Haverigg Inshore Rescue Team (HIRT) were visited by the chairman of an independent lifeboat association which saves thousands of lives each year. 

Neil Dalton is Chairman of the National Independent Lifeboat Association (NILA) which has over fifty independent lifeboat organisations that operate along the coastline and on inland waterways across the UK.

Like HIRT, who joined the association in August, these independent lifeboats are run primarily, if not entirely, by volunteers and funded by local donations. 

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A member of the team said: "Earlier this week, the Chairman of the NILA Neil Dalton visited our boathouse to have a look at our facilities and the area we cover.

"He chatted with us around how to develop our organisation which we are very grateful for.

"We really do value each and every donation kindly gifted to us, we simply couldn’t function as a lifesaving service if you didn’t support us like you do."