Rescue funding boost for Christchurch

Christchurch Life Saving Club is celebrating being awarded £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund towards a new Inshore Rescue Boat.

The rescue boat will provide vital safety cover for surf lifesavers from the club taking part in training and competitions as well as enabling the club to offer volunteer lifeguard patrols for the local community.

Christchurch Life Saving Club, a Surf Life Saving GB affiliated club, is based at Friars Cliff Beach, and has been running since 1970. In the past three years Christchurch Life Saving Club has seen a huge increase in popularity, and now has over 100 active members. The club, backed by Surf Life Saving GB, plays a vital role in the community, providing opportunities for local people to take part in water safety training and life saving sport, as well as giving the seaside community increased water confidence through their voluntary patrols.

Running four sessions each week for members to take part in surf life saving, Christchurch Life Saving Club is thriving. Once the boat has arrived, Christchurch LSC hope to provide water safety support for local triathlons and water-based events, and use the boat to compete in the Surf Life Saving GB Inshore Rescue Boat Championships later in 2012.

Anton Nichols, club captain said of the grant:
“This funding is a massive boost to the club and opens up many opportunities to us. The boat will increase water confidence of all our members, especially our Nippers (younger children aged 7 – 12), knowing there is a powerful boat to provide safety cover if they need it, and will make a huge difference to the safety of the whole local community who use our beach.”

Esther Pearson, Surf Life Saving GB chief executive said:
“We’re delighted that Christchurch LSC has been awarded funding towards a rescue boat. Surf Life Saving GB clubs across the country provide vital voluntary patrols to ensure the whole community is safer by the sea.” 

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