Meg Woodhouse said: ‘There’s absolutely no reason women can’t do this’
Meg Woodhouse has become Humber RNLI’s first female full time crew member (Image: Nina Stobart/RNLI)
Humber RNLI has marked a “powerful moment” in its 216-year history as it welcomes its first full-time female crew member. Meg Woodhouse said any girls or women who are thinking about joining up should “just do it” as they will be joining “supportive and encouraging” team. She will be a full-time crew member at the Humber station, which was founded in 1810 and is one of the RNLI’s oldest stations. Her appointment was welcomed as a “positive step” by RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat operations manager, Scotty Scott.
Meg joins the RNLI in 2020. He her family were long-time supporters of the charity. She said: “My mum was a fundraiser for many years and my brother sails, so the RNLI has always been part of our lives. When I moved within on‑call distance of a station, I knew I wanted to volunteer and give something back to the community.” She joins fellow female members Vicki Judge and Laura Levitt-Allen, who joined in 2025.
Before joining Humber, Meg served as both D class and Atlantic crew at Filey RNLI, where she also helped lead training sessions. Her background in education has shaped her passion for developing others. “I enjoy teaching and supporting people to grow. I’m hoping to bring that experience here – helping to strengthen the crew and contributing to training. It’s exciting to be the first full‑time woman here, but I’m also proud to join Vicki and Laura, who joined as volunteers recently. There’s absolutely no reason women can’t do this. My advice to any girl or woman thinking about joining is simple – just do it. The support and encouragement I have received as crew at both Filey and Humber has been incredible and I have met some truly brilliant, knowledgeable and inspirational people.”
RNLI volunteer lifeboat operations manager Scotty Scott welcomed her appointment, saying: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Meg to the Humber crew. She brings valuable lifeboating experience, enthusiasm and a fantastic attitude. Her appointment is another positive step forward for Humber as we continue to build a strong, committed and diverse crew. I’m incredibly proud of how the team continues to grow and develop.”
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