OFFICIALS at Minehead lifeboat station are looking for an expert organiser to fill a key vacancy in their team. And would-be candidates can be assured the job won’t involve getting wet or cold!

The station needs a new volunteer fundraising co-ordinator to step up and manage the vital job of securing local funds to contribute to the RNLI’s £3 million weekly running costs.

In a normal year merchandise sales in the station’s shop, together with donations and local fundraising events bring in nearly £100,000 – virtually offsetting the running costs of the station and its two lifeboats.

But Covid restrictions reduced income to a fraction of that figure last year and it may be several months yet before the shop can fully re-open and public events can be organised again.

Minehead RNLI chairman Richard Newton said the co-ordinator would be joining an enthusiastic and active team.

“We are very fortunate as a station in that we enjoy a huge amount of support from Minehead and the wider community, as has been shown with various fundraising projects in the past.

“Three years ago, for instance, we were able to raise the £52,000 cost of our new D class boat in just six months. And currently we are on the brink of announcing another major fundraising initiative.

“We have a really energetic fundraising team and the co-ordinator’s job will involve leading them and identifying and following up as many fundraising opportunities as possible.”

All lifeboat crew and station officials are volunteers but, said Mr Newton, the role of providing 24-hour rescue cover and of raising the money to enable the crew to carry on doing so generated a fantastic community spirit at the station. “The person we are looking for will need organisational skills and quite a bit of spare time but the job is absolutely guaranteed to deliver huge amounts of satisfaction and enjoyment,” he said.

Anyone interested can obtain more information from Richard Newton on 07968 026033.