A North East RNLI station has celebrated the "momentous" launch of its first all-female rescue crew; a four-strong team of experienced life boat crew members. 

RNLI Cullercoats saw their first all-female crew launch a training exercise in the North Sea last month. 

This realises a "long-held dream" for many of the North East's female RNLI crew members. 

The all-women crew was helmed by Anna Heslop, who worked alongside substantive crew member Hannah Oliver, and trainees Sarah Whitelaw and Rose Short. 

Until only a decade ago, there were no women at the RNLI's Cullercoats station - but today it is a different picture. Anna Heslop, who was at the helm of the all-women mission, was made the station's first female helm in May 2021, having volunteered at the station since she was 17.

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All the women in the team show admirable dedication to the RNLI, volunteering alongside day jobs as teachers, teaching assistants, civil servants and lifeguard trainers. 

Hannah Oliver, the fully-qualified substantive crew member, follows a long family tradition in the RNLI - being the 8th generation of her family to serve the Cullercoats station. Following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, she is the first woman from her family to save lives at sea. 

The Northern Echo: This is the first all-female crew in the station's 170 year history.This is the first all-female crew in the station's 170 year history. (Image: RNLI)

Kay Heslop, the station's Lifeboat Operations Manager and Anna's mum, authorised the lifeboat launch. 

Kay said: "Launching an all-female team is something we've aspired to for a little while. We've spent a number of years trying to get more women into the station."

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By Kay's estimates, around 10% of crew members in the RNLI are women, with around 500 women across the UK and Ireland ready to be called out to save lives at sea - so having an all-female crew is still uncommon, though steps are being taken to increase gender balance. 

"It feels like this shouldn't be news in this day and age, but there is still a way to go with gender equality. Women in all kinds of jobs have to work harder than men to achieve certain things."

That being said, Kay is keen to outline that every RNLI volunteer is integral to the operation of the team. 

She said: "It is great to have an all-women crew, but we can't do without the men. We're just one big family, and everyone has their specific specialisms and skills. There's a real family atmosphere, because we all have to work together, as well as fundraising, and looking after the kit and the building.

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"If you are interested in the RNLI, you should come along and meet us to see if it is for you. You have to give it a go to find out!"

Kay believes that the shift towards gender balance in the RNLI is already well underway, with the increasing numbers of women volunteering in Cullercoats reflecting a national trend - so the future looks bright for RNLI Cullercoats. 

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