New Hope and Ongoing Challenges in Southport Offshore Rescue Trust’s 2024 Review

Southport Offshore Rescue Trust Annual Review – 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, everyone at Southport Lifeboat wishes to thank you for your continued support during what has been a challenging year for our community in Southport.
It has been a busy 12 months for our charity, which we are proud to say remains entirely volunteer-run, from our board of Trustee Directors to our shop staff and, of course, our dedicated Search and Rescue team, who continue to remain on station 24/7.

This year, our team responded to 27 incidents, including one on Christmas day, and assisted 17 people, four of whom could be considered lives saved, as their situations would have become life-threatening if not for our help. Without your generosity, we would not have been able to help these people.
Our charity shop in Birkdale continues to thrive, providing a steady income stream that helps cover our annual running expenses. Whether you are a customer, donate your unwanted goods, or both, your support is invaluable. Each contribution directly helps us save lives, and for that, we sincerely thank you.

Lifeboat Lotto, which launched in 2010, has been another cornerstone of our fundraising efforts. In May, it reached a major milestone, raising over £750,000 for Southport Lifeboat since its inception. With over 1,300 weekly players hoping to win up to £5,000, it has proven to be an enjoyable and impactful way to support our work. This year, we had a Christmas winner, with Mrs Clifford of Birkdale winning £4,700 on 18th December! Information on how to join is available on our website, www.southport-lifeboat.org.uk.

Thank you to everyone who attended our open days or one of the guided station visits that we offer to community groups. These sessions are vital in helping educate the public about our independent service and the differences between us and the RNLI, as well as giving you the first-hand opportunity to meet our crew, see the equipment we use, and understand what your donations pay for. If your group is interested in booking a talk, please reach out to us at [email protected].

We would also like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who have chosen to leave a legacy gift to Southport Lifeboat in their wills. These generous acts of kindness ensure that their commitment to saving lives along the Sefton coastline continues for generations to come. Legacy donations have become a vital source of support for our work in recent years, allowing us to invest in the equipment, training, and resources needed to keep our operations running. To everyone who has thought of us in this way, we extend our deepest thanks and assure you that your contributions make a lasting impact.

In January, our latest Can-Am Off-Road quads went into service. These essential vehicles are replaced every three years due to the demanding environments we operate in and the corrosive nature of salt water. This practice ensures the quads are always in optimal condition, reducing costly maintenance and maximising our ability to save lives. The quads remain the workhorse of our charity, having been tasked with 24 of our 27 incidents this year, covering an area of 75km² of beach, mud, marsh, dunes, and forestry.

Our quad trailer has been utilised many times this year to help with casualty extraction. Built on a floating axle, it provides a comfortable and stable platform when delivering crew and equipment to an incident, and can comfortably fit a stretcher and two crew members during a casualty evacuation.

In the spring, we upgraded our Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) capabilities, replacing the Matrice 210 with the more advanced DJI M30T model. This new drone boasts improved setup times, longer battery life, and enhanced weather resistance. In addition, four of our volunteers completed their General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC) training, bolstering our UAS team. The UAS was deployed on eight incidents this year, and we are excited to see this asset continue to grow and enhance our operational capabilities in the coming years.

In the summer, our main lifeboat, Heather White, and our inshore lifeboat, Christopher Taylor, underwent inspection for the Rescue Boat Code of Practice, with both being re-certified. Heather White was used on eight call-outs in 2024, with Christopher Taylor being used twice, including one incident on Southport Marine Lake.

We were pleased to have our Declared Facility Status extended for another year during our annual review with Maritime and Coastguard Agency in June. We were especially delighted to have our agreement expanded to include Mud Rescue, making us one of the first independent declared Mud Rescue assets in the UK. Following this success, we also began implementing JESIP principles for multi-agency responses, further improving collaboration with other emergency services.

In November, Trident Training and Consultancy took over as our Medical Governance provider, offering critical training to 19 of our volunteers in either Maritime Casualty Care or Maritime Immediate Emergency Care. This partnership ensures our team remains well-prepared to handle emergencies with the highest standards of care. We wish a happy retirement to our outgoing clinical governance providers, Saviour Medical.
We welcomed back our second Challenger tractor in December after its conversion by Habbeke Shipyard in the Netherlands into a fully marinised launch vehicle. With improved air cooling and visibility, this updated Challenger gives us confidence in our ability to launch our lifeboat at any time. Our original Challenger remains on station as a reliable reserve vehicle.

Lastly, while our current lifeboat, Heather White, has served us well for 17 years, she is beginning to show her age. Work has begun to find a suitable replacement, with our Coxswains dedicating their time to exploring alternatives. A shortlist of potential vessels has been drawn up, and we aim to finalise our selection in early 2025 to secure a vessel that will serve Southport for the next generation.
This year has been one of progress, adaptation, and resilience for Southport Lifeboat. None of our achievements would have been possible without the unwavering support of our community, donors, and volunteers. Your generosity enables us to maintain our vital services and make a tangible difference in the lives of those we assist.
As we look ahead to 2025, we remain committed to improving our operations and ensuring Southport continues to have a dedicated and reliable lifeboat service. On behalf of everyone at Southport Lifeboat, thank you for supporting us—we couldn’t do it without you.