RNLI - Sunderland Lifeboat Station

Call Directions Website Contact the organisation

RNLI - Sunderland Lifeboat Station Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station is proud to own the tag of the 'Oldest Operational Lifeboat Station' in Great Britain.

09/08/2026

🎥🌊 A different view from Sunderland RNLI… 🛟

Ever wondered what it looks like from the crew’s point of view? 👀 As part of today's Harbour Day Exhibition, we shared the following footage of our incredible volunteers! 💙🧡🌊

This video brings together GoPro footage captured by our volunteer crew, with cameras mounted on chest mounts or helmets during training exercises and callouts. 🎥

From launching into the North Sea, to working together aboard our lifeboats, it gives a glimpse of the teamwork, training and commitment that goes into being ready to respond when help is needed. 🛟💪

When HM Coastguard requests the lifeboat to launch, our volunteer crew can be called upon to respond to all kinds of incidents at sea and along our coastline. And while the GoPros might take you aboard the lifeboats, every launch is a team effort, with our shore crew playing a vital role in getting the boats launched safely, supporting operations from land and recovering them when they return. 💙🚤

Captured right in the middle of it all, the GoPros give a unique view of life at Sunderland RNLI, from training and honing essential lifesaving skills to heading out on service. 🌊🎥

A huge thank you to all of our crew who have embraced taking the GoPros out and helped us capture what being part of Sunderland RNLI really looks like. 🧡

Behind footage like this are countless hours of training, preparation and volunteering, on the water and ashore, all helping our crews to be ready when someone needs them.

📞 Remember: if you see someone in trouble at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
🌊 If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, Float to Live - tilt your head back with your ears submerged, relax and try to control your breathing.

✂️ Edited together by our Lifeboat Press Officer, Claire, and Videographer Mark

🛥🧡💙

🌊🐾 Keeping watch… and making a few four-legged friends along the way! ❤️💛Our RNLI lifeguards had a couple of very specia...
08/08/2026

🌊🐾 Keeping watch… and making a few four-legged friends along the way! ❤️💛

Our RNLI lifeguards had a couple of very special visitors today — Loki and Leo, proudly sporting their RNLI neckerchiefs! Safe to say they looked the part. 🐶🐶🧡🐾

While there’s always time to say hello to our four-legged supporters, our lifeguards are there for a very important reason — helping everyone enjoy our coastline safely.

If you’re heading to the beach, please remember:

🌊 Choose a lifeguarded beach where possible and swim between the red and yellow flags.

🚩 Know your flags and always follow the advice of the lifeguards.

💨 Check the weather, wind and tide times before heading into the water. Conditions at the coast can change incredibly quickly.

🛟 Wear the right equipment for your activity, including an appropriate buoyancy aid or lifejacket when paddleboarding or kayaking.

📱 Keep a means of calling for help with you, ideally a phone in a waterproof pouch.

🚫 Leave inflatables at home. Offshore winds can carry them — and you — away from shore very quickly.

🧍 If you find yourself in difficulty, Float to Live: tilt your head back, relax, control your breathing and use your hands and feet to help you stay afloat.

📞 If you see someone in trouble at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Never put yourself in danger by entering the water after them.

The sea can change quickly, and even experienced swimmers and water users can find themselves in difficulty.

A huge thank you to our brilliant RNLI lifeguards for everything they do to help keep people safe on our beaches, and to today's very handsome four-legged RNLI supporters for stopping by to say hello! 🐾❤️🌊

Enjoy the coast. Respect the water. Look out for each other. ☀️

Tyne & Wear RNLI Lifeguards 🧡💙

RespectTheWater Sunderland Seaburn Roker SunderlandRNLI

🧡💙 July has been another busy month for our volunteer lifeboat crew. 🛥 🌊 While we can't always share the details of ever...
04/08/2026

🧡💙 July has been another busy month for our volunteer lifeboat crew. 🛥 🌊

While we can't always share the details of every callout, each one reminds us just how quickly a day by the coast can change.

If you're heading to the coast this summer, please take a few moments to plan ahead:
🌊 Choose a lifeguarded beach where possible and always swim between the red and yellow flags.
🌦️ Check the weather forecast and tide times before you head out.
💨 Be aware of offshore winds. They can quickly carry paddleboards, kayaks and inflatables away from the shore.
🌊 Watch out for rip currents. They can be difficult to spot. Look out for darker patches of water, gaps in breaking waves, or channels of churning water moving away from the shore.
🛟 Avoid using inflatables in the sea. They may seem fun, but they can become dangerous in even light winds.
🦺 Wear the right safety equipment. A well-fitting lifejacket or buoyancy aid could save your life.
📱 Carry a means of calling for help, such as a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.
🌡️ Cold water shock can happen even on warm summer days. Enter the water gradually where possible and remember that the sea is often much colder than it looks.
💙 If you get into trouble in the water, remember Float to Live. Tilt your head back with your ears submerged, relax, spread your arms and legs, and control your breathing until the effects of cold water shock pass.
🌊 If you're caught in a rip current, don't try to swim directly back to shore. Swim parallel to the beach until you're free of the current, then head back towards the shore. If you can't, Float to Live and raise an arm for help.

