BM Solutions team roll up their sleeves to support Wells RNLI

Colleagues travelled from across the UK including Scotland, Northern Ireland, London, and Suffolk to take part in the day, which combined learning about the RNLI’s mission with practical support around the station.

The visit began with a water safety talk from Wells RNLI’s Mandy Humphreys, followed by a guided tour of the station’s state-of-the-art Shannon class lifeboat and an introduction to the station’s rich history. The team then rolled up their sleeves to clean windows, remove weeds, complete water safety surveys, and give the “Launch a Memory” board and outside benches a thorough clean.

Claire Biddick from BM Solutions explained: 'Volunteering a day with the RNLI was a powerful and humbling experience. I considered myself fairly confident around water, but the safety education especially the ‘Float to Live’ technique, the importance of keeping your ears submerged, and the ‘what3words’ app really struck a chord with me. It’s something I’ll be passing on to my children straight away. What stood out just as much were the amazing volunteers I met their dedication, warmth, and passion truly bring the boathouse to life. The work the RNLI does is lifesaving, in every sense of the word.'

Alan Green added: 'What an incredible job the volunteers and staff do at the RNLI. I learned so much about water safety that I am now able to pass on to friends and family.'

Gurdeep Bahra said: 'We learned so much about the vital work the RNLI does to protect lives around our coastlines. Special thanks to the superb team at the RNLI for making us feel so welcome. I can’t wait to share the ‘starfish float’ technique.'

It was a fitting choice of RNLI station for the visit, as Wells RNLI crews featured in the Lloyds 250th anniversary television advertisement. Wells was chosen for the advert because it was the last RNLI station to still use horses to launch its lifeboats, retiring its horse-drawn launch system in 1936.

The day ended with a friendly game of cricket on the beach a perfect way to round off a day of hard work and team spirit.

Regional Engagement Placement and Wells RNLI Press Officer, Jess Curtis, said: 'It was a fantastic day filled with hard work, laughter, and genuine enthusiasm. The team’s support and encouragement mean a great deal to us. Partnerships like this are vital to the work we do, helping us to continue saving lives and spreading our water safety messages far and wide. Knowing that those messages will be passed on to their families and friends is another important way of helping us save lives.'

RNLI Media contacts For more information, please contact Jess Curtis, RNLI and Regional Engagements North and East, Lifeboat Press Officer at Wells: Tel 07483488243 Email: [email protected] contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Notes to Editor Link to the 250th Anniversary advert https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FqqxY7iLkbmc%3Fsi%3DKPlZ5A-41TXvlZia%26fbclid...

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.