Charity Focus
Live Preston & Fylde takes a look at ongoing fundraising projects that see thousands of pounds donated to good causes around the region
Celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was founded in a London tavern on 4th March 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks. The RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the tests of its history, including tragic disasters, funding challenges and two World Wars.
Two centuries have seen vast developments in the lifeboats and kit used by the charity’s lifesavers – from the early oar-powered vessels to today’s technology-packed boats, which are now built in-house by the charity; and from the rudimentary cork lifejackets of the 1850s to the full protective kit each crew member is now issued with.
The RNLI’s lifesaving reach and remit has also developed over the course of 200 years. Today, it operates 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland, including one in Lytham St Annes and one in Blackpool and has seasonal lifeguards on over 240 lifeguarded beaches around the UK. It designs and builds its own lifeboats and runs domestic and international water safety programmes.
Blackpool RNLI Lifeboat Station was founded 160 years ago in 1864 and in that time its crews have launched the lifeboats 2,786 times and saved 479 lives.
From 1864 with the first lifeboat station on Lytham Road, through to 1974, Blackpool was home to all-weather lifeboats. Now a dedicated RNLI lifeboat station operating an inshore lifeboat, Blackpool RNLI are one of only two stations in the UK and Ireland to operate three inshore lifeboats. In 2023, the volunteer crews responded to callouts 148 times leading to 114 launches, saved 14 lives and assisted a further 42 people to safety.
While much has changed in 200 years, two things have remained the same – the charity’s dependence on volunteers, who give their time and commitment to save others, and the voluntary contributions from the public which have funded the service for the past two centuries.
RNLI Chief Executive, Mark Dowie, says: “For a charity to have survived 200 years based on the time and commitment of volunteers, and the sheer generosity of the public donating to fund it, is truly remarkable. It is through the courage and dedication of its incredible people that the RNLI has survived the tests of time, including tragic losses, funding challenges, two World Wars and, more recently, a global pandemic.
“I am immensely grateful to everyone who is involved with the charity – our volunteers, supporters and staff. This is our watch and it is our role to keep our charity safe and secure so it can continue to save lives into the future, as we strive in our vision to save everyone.”
Throughout its bicentenary year, the charity is running events and activities to remember its important history and celebrate the modern lifesaving service it is today, while hoping to inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters.
Find out more about the RNLI’s 200th anniversary at: RNLI.org/200
If you have any charity news please contact: ali.gudgeon@live-magazines.co.uk