🚨 If you see someone else in difficulty, don't enter the water. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Our volunteer crews are always ready to respond, but we'd much rather you enjoyed a safe day at the coast and never needed us.
A little preparation before setting off could save your life, or someone else's. 🧡

Please stay safe this summer, and if you think these messages could help someone else, we'd really appreciate you sharing this post. 💙

🛥 Meet the Crew | Matthew 🛥From sailing and rowing to teaching others on the water, the sea has always been a huge part ...
03/08/2026

🛥 Meet the Crew | Matthew 🛥

From sailing and rowing to teaching others on the water, the sea has always been a huge part of Matthew's life. 🌊

Before joining Sunderland RNLI last year, Matthew has spent years sailing and rowing, as well as working part-time as a sailing dinghy instructor, helping others build confidence and skills on the water. As a sailor, he had always been aware of the RNLI and the incredible work its volunteers do, making joining the crew a natural next step. 🧡

While studying Paramedic Science at university, the opportunity finally came to volunteer. Living closer to Sunderland meant he was able to commit to the role, something that hadn't been possible before.

Today, Matthew combines his passion for helping others with his experience on the water, volunteering alongside the rest of our brilliant crew. 💙

Thank you for everything you do! We're proud to have you as part of the Sunderland RNLI family. 🤩🌊🛥

🛍 Sunderland RNLI shop 💙🧡 Opening times -Tuesday 4th August 10:00am - 2:00pmThursday 6th August 11:00am - 3:00pmSaturday...
01/08/2026

🛍 Sunderland RNLI shop 💙🧡

Opening times -

Tuesday 4th August 10:00am - 2:00pm
Thursday 6th August 11:00am - 3:00pm
Saturday 8th August 11:00am - 3:00pm

Sunday 9th August *HARBOUR DAY, SUNDERLAND MARINA* 10:00am - 3:00pm

We have lots of lovely RNLI goodies, including garden accessories, homeware, sweet treats, clothing, childrens toys, stationery and doggie accessories! 🛍

Pop in and chat to our lovely volunteers, and if nothing else, grab yourself a free Betty's 5p pot and car sticker! 🛥 🧡💙

🌊💛 Happy International Lifeguard Appreciation Day! 💛🌊Today, we're saying a huge thank you to the incredible RNLI lifegua...
31/07/2026

🌊💛 Happy International Lifeguard Appreciation Day! 💛🌊

Today, we're saying a huge thank you to the incredible RNLI lifeguards who spend their summer keeping people safe along our coastline.

Whatever the weather, they're there. Watching the water. Assessing the conditions. Giving advice. Responding in seconds when someone gets into difficulty. Often, the actions that prevent an incident from ever happening are the ones that go unnoticed. 🧡

Being an RNLI lifeguard is about so much more than sitting on a beach. It takes dedication, training, fitness, teamwork and the ability to remain calm under immense pressure. Every day they make countless decisions that help families return home safely after a day by the sea.🌊

As volunteers at Sunderland RNLI, we regularly work alongside our lifeguard colleagues. Whether it's sharing water safety messages, responding to incidents, or supporting each other during rescues, we know first-hand the professionalism and commitment they bring to every shift.🙌

If you're heading to the coast this summer, you can help them by:

🏖️ Swim at a lifeguarded beach whenever possible.
🚩 Always swim between the red and yellow flags.
🌊 Check the conditions before entering the water.
🧡 If you get into trouble, remember to Float to Live.
📞 If you see someone else in difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Never enter the water to attempt a rescue yourself.

To every RNLI lifeguard, thank you for your skill, your dedication and your unwavering commitment to saving lives. Your presence gives reassurance to millions of beachgoers every year, and your work makes an extraordinary difference.🌊🧡💙

From all of us at Sunderland RNLI... thank you. 👏

Tyne & Wear RNLI Lifeguards 🙌🌊🧡

RNLI WaterSafety RespectTheWater BeachSafety

🚤 Meet the Crew | Paul 💙This week, we're introducing another of our incredible volunteers, Paul, who has been part of Su...
29/07/2026

🚤 Meet the Crew | Paul 💙

This week, we're introducing another of our incredible volunteers, Paul, who has been part of Sunderland RNLI since May 1997 after a chance conversation with a volunteer in his local pub, The Blue Bell, inspired him to join the crew.

