Penarth, 2025
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charitable organisation powered by more than 23,000 volunteers nationally and has been saving lives at sea since 1824. Its mission—free from political, religious, or geographic boundaries—is simply to save lives at sea.
Centred on the volunteers at Penarth Lifeboat Station and the diverse roles they play the project aims to move beyond stereotypical imagery of dramatic rescues and the ‘hero at sea.’ Instead, it identifies the individuality, humanity, and quiet strength of volunteers. The project looks towards the shop volunteers who act as the public face of the RNLI and help raise the £180 million required annually to keep the organisation afloat, the water safety team at Sully Island who are always on watch and help educate the public on the dangers of the water, and the inshore and offshore crews who train in all weathers, maintain equipment, and respond to emergencies in an instant. Each role is essential, and together they embody the organisation’s One Crew ethos.
This project offers one story among the 273 lifeboat stations across the UK, highlighting how a community of individuals, united by compassion and shared responsibility, contributes to an organisation dedicated to saving lives at sea and is a vital support to their local communities.
