tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade

The Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade (TVLB) is the oldest active Volunteer Life Brigades in the UK. The TVLB was formed following the tragic loss of 32 souls from stricken ships  on 24th November 1864 at the Black Middens rocks at Tynemouth. 

The modern brigade has 4 main roles:

1) Search and rescue team: The brigade provides a 24-hour, 365 day, multi-disciplinary, shore based coastal rescue service. The rescue team is a declared facility to HM Coastguard in the North Tyneside area. The brigade responds to an average of 120 callouts per year.

2) DEFRA National flood response asset; since 2017 the brigade has been listed on the Coastguards national flood asset register and provide both human assets and dedicated equipment and physical assets.

3) Education: By regularly visiting schools, community groups and public events we provide advice and guidance on sea safety and drowning prevention throughout the North East. So far in 2019 we have trained over 4,000 children from 17 different schools.

4) History: The brigade operates from our (free to visit) Watch House museum in Tynemouth which houses an amazing display of artefacts from the rescues that have been carried out over 155 years of history.

The money will be used to purchase essential upgraded rescue equipment. This would replace our current equipment, and allow us to continue to provide a life saving coastal search and rescue service for individual of all ages and backgrounds along the Northeast coastline.