Redcar lifeboat station’s only operational female team member is appealing for more people from under-represented groups to join her.
Since October 2021, Laura Wedgewood has volunteered at the Redcar seafront station, whose two boats were launched 53 times last year, saving four lives and helping nine people.
She recently became the station’s first fully qualified navigator, male or female, in its 223-year history, meaning she must ensure the safety of the lifeboat, along with planning and executing the often complex search and rescue navigation required on a rescue.
It’s a sharp contrast to the day job – managing the Church View children’s home in Redcar. But Laura says that despite the dangers, it’s immensely rewarding – and now she wants more people from under-represented communities, such as women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, to join her at Redcar RNLI.
She said: “We go out in all sorts of conditions. It’s not pleasant sometimes, but you have to do it. I’d been living in Sheffield but when I came back to Redcar in 2021, I just wanted to give something back and the lifeboat was the direction I chose – and I’ve loved every second of it.
“It was a completely male environment I walked into. It was daunting – I remember walking into a room of 20 ‘plus’ men and feeling like ‘I’m not sure they want me here, I’m not sure they think I can do as a good a job as them’.
“I spent a lot of time with the crew, training and trying to upskill myself and trying to prove I can do what we do. But it didn’t take long, to be honest, and I soon felt welcomed.
“Now I can’t remember life without the crew I have around me. I can reflect a bit on how I first felt and how I feel now – and as an institution, we want to better represent the community we serve and part of that is welcoming minority groups.”
Laura Wedgewood from Redcar RNLI
To that end, the Redcar lifeboat station on Redcar seafront is hosting an open event on Tuesday, January 14 from 5.30pm, predominantly aimed at getting more people from under-represented groups such as females and members of the LGBTQIA+ community to consider joining.
And Laura stresses it’s not all about going out on launches. She said: “There are so many roles that make up our crew. For every launch, we have shore crew, launch vehicle drivers, launching authorities, an operations manager, a training coordinator – loads of people that it takes to go afloat and save lives at sea.
“Also we have water safety volunteers speaking to schools and community groups about staying safe on the coast so, ultimately, we don’t have to launch as much. And we have shop volunteers raising funds because every lifeboat launch costs money.”
Redcar RNLI lifeboat operations manager Mike Picknett told Teesside Live that Laura’s story proves that dedication and commitment are what’s needed to become a key part of the team.
He said: “With those qualities, we can train you to do something very special when called into action. We want to challenge the existing traditional perception that lifeboat crews must be fishermen and seafarers by increasing the representation of women and other underrepresented groups. Diverse teams bring a wider range of perspectives, skills, and problem-solving approaches, enhancing our overall efficiency and adaptability in high-pressure situations.
“By fostering inclusivity, the team benefits from different communication styles, innovative solutions, and increased effectiveness, all crucial for navigating the complex dynamics of rescue operations where the main challenges are often not the weather or rough seas.
“Also, diversity encourages a more equitable and supportive team dynamic, where all members, regardless of gender or background, feel empowered to contribute to our main objective of saving lives at sea. Ultimately, embracing diversity in lifeboat crews leads to a more resilient, effective, and cohesive team.”
And Laura, 33, says that by joining Redcar RNLI, you become part of a family. She said: “The support I get from my crew is second to none. Back in the day, I’d phone a friend or family – now, when I need someone, it’s probably one of the lifeboat crew I phone to help me out, give me advice or talk to.
“It’s incredible, the support you get, and I think there’s a sense of pride as well. Redcar saved four lives last year and that feels good. We quite often get together after training or a shout and talk about shouts we’ve been on, times we’ve helped people and times we haven’t been able to help people. It’s difficult when that happens, but we get through it and continue doing what we do. But we need people to continue saving lives at sea – we need to keep bringing people in, training them up and getting them to a standard where they can do that.
“It would be great to have more females on the crew and members of under-represented groups. We’re a very busy crew and the more people we have to complement that, the better service we can provide.”
For more details about Redcar RNLI and the January 14 open event, visit https://www. facebook.com/RedcarRNLI or email laura_wedgewood@rnli.org.uk
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