Simon Fell, the MP for Barrow and Furness, has been a long-standing campaigner, and supporter of voluntary lifeboat associations. Representing a coastal community, with several independent, voluntary search and rescue, and lifeboat organisations, Mr Fell became a a proud founding member of the National Independent Lifeboat Association (NILA) last year.
The charity which assists the UK’s independent lifeboats and to ensure the preservation of life on the water.
The Association brings together skills and experience, along with collaborative fundraising which is of course an essential component, along with volunteer recruitment, retention and upskilling.
One of the founding members of NILA is Ulverston Inshore Rescue in the Barrow and Furness constituency.
Commenting, Simon said:
“The Furness Peninsula is very fortunate to have two excellent independent lifeboat associations in Ulverston Inshore Rescue and Duddon Inshore Rescue.
“As volunteers they work hand in glove with Bay Search and Rescue, the Furness Coastguard and the RNLI, supporting other rescue services to keep people safe on the sea, sand and land.
“I would like to pay tribute to them all for the hard work that they do, which literally saves lives. But we all have a role to play too in behaving responsibly on the sand and in the sea – following warning notices and being careful in the water.”