Water Safety Adviser - Brighton

About us

Help save lives through education and community engagement

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea, but preventing incidents before they happen is just as important as responding when they do.

Brighton RNLI is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our Water Safety team and help deliver life-saving education across Brighton, Sussex and the surrounding area. We are particularly interested in recruiting volunteers who live in inland communities, as many of the people who visit the coast each year travel from towns and villages away from the sea.

As a Water Safety Adviser, you will be attached to Brighton RNLI but your role will focus on helping people understand water-related risks before they reach the coast, empowering them to make safer decisions around water wherever they live, work or play.

Whether speaking to school groups, community organisations, youth groups, sports clubs or members of the public, you will play a vital role in helping people stay safe around water and supporting the RNLI's vision of saving every one.

The impact you will make

Every year hundreds of people lose their lives in waters around the UK and Ireland, many in preventable incidents.

By helping people understand hazards such as cold-water shock, tides, rip currents and unexpected entry into the water, you will help:

• Raise awareness of water safety across Sussex communities
• Encourage safer behaviours around coastal and inland waters
• Support young people and families to make informed decisions
• Help reduce preventable drownings and water-related incidents
• Extend the RNLI's reach beyond the coastline and into inland communities

What you will be doing

• Delivering engaging water safety talks and presentations to schools, community groups and partner organisations
• Representing the RNLI at community events, shows and awareness campaigns
• Promoting key RNLI safety messages such as Float to Live and tide awareness
• Building positive relationships with local partners and stakeholders
• Identifying opportunities to reach audiences who may be at greater risk around water
• Supporting local water safety initiatives and campaigns
• Attending occasional team meetings and training events

Who we're looking for

This role would suit someone who:

• Enjoys engaging with people and sharing information
• Is confident speaking to groups or willing to develop these skills
• Has experience in education, training, youth work, community engagement, public services or customer-facing roles (desirable but not essential)
• Is passionate about helping others stay safe around water
• Is enthusiastic, reliable and motivated to make a difference

Knowledge of local waterways, the coast or water-based activities would be beneficial but is not essential, as full training will be provided.

Location

Although this role is attached to Brighton RNLI, we are particularly keen to hear from volunteers who live in inland areas across Sussex.

You do not need to live by the coast to make a real difference. Many of the people who visit Brighton's beaches, rivers and waterways come from inland communities, making local education and awareness an important part of preventing incidents before they happen.

What's in it for you?

• Join an inclusive and respected life-saving charity
• Make a genuine difference in your community
• Develop presentation, communication and public engagement skills
• Gain valuable experience for your CV and personal development
• Meet like-minded volunteers and become part of a supportive team
• Receive role-specific training and ongoing support
• Reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses

Help people stay safe before they need rescuing. Join Brighton RNLI's Water Safety team and become part of a growing network of volunteers delivering life-saving education across Sussex.

Safeguarding and referencing

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 reference checks at offer stage and 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.