ILB Crew - Calshot

About Us

The RNLI’s Calshot Lifeboat Station is looking for volunteers to join the existing team in the role of Inshore Lifeboat Crew. 

We are looking for crew who want to commit to a training plan that involves initial shore based training working on boat preparation, launch and recovery but also who ultimately want to work towards becoming a lifeboat crew member. 

The RNLI Calshot Lifeboat Station is one of the busiest stations in the region being situated on one of the South of England’s most active waterways – Southampton Water and the Solent. 

Calshot RNLI Station is located at the end of Calshot Spit, just after the Calshot Activities Centre, was established 55 years ago in July 1970, having been fully operational since then. 

We have 2 lifeboats at the Station – the smaller D-class lifeboat used for more inshore waters and the larger Atlantic B class lifeboat which is used in heavy conditions or further distances from the Station. 

We have a total of approx. 30 people in the Calshot team training twice a week, Wednesday evenings and on Sunday mornings. 

Our training sessions involve an informal gathering to socialise with the crew, followed by detailed briefings from the leading helms and then approx.2 hours on the water with various training sessions. 

The Lifeboat Crew are all volunteers, headed up by the Lifeboat Operations Manager and Launch Authorities with the full support of an extensive Shore Crew team. 

All boat and shore crew follow the RNLI’s national Competency Based Training Scheme and respond to pagers when there is a request to launch the lifeboats. The wider team includes volunteer fundraisers, shop volunteers and water safety volunteers.

The impact you will make 

This role will help us save lives at sea by ensuring that our lifeboats are in a state of permanent readiness and crewing the lifeboat on service and exercise, under the command of the Helm.

What you will be doing 

• Undertake training and maintain competence under the Competency Framework as necessary to fulfil the role of crew member
• Be on call for lifeboat ‘shouts’
• Attend exercises
• Contribute to the overall upkeep of the station, lifeboats and equipment 

Find out more (including the requirements) about becoming a lifeboat station volunteer 

What you need for this role 

• Team player
• Good communicator
• General fitness
• Ability to learn new skills
• Live or work within 15 minutes of the station and be between 18 and 65 years of age (B-Class) / 18 and 55 years of age (D Class)
  

What’s in it for you 

• Join an inclusive and diverse organisation
• Have fun, meet new people and join a motivated and enthusiastic team who are making a difference
• Learn skills and gain experience to enhance your CV
• Gain the satisfaction of giving back
• Training to fulfil your volunteer role will be provided and reasonable out of pocket expenses reimbursed

Safeguarding

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.