RNLI badge to 'inspire future volunteers'

Guides and scouts can now work to secure the new RNLI badge

A new badge for guides and scouts to mark the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution will inspire future volunteers, the charity has said.

The new addition to the organisations' badges aims to improve children's understanding of water safety, as well as teaching them about the RNLI's history.

Challenges suggested to earn it include rowing a boat, meeting current lifeboat crews, creating a water safety video and fundraising for the charity.

RNLI water safety education manager Anthony Jones said the experience would leave the participants feeling "inspired to volunteer for the RNLI in the future".

'Fantastic work'

In completing the challenge the young people would be able to share the "important safety information they have learnt" with others, he added.

The challenge takes up to four sessions to complete and it open to people from the age of five up to 18.

As well as the history of the institution, participants learn about the RNLI's four key safety messages for children, which are stop and think, stay together, float and call 999.

Girl Guiding Isle of Man commissioner Su Simpson said, given the RNLI's 200th anniversary in 2014, it was a "perfect opportunity" for guides and scouts to "raise awareness of all the fantastic work the RNLI does".

While the organisation wanted to create a badge, its members wanted to be able to "actually earn it rather than just be given one" so "joined forces with scouts to get the word out further", she said.

Both groups had also taken part in the walk to the Tower of Refuge earlier this month, which celebrated the RLNI's 200th anniversary, to raise money for the charity.