Crew member Andria shares her Flamborough RNLI journey
A Flamborough RNLI crew member has shared her RNLI journey on International Women’s Day
Andria Donnison has given an insight into her motivation and experience as crew member, and more recently lifeboat maintainer and station mechanic.
Andria said: “This International Women’s Day, I’m proud to share a little about the journey I’m on. I’m a single mum to two amazing boys, aged 14 and 7, who inspire me every day. I work in a secondary school as the first aider and manage medical care plans, supporting students when they need it most.
“Recently, I’ve also taken on a new role as an NHS Community First Responder volunteer, helping to support my local community in emergencies.
“It was a sunny Sunday afternoon in August 2016 when I attended the Flamborough Lifeboat Fun Day for the very first time.
“Watching the Atlantic 85 crew demonstrate their skills at sea was unforgettable. In that moment I felt a deep sense of admiration for the dedication, courage and teamwork of the lifeboat crew. After chatting with one of the supporters, I received an unexpected invitation to come along and join the crew myself – an invitation that would change my life.
“Over the past nine years as a lifeboat volunteer with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, I’ve been given incredible opportunities to learn, grow and challenge myself. Our weekly exercises at the station include navigation, search and rescue techniques, man-overboard manoeuvres, casualty care and emergency procedures.
“I have also attended a number of courses at the RNLI College in Poole, where I’ve completed sea survival training, seamanship skills and advanced boat handling and have also appeared on BBC's Saving Lives at Sea!
“Today I am a Tier 2 crew member working towards becoming a Navigator – a role that demands strong situational awareness, clear communication and true teamwork, alongside detailed knowledge of charts, radar and search and rescue operations.
“More recently, I also took on the role of ILB Maintainer and Station Mechanic, responsible for ensuring all of our search and rescue equipment and machinery are checked regularly and that any issues are reported quickly so we are always ready to answer the call.”
“I am incredibly proud to be part of the RNLI family. On this International Women’s Day, I hope my journey shows that courage, commitment and determination can take you places you never imagined and that women can play a vital role in saving lives at sea.
“Most of all, I hope to inspire my children and others in our community to believe in themselves and the difference they can make.”