crews keep the shores safe and rescue sailors and swimmers in trouble.

But not everyone knows that a third of them are independently run, outside the RNLI, and need to tackle fund-raising as well as life-saving to keep themselves afloat.

In Norfolk there are four independent stations at Mundesley, Sea Palling, Hemsby and Caister.

Some were originally RNLI-run but went on to be independent after several stations were closed during a re-organisation in the 1960s; others have come about through community initiatives.

All crews are made up of volunteers who are on call 24/7 and regularly help the coastguard.

Tomorrow, independent lifeboat crews across the country will be joining forces to raise awareness for the non-RNLI stations.

The public is being urged to join in the day by wearing something orange or holding an “orange” fundraising event for their local lifeboat unit.

A spokesman for Independent Lifeboats UK, which has organised the event, said it was vitally important to raise awareness of the work of independent crews, which need continued support to run at the same high standard for which they have become renowned.

“Our hope is that by all celebrating being independent on the same day we can highlight the number of non-RNLI units around, raising awareness for our causes.

“We will never be as large as the RNLI, but our services in the areas we operate are just as crucial and with rising costs every year it is more important now than ever for our local communities to realise just who we are.”

The independent crew at Caister Lifeboat station deals with call-outs ranging from helping people on capsized vessels to providing help for those taken ill at sea.

Paul Garrod, chairman of the Caister lifeboat service, said the crew would definitely be wearing orange to mark the day and will have various collection pots.

He said: “There is no telling how many call-outs they may have from year to year. Last year they had 45 call-outs, but this year, so far, things have been relatively quiet.

“We need to raise £200,000 a year to maintain the lifeboat. It is very hard work to raise that sort of money, especially because the RNLI is such a well-known organisation, and people do not always realise we are independent.”

The Mundesley Inshore Lifeboat was set up in 1972, and has taken part in the rescue of some 100 people in trouble, including fishing boats, windsurfers, swimmers and divers.

It is made up of approximately 70 people: 20 crew, 15 directors, 15 fundraisers and 20 shop helpers.

Dave Francis, second coxswain with the team, said: “Orange Day is a national scheme that has been set up to publicise the work that independent lifeboats carry out around the coast.

“There are over 50 of us recognised independent lifeboat crews that are operated under the same standards as the RNLI, but completely separate; we receive no government funding.”

Mundesley will be supporting the Go Orange Day by holding an open day on Sunday, from 10am.

Over the weekend the crew will also be seen around the area in orange t-shirts with leaflets promoting Independent Lifeboats.

Hemsby Inshore Rescue Service was founded in 1975 and since then has carried out more than 12,000 callouts at sea and on the Norfolk Broads.

Tomorrow the crew will be holding collections outside Lathams at Potter Heigham, for people to see the Broads lifeboat, and there will also be a crew at Cherry Lane Garden Centre, South View, Fritton.

During the evening the crew, some dressed in full kit, will be visiting pubs in Hemsby and Winterton holding collections.

Palling Volunteer Rescue Service was set up in 1972, and their boat, Lions Roar, is designed to assist dive boats and jet skis.

To help with fundraising towards their annual running expenses, which are between £12,000 and £14,000, they will have their doors open on Sunday morning from 10am.

Source: Yarmouth Mercury

New Typhoon drysuits and Baltic Life jackets were presented to the crew of Solent Rescue by Bournemouth based C.F.K Promotions during February, this continued the critical ongoing supporting role has been developed between these two organisations over the last two years.

Cameron Critchfield from Solent Rescue stated:

“CFK have donated in excess of £5,000 to our small lifeboat charity, we really appreciate the time and effort that CFK has invested in us.  Going forward, we hope to further enhance our working relationship as without their support, our crew members would not be able to so effectively concentrate on the primary goal of the unit”.

Solent Rescue crew members give up their time all year round to ensure that they are able to put a vessel at the disposal of Her Majesty’s Coastguard when on active service.

"Looking after the busiest recreational water way in the world is by no means an easy task, these people deserve all the help we can give them"

said Mrs Mcmenamin from C.F.K Promotions.