TPE community fund donation to Berwickshire lifeboat service to help keep passengers safe on and off its trains
A Berwickshire independent lifeboat service has received a significant boost thanks to a £12,000 donation from TransPennine Express (TPE).
The funding, from the train operator’s Customer & Communities Improvement Schemes Fund, will help St Abbs Independent Lifeboat continue their vital work along the coastline.
The service is fully funded by donations and supported by a dedicated volunteer crew. It operates within a 20-mile radius of St Abbs harbour, from Lindisfarne to Bass Rock.
TPE operates services to nearby Reston and customers often use the station to access the beautiful Scottish coastline.
Chris Jackson, Managing Director at TPE, travelled to St Abbs to meet the lifeboat volunteers and present the donation.
He said: “TPE is part of the communities we serve, and we want to help customers stay safe both while on our trains – and while enjoying this beautiful coastline.
St Abbs Independent Lifeboat is an important part of the TPE network, and we hope this donation can help them continue their important work.”
The donation will be used to purchase new safety equipment, improve training resources, and help with the maintenance of the lifeboat and facilities.
Ruth Hair, Treasurer and Trustee of St Abbs Lifeboat, said: “We are a charitable organisation run entirely by volunteers, available to save lives at sea 365 days of the year.
“We are approaching our tenth anniversary as a community-run lifeboat, and we are extremely grateful for this donation which helps us ensure that we keep this vital service running for many more decades to come.”