How to donate to the RNLI

The RNLI (the Royal National Lifeboat Institution) is the largest charity that saves lives at sea.

Operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, the charity was founded in 1824.

The charity relies on donations, with just under a third of its funding coming from donors. Most of the lifeboat crews are unpaid volunteers.

Here we can explain all the different ways to make a donation to the RNLI and help to save lives at sea.

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About the charity

The RNLI is a charity that works in the UK and Republic or Ireland and it is based in Poole, Dorset.

It has 238 lifeboat stations and operates 444 lifeboats. RNLI lifeguards operate on more than 200 beaches: the lifeguards are paid by local authorities, but the RNLI provides equipment and training.

It has had royal patronage since its beginnings, the most recent being the Queen.

The RNLI offers 24-hour care to whoever may need it and it is estimated the charity has saved more than 142,700 lives since its inception.

The work of the RNLI

The RNLI describes itself as ‘more than just a rescue service’ as it works to help people in emergency situations.

As well as saving people in lifeboats and helping in flood rescue, the charity also works to educate people about safety.

Lifeboats

The RNLI operates a fleet of over 350 lifeboats across the UK and Ireland. The boats are manned by highly trained volunteers and staff who provide a 24/7 search and rescue service, responding to emergencies ranging from stranded vessels and swimmers in distress to commercial shipping and other emergencies at sea.

Flood rescue

The RNLI’s Flood Rescue team is made up of 28 volunteers from across the RNLI, including lifeboat crew and operational staff, all specially trained in swift water rescue.

Among those teams of trained professionals, paramedics, logisticians and mechanics work to help people in emergency scenarios.

Lifeguard Service

Up and down the coast, the RNLI provides a lifeguard service for beach goers.

Providing safety advice, casualty care to injured people, and saving the lives of those in danger of drowning, RNLI lifeguards are on-hand to help in lots of ways.

How the charity uses donations

The RNLI estimates it helps about 35 people every day – so your donations can really go a long way in supporting this.

Teams of volunteers have played a major role in saving lives and educating people about the dangers of water.

According to the charity’s annual review:

RNLI crews and lifeguards saved 408 lives
19 new lifeboats were constructed
35,247 people were aided by crews and lifeguards in just 3 months over the summer
More than 27 million people were given early advice on how to keep their families safe at the beach