French Lifeboat tows.

[Stemar]

I've never heard of ambulance services in the UK sending bills.

Nor have I, and I worked for an ambulance service for 20 years. Is Laminar Flow's West Coast California rather than Cornwall?

I'm inclined to agree with you about the RNLA sticking to their core business, but I'd always assumed that the lifeguard stuff was a commercial contract, so a source of income. If not, it certainly ought to be.

 

[dom]

I'm inclined to agree with you about the RNLI sticking to their core business, but I'd always assumed that the lifeguard stuff was a commercial contract, so a source of income. If not, it certainly ought to be.

The lifeguard stuff is indeed supposed to be commercial, although questions remain as to the apportionment of costs associated with the multiple management layers required to manage these businesses.

Re sticking to its core-business, now is a perfect time for the RNLI to return to its roots, listen to and make peace with its worryingly disaffected volunteer force, and basically reconnect with those who love and fund the organisation. If that requires change at the top, so be it.

 

[JumbleDuck]

The lifeguard stuff is indeed supposed to be commercial, although questions remain as to the apportionment of costs associated with the multiple management layers required to manage these businesses.

I gather from an earlier thread that local councils are no longer willing to pay for lifeguards, so that service is now a cost to the RNLI.

 

[dom]

I gather from an earlier thread that local councils are no longer willing to pay for lifeguards, so that service is now a cost to the RNLI.

You're right, so the lifeguards are furloughed/laid-off/not hired leaving the RNLI to to bear the administrative expenses it has built up and consequently lay off individuals it should never have hired in the first place.

Sadly, there's no winners here and even more sadly the RNL's volunteer/donor fabric is being irreparably damaged.

Now is a perfect time for the RNLI to get back to its roots.

 

[Beneteau381]

Nor have I, and I worked for an ambulance service for 20 years. Is Laminar Flow's West Coast California rather than Cornwall?

I'm inclined to agree with you about the RNLA sticking to their core business, but I'd always assumed that the lifeguard stuff was a commercial contract, so a source of income. If not, it certainly ought to be.

I vaguely remember that the AS used to send out a bill after an RTA, this going back 50 years. I just did a quick google and there are lots of posts confirming this Having to pay for the ambulance after an RTA

 

[Juan Twothree]

[QUOTE="dom, post: 7259248, .......now is a perfect time for the RNLI to return to its roots, listen to and make peace with its worryingly disaffected volunteer force......
[/QUOTE]

I'm not aware of any major unhappiness among the volunteers who I know, and thanks to my role, and the length of time I've been volunteering, I know quite a few of them.

Everyone has their own ideas about how the RNLI should be run, but that's been the case for generations.

 

[JumbleDuck]

You're right, so the lifeguards are furloughed/laid-off/not hired leaving the RNLI to to bear the administrative expenses it has built up and consequently lay off individuals it should never have hired in the first place.

I meant even before COVID-19. There is no income stream from lifeguarding in the RNLI's last annual report. I wonder if they have been hoist by their own petard: so successfully exaggerrating the dangers of unguarded beaches to sell their services that when councils refused to pay they felt compelled to carry on anyway.

 

[dom]

[QUOTE="dom, post: 7259248, .......now is a perfect time for the RNLI to return to its roots, listen to and make peace with its worryingly disaffected volunteer force......

I'm not aware of any major unhappiness among the volunteers who I know, and thanks to my role, and the length of time I've been volunteering, I know quite a few of them.

Everyone has their own ideas about how the RNLI should be run, but that's been the case for generations.
[/QUOTE]


By comparison volunteer friends of mine in the RNLI speak of an increased sense of being micro managed and forced to comply with a time wasting big-corporate culture. Everyone has his/her POV I guess.

Regarding my point on donor alienation, it's an open question as to whether the RNLI can find a stable new donor base to fill the hole left by those who now choose to support other causes. Time will tell.

 

[dom]

I meant even before COVID-19. There is no income stream from lifeguarding in the RNLI's last annual report. I wonder if they have been hoist by their own petard: so successfully exaggerrating the dangers of unguarded beaches to sell their services that when councils refused to pay they felt compelled to carry on anyway.

The RNLI does seem to be have to have an increasingly tense relationship with local Councils with some such as Cornwall for example saying that funding is available but that the RNLI refuses to provide the lifeguards. Others including some private owners want the RNLI to provide its services for free.

I've no idea who is to blame, but the RNLI is making a habit of getting involved in something new, becoming a bit shouty about how things should work such as beach safety earlier this year, and then complaining when it is left footing the bill.

 

[penberth3]

[/QUOTE]

By comparison volunteer friends of mine in the RNLI speak of an increased sense of being micro managed and forced to comply with a time wasting big-corporate culture. Everyone has his/her POV I guess.....

[/QUOTE]

My POV is everyone, everywhere has a lot more "compliance" to deal with nowadays. I think the majority understand and accept this. Some might call it micro managing.

 

[Sybarite]

More to the point, in view of the RNLI's financial difficulties,.......

Don’t get me started on that...!!!

 

[[70521]]

Don’t get me started on that...!!!

No please don't. Your financial assessment of the two organisations are well-known, this thread is about the non payment of an invoice.

 

[Graham376]

I gather from an earlier thread that local councils are no longer willing to pay for lifeguards, so that service is now a cost to the RNLI.

Why is it a problem? No pay = no lifeguard, simple. Let bathers take responsibility for their own actions as we always used to.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Why is it a problem? No pay = no lifeguard, simple. Let bathers take responsibility for their own actions as we always used to.

Well, that would be the obvious solution. But as I said above, I fear that the RNLI has so strongly stated the dangers of beaches without their services that withdrawing them would be a serious PR problem.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

It would be interesting to know if boatowners and crews that are rescued by the RNLI make a sizeable monetary contribution and/or become members . I expect many do.

 

[Robin]

It would be interesting to know if boatowners and crews that are rescued by the RNLI make a sizeable monetary contribution and/or become members . I expect many do.

ONE friend of mine hsad to be rescued from Ryde sands when crewing on a clubmate (actually the commodore's) SCOD. At the time he was a helm on Poole Lifeboat crew took a very long time to live that one down as he was helming the SCOD when it found bottom.

 

[Leighb]

It would be interesting to know if boatowners and crews that are rescued by the RNLI make a sizeable monetary contribution and/or become members . I expect many do.

Yes to both, plus a visit to the station concerned to present the Cox’n with some liquid consumables.