The RNLI is an independent charity, funded by voluntary donations. We could not save lives at sea without your support.
As an RNLI lifeguard you’ll build your work – and life – experience, get good rates of pay and lifesaving skills for the career you want.
You can apply whether you live inside or outside the UK – you just need to be of school leaving age, have a National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (or equivalent) and meet a specific fitness criteria and have a right to work in the UK. If you’re not qualified yet, don’t worry!
About the Role
As an RNLI lifeguard, you’ll make a difference to the safety of thousands of beachgoers. In 2020, our lifeguards helped over 25,172 people
Benefits
Lifeguarding opens plenty of doors for professional development – no matter what career you aspire to. To help you make the most out of your experience and training, you’ll get to work on a wide range of beaches and finish the summer with new qualifications and transferable skills.
Pay
You’ll earn a salary as an RNLI lifeguard which, depending on your role, can range from £9.90 to £11.86* per hour. Whereas availability for the whole season, which you are applying for, is essential to running a lifeguard service, we recognise that you might have other commitments, such as family care or shift work with another employer, as well as pre-arranged holidays. We are open to working flexibly around these.
Training
Throughout your time as a lifeguard, you’ll undergo an extensive training programme to build your skills – from how to handle equipment on the beach, to first aid and casualty care – and you’ll receive continuous, on-the-job training.
Requirements and training
Being an RNLI lifeguard is a unique and rewarding job that puts you at the frontline of lifesaving. Here’s what you need to know about your training and qualifications.
We have a few criteria you’ll need to meet to become an RNLI lifeguard:
• You must hold a National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) or equivalent or ILS Beach/Surf Lifeguard qualification or equivalent. You can find out if your beach/surf lifeguard qualification is recognised on the ILS website.
• You can take a health assessment (including an eyesight test) to ensure you are physically up to the job. This applies even if you’ve worked as an RNLI lifeguard before.
• You can complete a 400m pool swim in under 7½ minutes, the first 200m of which must be completed in under 3½ minutes.
• You can complete a 25m pool swim underwater and a 25m surface swim consecutively in under 50 seconds.
• You can complete a 200m beach run in under 40 seconds.
• You need to be of school leaving age.
It may sound like a big ask, but we’ll be there every step of the way to help you reach these criteria – and become the best lifesaver you can be.