All hands on deck: My first six weeks with the RNLI

Whoa! What a first six weeks it’s been as a volunteer press officer for the RNLI at Barry Dock! It’s been a big learning curve with a whole new set of acronyms and a big lesson in collaboration, dedication, and teamwork.  

My plan was to get around and meet as many people as I could in my first few weeks, and this has enabled me to throw myself into so many new things. I've been able to support fundraising events like a fish and chip lunch and to share stories of our brilliant volunteers who give so much time and effort to support the RNLI at Barry Dock. And get to experience what happens when the crew get called out on a 'shout'.

One moment that stands out to me was seeing the seamless joint working between our Barry Dock crew and Porthcawl RNLI when they were called out to a yacht off Nash Point that had got into difficulty. Despite rough seas, both lifeboats worked together to ensure the safety of the yacht’s crew and was a practical demonstration of the RNLI OneCrew ethos.

This theme of unity was also powerfully illustrated during the RNLI's 200th-anniversary Scroll Relay event at the Barry Island Visitor Centre.

The OneCrew Pledge on the scroll includes the words:  whoever we are, wherever we’re from, we are one crew, united by the mission to save lives. It’s this shared passion that makes the work – be that crew, fundraisers, water safety officers, or press officers - so meaningful and keeps the RNLI moving forward every day.

I’m loving being part of Barry Dock RNLI and grateful for the chance to highlight the incredible work that everybody connected to them does. If anyone fancies joining in on the fun, we’re hosting a quiz at Craft Republic on 5th November – fancy dress encouraged, and there’s a prize for the best costume! Keep an eye out for more details and stay tuned for the launch of our 'Name the Barry Dock RNLI Teddy Bear' competition in December!

Keep up-to-date on Instagram or Facebook @barrydockrnli

#OneCrew #RNLI #LifesavingWork #Collaboration #Volunteering #Teamwork #BarryDockLifeboat #QuizNight #NameTheBear