Inclusion at the RNLI
Learn about our approach to inclusion and access resources to support you in your volunteer role.
Inclusion is important to us at the RNLI. It helps us to welcome new people so that we can continue to save lives at sea. It means that we value the different perspectives and experiences those people bring. And it allows us to share our lifesaving messages with new communities.
Our equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) plans
In 2024, we launched we launched our equity, diversity and inclusion roadmap: a plan to help us create a more inclusive RNLI. Since we welcomed our new inclusion lead in 2024, we have added more detail to this plan. We have added steps to build a good foundation that we can build on over the coming years to allow us to achieve our goals.
Our plan focuses on the following areas:
Our plan focuses on the following areas:
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Our data collection
Improving our data collection will help us understand more about our people and their journey with the RNLI.
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The barriers people experience when they engage with us
By understanding the barriers to people working and engaging with us, we can put in place actions to minimise and remove them. We will become more welcoming to everyone.
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People's individual responsibility
We all have a role to play in promoting inclusion and creating welcoming spaces for people. This part of the plan will build people's confidence and awareness to contribute to inclusion.
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Our tolerances as an organisation for negative behaviours
Do we have a zero-tolerance approach? How is this approach applied across all that we do? How can our people raise concerns?
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Our communication with our volunteers
We will build confidence in our volunteers to talk about inclusion and to challenge negative behaviours.
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Our people networks and business areas support the EDI plan
We will support each people network and business area to develop an action plan to contribute to our EDI plan and to promote inclusion in their area.
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The way we work
We want inclusion to be a golden thread that weaves through all we do at the RNLI and ties it all together. By looking at the way we develop and design projects, campaigns and approaches, we will make sure we view everything inclusively.
We will update you on progress against these plans on an annual basis.
Our people networks
The RNLI has five active people networks that you can get involved in.
They are open to everyone - all our staff and volunteers, people from the communities they support as well as allies.
They are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. They help us to identify what we already do well and influence our charity to act when change is needed. They support our equity, diversity and inclusion plan and have their own areas of focus.
Our people networks are:
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Harbour (LGBT+) Network.The RNLI’s Harbour LGBT+ Network provides peer support for volunteers and staff. We are working to create a more welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and equal organisation for all by holding our leaders to account and by increasing representation and understanding of those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or any other sexual orientation and gender identity.
There is an ambassador programme for RNLI volunteers and staff that is a voice to help support volunteers, colleagues, supporters, friends and family on LGBT+ matters.
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The Race Equality Network.The Race Equality Network is a safe space. A space to connect, to share, to be seen and to be heard safely - no matter who you are, where you come from or what colour your skin is. The Race Equality Network is open to all. In addition to this, the Race Equality Network is our chance to create real change in our organisational policy and ensure that race equality is a focus throughout the business. We have the opportunity to amplify minority voices across the organisation and ensure we have a seat at the table when decisions are being made that affect the community.
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The Disability Network.Set up in January 2017, the RNLI's Disability Network has been working to provide support and guidance to people with disabilities, as well as to those who care for others with disabilities, in order to contribute to a more equal and diverse RNLI. The network aims to empower, enable, support and champion people affected by disability, as well as provide a safe and confidential environment for issues to be raised and elevated.
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The Young People's Network.The Young People's Network (YPN) is a network for anyone in the early years of their career or volunteering journey at the RNLI. The network, which was set up in 2017, provides recognised support across the organisation, and the input from young people has become progressively valued. The network has since been involved in recruitment processes, a reverse mentoring scheme, career stories sessions and support for the organisation. The YPN allows a space for open conversation and projects which the whole network can get involved with and benefit from.
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The Women’s Community.The Women's Community is open to all RNLI women and anyone else who would like to get involved, regardless of gender, role or location. The community exists to represent women across the RNLI, and to improve their experience, but in order to achieve this we collaborate with all allies. Women's issues are everyone's issues. We cannot achieve equality without everyone working together to create a workplace that is truly inclusive and supportive.
We also have a Women in Lifeguarding group, a Women in Search and Rescue (SAR) group and a Women in Engineering group.