Away from the lifeboat station, Paul works as a Control Operations Manager at Northern Powergrid, leading a team responsible for keeping electricity flowing to almost 4 million homes. He's also a proud family man, married to Joanne, and dad to Megan and Ruby, who have supported him throughout his years of volunteering. 🧡

At Sunderland RNLI, Paul volunteers as a Helm, Training Coordinator and Trainer Assessor. As well as responding to emergency call-outs as one of the station's Helms, Paul is passionate about developing the next generation of volunteers. The RNLI's "Train one, save many" approach perfectly sums up his role, sharing his knowledge and experience to help equip fellow crew members with the skills and confidence they need to save lives at sea. 🌊🛥

In almost three decades with Sunderland RNLI, Paul has been involved in an incredible:

⚓ 760 service launches
❤️ 39 lives saved
🛟 954 people rescued

One of the things Paul enjoys most is passing on his knowledge and experience to new volunteers. Seeing crew members develop into qualified, confident volunteers and progress through their RNLI journey is one of the most rewarding parts of his role. 💙

Thank you, Paul, for your incredible dedication, commitment and nearly 30 years of service to Sunderland RNLI. We'd also like to thank Joanne, Megan and Ruby for their continued support behind the scenes, helping make it possible for Paul to give so much of his time to the RNLI and our community. 💙🧡👏

RNLIVolunteers

28/07/2026

🎙️ Have you had a listen yet? 🌊

A huge well done to our Water Safety Officer, James, who recently joined Gilly Hope from BBC Radio Newcastle to talk about staying safe around the coast this summer and the work our volunteers do to help prevent incidents before they happen.

James did a fantastic job sharing some really important safety advice, including what to do if you find yourself in trouble in the water, how to help someone else safely, and why knowing how to Float to Live could save your life.

At Sunderland RNLI, we're passionate about prevention as well as rescue, and conversations like these help us reach even more people with vital lifesaving messages.👏💙🧡

If you haven't already, have a listen here or head over to BBC Sounds where you can here the show in its entirety. 🎧

BBCSounds BBCRadioNewcastle Volunteer SavingLivesAtSea

🛍 Sunderland RNLI shop 💙🧡 Opening times -Thursday 30th July 11:00am - 3:00pmSaturday 1st August 11:00am - 3:00pmWe have ...
27/07/2026

🛍 Sunderland RNLI shop 💙🧡

Opening times -

Thursday 30th July 11:00am - 3:00pm
Saturday 1st August 11:00am - 3:00pm

We have lots of lovely RNLI goodies, including garden accessories, homeware, sweet treats, clothing, childrens toys, stationery and doggie accessories! 🛍

Pop in and chat to our lovely volunteers, and if nothing else, grab yourself a free Betty's 5p pot and car sticker! 🛥 🧡💙

🌊 If you were around The Funky Café in Seaburn today, you may have spotted our Water Safety Officer, James, out chatting...
27/07/2026

🌊 If you were around The Funky Café in Seaburn today, you may have spotted our Water Safety Officer, James, out chatting with beachgoers about staying safe at the coast.

With so many people enjoying the sunshine and the sea, taking a few minutes to learn some simple lifesaving advice can make all the difference.

💙 If YOU get into trouble in the water:
✅ Fight your instinct to swim.
✅ Lean back and Float to Live.
✅ Relax and control your breathing.
✅ Raise one hand and call for help.

💙 If you see someone else in trouble:
📞 Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
🛟 Encourage them to Float to Live.
🚫 Don't enter the water yourself.
🪢 Throw something that floats if you can.

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped for a chat today. We hope those conversations help more people enjoy our coastline safely this summer.

📅 Missed James today?

You'll be able to catch him again at Sunderland RNLI Harbour Day on Sunday 9th August, 10:00am - 3:00pm 🧡

Come along and enjoy a fantastic family day out with:
🚤 Meet the crew and step aboard our lifeboats.
🚒 Emergency service displays.
🎪 Craft stalls.
🎈 Children's activities and games.
📸 A display of Sunderland RNLI archival photographs alongside Claire Louise 📸 recent 'Between Shouts' exhibition.
💙 Plus plenty more throughout the day!

We'd love to see you there! ☀️💙🧡

Address

C/o Marine Activity Centre, Sunderland Marina, North Dock, Roker
Sunderland
SR60PW

Telephone

+441915673536

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when RNLI - Sunderland Lifeboat Station posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to RNLI - Sunderland Lifeboat Station:

Shortcuts

Share

Category