About Us

GAFIRS is a uniquely independent Lifeboat & Inshore Rescue Service that was founded in 1969. As a Declared Facility for HM Coastguard, GAFIRS provides emergency lifeboat services in the Solent and Portsmouth Harbour. GAFIRS crews are on pager emergency call-out 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and in all weathers. Moreover, GAFIRS also offers a range of safety services and expertise to Hampshire's emergency services to aid marine rescue inland and medical response during County & National states of emergency.

On average GAFIRS responds to some 140 emergency lifesaving calls per year and its members give freely of many hundreds of hours per year supporting other emergency services and the local community.

From Cadets to Coxswains

In GAFIRS, learning lifesaving skills starts at a young age. Our Cadets join us at 14 and working under Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS) training schemes, they train to become qualified beach lifeguards. The next step in is to train to become a British Canoe Union (BCU) lifeguard, then use Kayaks and Canoes as inshore rescue craft. The Cadet training scheme is designed to promote team-working, personal health and fitness, and generate respect for each other, for the community and of course for the sea…

On reaching the age of 18, many Cadets go on to become trainee lifeboat crew. Whether it's helping shore-side in the operations room or driving our launching vehicles, or actually going afloat in one of our lifeboats, there are a wide range of roles and responsibilities to master. To maintain credible standards all crew hold RYA powerboat qualifications, delivered internally at our own GAFIRS RYA recognised teaching facility.

GAFIRS is a member of the Solent Sea Rescue Organisation (SSRO), a local collective of independent lifeboats who receive no funding or resources from the RNLI. As most of the current GAFIRS lifeboat coxswains started with GAFIRS as young Cadets, those in trouble in on or near the water can take some re-assurance that if GAFIRS is tasked to give assistance, that it will be highly trained and dedicated volunteers that will respond, quickly, quietly and very effectively…

The Organisation

GAFIRS is a charity managed and delivered entirely by volunteers. Management is by elected committee and a number of honorary positions reflect our community ethos. GAFIRS provides a wide range of services to the community. From delivering Safety presentations to Water Sports clubs, to Accident Prevention and Beach Safety events at schools, to promotions at local fairs and fetes, to the amazing 999 emergency services day and, not forgetting, to the highly successful New Years day swim, raising funds for National Charities under the watchful eye of GAFIRS.

Honorary Positions

Committee

You can find out more about GAFIRS by reading our latest GAFIRS Annual Report