Star Joanna’s joy at £1m aid for water rescuers
ACTRESS Joanna Lumley has hailed a £1million funding boost for the “unsung heroes” dedicated to saving lives on Britain’s inland waterways.
The Absolutely Fabulous star said the cash injection would aid the “incredibly valuable” work of the volunteers.
Ms Lumley, 72, is an ambassador for Serve On, a leading humanitarian charity providing search and rescue teams at home and abroad.
Serve On was one of 57 successful bids in the latest round of the Rescue Boat Grant Fund.
Last Christmas, its volunteers were patrolling the River Avon to highlight the dangers of drowning when they spotted a 22-year-old man who had fallen into the water and plucked him to safety.
The charity, based in Salisbury, Wilts, received £19,576 to buy a boat and other life-saving equipment.
Ms Lumley said: “The Inshore and Inland Rescue Boat Grant Fund is a good example of how government money can enable the incredibly valuable work that voluntary groups like Serve On do in their communities.”
The scheme was launched in 2014 to provide £5million over five years to independent search and rescue teams working on inland waterways, said the Department of Transport.
Over the past four years, 201 bids have been successful, helping 98 search and rescue charities.
The money has already paid for 65 new boats in addition to launch vehicles, rafts, safety gear and other support for rescue teams. The 2018 pot will fund 15 new boats and a hovercraft.
Maritime minister Nusrat Ghani said: “Our rescue boat teams are the unsung heroes of the UK’s waterways. “Their commitment and skill keeps people safe on and around our rivers, lakes and inshore areas.
“Lives have been saved as a result of this scheme and our additional funding will ensure that these tireless volunteers and charities can buy the craft, equipment and other resources they need to provide vital round-the-clock services.”
Bids for the funding were considered by an expert panel including representatives from Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
The RNLI has a 24-hour volunteer rescue service around the the UK and the Irish Republic.