Admiral employee saving lives at sea

An Admiral employee is helping save lives at sea as a dedicated Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteer - a role he has supported the charity with for over 30 years.

Chris Youde from Admiral's IT department makes the most of the company's Give a Day initiative to support his local RNLI centre. Give a Day provides all Admiral employees two paid days of leave each year to help out in their communities.

Chris volunteers at the RNLI Penarth Station as a Shore Helper. His responsibilities at the station include maintenance of equipment and launching the boats heading out to help people in need.

Chris said: 'Being an RNLI volunteer is a big part of my life. I feel proud that in my 30 years of volunteering I've been able to help save many lives and make a difference in my community. It's great to know that Admiral support my volunteering too and I'll be using the Give a Day scheme in years to come.'

Jason Dunlop, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Penarth Lifeboat Station said: 'Without volunteers, Penarth Lifeboat Station and the RNLI as a whole simply would not be able to operate the way it does today. The charity relies on over 35,000 dedicated volunteers nationally in over 100 different roles and over 95% of its people are volunteers. They contribute their time, energy and skills in all kinds of ways, to support the RNLI and to help save lives at sea.'

The RNLI's volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations and, in a normal year, more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of coastguards and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.