VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Chiswick Branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution urgently needs more volunteers to help with its many fundraising activities in support of Chiswick Lifeboat Station.

The local RNLI branch was started in 2005 to provide a community link and support to Chiswick RNLI Lifeboat Station which had by then been operating for over two years.  Despite being the second busiest station in the country, and good coverage in local media, the station still has a low profile in the local community. The RNLI is totally funded by voluntary contributions, the Branch contributes over £4000 a year but there is potential for a far greater target in prosperous Chiswick.  Fundraising activities to date include dinners, pub quiz nights, collection boxes in pubs and shops, carol singing at tube stations, collections on Lifeboat Day, collections and stalls at events such as the Boat Race or Chiswick Pier's annual open day.  Its fundraising could greatly increase with the involvement of new members from the local community.

Anyone who is interested in participating in these valuable activities should contact the Committee Chairman, Richard Miller, on 020 8995 7021 or richardmillar@supanet.com.

Volunteer crew

The lifeboat station has 10 full-time crew who do 16 shifts per month and 50 volunteer crew, who undertake to do two shifts per month.  The waiting list for new volunteer crew members is over-subscribed and is closed for the time being.  However, as discussed above, there is a pressing need for more volunteers to support the local branch.