Village seeks volunteers to help save lives

Community urged to get involved as Kinghorn station launches bid to find new team members

A Fife village is launching an urgent appeal for volunteers to bolster its lifeboat station.

Volunteers of Kinghorn RNLI are reaching out to the community for more people to help save lives in the Firth of Forth.

A campaign has been launched to find new boat crew members, tractor drivers, shore crew and community fundraisers, all of whom are essential to keeping the station operational.

With villagers often facing other demands on their time, Sheona Smith, Kinghorn fundraising chairwoman, said even organising events was proving harder with limited numbers of fundraisers.

“Kinghorn is a vibrant community and there are already lots of groups that depend upon the support of the community,” she said.

“It is becoming more difficult to attract volunteers and that’s why we may have to start organising more joint events with fundraising branches.”

Sheona says on average fundraisers would give around three or four hours of their time every month, but that participation is entirely up to the individual.

However, keeping cash coming in is integral to keeping the station going, with annual running costs thought to be in the region of £85,000 to £90,000 a year.

“We want people that are able to put themselves forward,” she added.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re shore crew, boat crew, tractor driver or fundraiser, everyone is a part of saving lives at sea.

“It’s about being part of a family and knowing that everyone has a part to play.”

Current crew members come from all walks of life, mixing their roles at the station along with their day-to-day employment and family lives.

Around a dozen people are being sought from within Kinghorn to help with the launch and manning of the boat, while those not so keen to test their sea legs are also wanted to help with fundraising.

Lifeboat helm Neil Chalmers, 36, said there are huge rewards to volunteering.

“There’s a great team spirit among everyone whether it’s as a fundraiser, shore crew or boat crew.

“You train as a team regularly and when things happen for real you’re focused and it becomes second nature.”

Anybody interested in joining can email join@kinghorn.org.uk.

It is becoming more difficult to attract volunteers