Teignmouth water safety volunteers receive Excellence in Volunteering Award

Two volunteers from Teignmouth Lifeboat Station, Alan Harwood and Shannon Wilson, have been presented with Excellence in Volunteering Awards by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the charity.

The RNLI’s Excellence in Volunteering Award recognises individuals who consistently go above and beyond their volunteer role and who demonstrate the charity’s core values of selflessness, courage, dependability and trustworthiness.

Steve Instance, Water Safety Lead for the South West, presented Alan and Shannon with their awards at a recent regional meeting. Alan and Shannon received the awards for their work in developing and delivering a bespoke RNLI Young Adult Programme aimed at apprentices working in and around the marine environment. Together, they deliver tailored sessions designed to engage young people with the RNLI’s lifesaving mission and to promote vital water safety messages.

The programme has been delivered to apprentices at ten large further education colleges and universities across the South West and has received exceptional feedback. Later this month, Alan and Shannon will be heading to Portishead to help further develop the programme and train additional water safety teams, helping to broaden its delivery.

In addition to this work, Alan and Shannon have also supported the RNLI at large-scale events across Devon and Exeter, helping to raise awareness of the charity and its work within local communities. The award citation highlights their continued commitment and the positive impact of their efforts, noting that their contribution has helped support the RNLI’s mission to save lives at sea.

RNLI Teignmouth Lifeboat Station relies on the dedication of volunteers like Alan and Shannon to continue its vital work, and the awards recognise the difference volunteers make both locally and nationally.

Speaking after receiving his award, Alan said he was both surprised and thankful for the recognition and is looking forward to seeing how the programme will develop in the future, with so much more it can achieve. Shannon added that she was proud to receive the accolade and excited to continue being part of the programme, meeting young people across the South West.

Everyone at Teignmouth Lifeboat Station extends their congratulations, and are proud to have both Alan and Shannon working as part of their dedicated team of lifesavers.