Lifeboat lassies celebrate International Women’s Day
With only two female volunteers out of a full crew of 28, RNLI Campbeltown is encouraging more women interested in the sea, navigation and search and rescue to help save lives at sea.
Last Saturday, ahead of International Women’s Day on Wednesday March 8, volunteers Ailsa Clark and Carla Jackson held an open afternoon at Campbeltown Lifeboat Station for women interested in joining the crew.
The pair had a cuppa and chat with visitors and answered any questions or concerns they had. The station has always had considerably fewer applications from women interested in joining the crew than men, and has only ever had three female volunteers within its crew at one time.
Carla joined the crew in October 2017 after being invited by former coxswain David Cox. After attending training every Thursday, she gained more confidence and experience to learn new skills and joined the crew as a trainee member. In January 2018, she had her first shout – to the Nancy Glen fishing boat tragedy in Tarbert. She has since attended many other lifeboat shouts, all different from each other.
“The RNLI put me through all of my training and that training is invaluable,” she said. “I would encourage any women who have a passion for learning new skills, being on and around the water or who would like to provide a lifesaving service to come forward and challenge yourself.”
Ailsa was the first female to join the crew in Campbeltown in 2000. She decided to sign up after her experience helping on a fishing boat, along with working on the water a lot at an outdoor centre.
Ailsa said: “It would be great to see more women coming forward to apply to volunteer as it’s very rewarding and you are always learning. The lifeboat crew is a great team to be a part of and provides an important emergency service.”
Contact Carla on Carla_ Jackson@rnli.org.uk for more information on volunteering.