ILB Crew Member - Burnham-on-Sea

About us

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

Covering part of the Somerset coast, broadly between Brean Down and Hinckley Point, a lifeboat station at Burnham was formed in 1836, becoming an RNLI station in 1866.  The station closed in the 1930s and the current station re-opened in 2003.  The station has two Inshore Lifeboats – an Atlantic 85 B Class, and a D Class.

The Lifeboat Crew are all volunteers, headed up by the Lifeboat Operations Manager and Launch Authorities and supported by a Shore Crew team. All boat and shore crew follow the RNLI’s national Operational Competence Framework, and respond to pagers when there is a request to launch the lifeboats. The wider team includes Lifeguards, the Water Safety team, volunteer fundraisers and shop volunteers. 

The impact you will make 

This role will help us save lives at sea by ensuring that our lifeboats ready to launch, day or night, whenever needed, with sufficient qualified people to crew the boats on service and exercise, under the command of the Helm. 

What you will be doing 

• Undertake training and maintain competence under the Operational Competence Framework as necessary to fulfil the role of crew member
• Be on call for lifeboat ‘shouts’
• Attend training exercises –  Wednesday evenings (1930 launch) and Sunday mornings (0900 launch)
• 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 

• Live or work within 12 minutes/6 miles of the station (TA8 1BT) 
• Be able to offer the station an average of at least 40% availability in the daytime Monday to Sunday and no less than 75% average attendance at training sessions.
• Be between 18 and 55 years of age (D Class)/65 years of age (B Class)
• Be a team player
• Be a good communicator
• Have a good level of general fitness
• Have the ability to learn new skills

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.