Supporting Vital Lifesavers in Our Community

We are proud to have awarded a £1,000 community grant to Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service, better known as GAFIRS.

This funding from our Foundation will directly support urgent repairs to the specialist dry suits used by their volunteer rescue crews, ensuring they can continue to operate safely in some of the most challenging conditions.

GAFIRS is not just another charity. Founded in 1969, it is an independent lifeboat and inshore rescue service providing critical emergency cover across the Eastern Solent and Portsmouth Harbour.

What makes this even more remarkable is that every member of the crew is a volunteer. These are ordinary people with jobs, families, and commitments who drop everything when the pager goes off. Day or night, in all weather, 365 days a year, they respond without hesitation.

GAFIRS attends around 100 incidents every year.

On average, GAFIRS attends around 100 incidents every year. These can range from assisting broken-down vessels drifting into danger to delivering lifesaving first aid in critical emergencies. Their dedication, professionalism, and courage have earned them national recognition time and again.

But none of this happens without the right equipment.

Dry suits are not optional extras. They are essential safety gear that protect crews from cold water exposure and allow them to operate effectively during rescues. Without properly maintained equipment, even the most skilled volunteers are put at risk.

That is where community support matters.

We were genuinely pleased to step in and fund these urgent repairs, keeping frontline responders safe and operational.

This is exactly what our foundation is here for, supporting organisations that quietly hold communities together, often without the recognition or funding they deserve.

GAFIRS represents the very best of community spirit with commitment, bravery, and selflessness. We are proud to stand behind them and play a small part in helping them continue their lifesaving work.

If you would like to learn more about their work or support them further, you can visit their website here: www.gafirs.org.uk