The Blackmore Vale branch of the RNLI is appealing for urgent support in order to fund its lifeguards on Dorset beaches this summer.

The charity has been unable to fundraise at events for 15 months – but Dorset faces its busiest ever holiday season with holiday accommodation booked solid through the summer. The RNLI directly trains and pays lifeguards who will be employed at beaches in Lyme Regis, West Bay, Weymouth and Bournemouth this summer.

In 2019, the RNLI helped more than 29,000 people on beaches across the country. “Fundraising to keep these beaches safe has been impossible during the last year of covid-19,” says Nick Chavasse, chairman of the Blackmore Vale RNLI.

“We are expecting more families than ever to book holidays in Dorset this year. People are excited to get away – and that is how it should be. But it is so easy to get into trouble by the water, for walkers to get cut off by the tide or for a paddling child to be swept out to sea. The last year has been very difficult to do any fundraising but we are now faced with an immediate challenge to ensure the local beaches are properly manned with life savers in what promises to be an incredibly busy year for staycation holidays.”

A survey by Visit England shows that more people (26%) have booked a holiday in the southwest than in any other region – Scotland ranks next highest, with 12%. Those from London, the southeast, Wales and West Midlands all put the southwest top of their list. Despite the lack of income, the RNLI says it has made provision so that its lifeguards will be paid, between £9.50 and £11.40 an hour depending on their role.

The training programme will build your skills, from how to handle equipment on the beach, to first aid and casualty care and successful applicants will receive continuous, on-the-job training. The RNLI is encouraging applicants to apply to summer jobs at rnli.org.

Locally, the RNLI will have a stall at events this summer including the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show on August 18-19. The Blackmore Vale Branch also needs to recruit a new treasurer, after the untimely death of David Duvall, an exceptionally talented church organist in the Stour Vale Benefice.

If you have an interest in joining the team, contact Nick Chavasse on rnli.org or by email: nrgchavasse@btinternet.com.

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