President's Award Update

Lough Swilly Lifeboat station based in Co. Donegal became the first station in the Irish Division to successfully carry out the RNLI’s President’s Award program.

The station took on 3 students at the start of December and held an induction meeting at the station. Following 6 weeks crew training, the students were given 6 weeks to work on a project which involved preparing a presentation and a fundraising project.  

The students presented their project to invited guests who included representatives from Gaisce, fundraising branch, families and crew.Hugh McConville from Gaisce gave a short speech on The President’s Award and how the RNLI experience has benefited both organizations. The students then gave their presentations on the RNLI as an organization, what they done during the 6 weeks crew training and then what was done as a fundraising project.

The evening rounded off with a speech by John McCarter Lifeboat Operations Manager and a presentation of €209, raised during their project.

Their involvement with that station completes the Community Involvement section of The President’s Award. On completion of the three remaining sections the students will be presented with the Bronze Award at a regional awards event in May, where one of our participants will get the chance to present to a larger audience of their peers.