1 September 2020
I am delighted to let you know I have been appointed to be the Deputy Chair of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). For anyone in the UK, the RNLI is a very well-known and much-loved charity, nearly 200 years old. The RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews provide a 24-hour rescue service in the UK and Ireland, seasonal lifeguards look after people on our busy beaches and flood rescue teams help those affected by flooding. More recently the RNLI has been involved in tackling the high number of deaths from drowning around the world, facilitating discussions within the UN to obtain the first UN resolution to support those communities. https://rnli.org/about-us/how-the-rnli-is-run/our-trustees
I feel very privileged to be involved in such a great organisation where the volunteers courageously and selflessly go out in all weathers to save the lives of others. In times of such ferocious weather like we have had recently, the RNLI volunteers will have been out helping those in boats who are in trouble and also those who have found themselves unexpectedly in the sea. There is also a wonderful community of RNLI volunteers, of all ages, around the country, who work tirelessly to raise funds for the necessary equipment and crew training. It really is a huge inspiration to work with people who are passionate about their role in the RNLI and I am thrilled they have asked me to be their Deputy Chair.
Volunteering has always been something which I have supported whole heartedly. When I speak at our industry events I usually mention the importance of volunteering above and beyond ‘the day job’. Whether it's in our own community, like supporting GEO or ProShare, or in your local community, it can often offer different perspectives as well as open up the opportunity of new experiences and being of help to others.
I would urge anyone who feels that they can find some time to think about volunteering for a cause they care about - that could be helping out at an operational level or using your experience in helping to run an organisation as a trustee or advisor. If you have any questions about possibly taking on a volunteer role, I would be happy to help, please do get in touch with me. I think many of our experiences this year have brought home the importance of community and of supporting each other. I have certainly looked to do this in how we, at Tapestry, have been supporting our clients and friends, as well as individually each of us looking at how we can support our wider communities.
Happy volunteering!
Janet