The RNLI – ordinary people doing extraordinary things since 1824 For over 200 years, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has saved lives at sea around our coast. The RNLI – ordinary people doing extraordinary things since 1824
For nearly 200 years, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has saved lives at sea around our coast. When Sir William Hillary, a Quaker
lifeboatman, fo
unded the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck in 1824, lifeboats were few in number, powered by teams of oarsmen, and volunteer crews could only operate close to the beaches from which they had been launched. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives. On call day and night; 24 hours a day; 365 days a year; we provide a swift and efficient rescue service up to 100 miles offshore anywhere round the coast of the United Kingdom and Republic ofIreland. Each year our lifeboat crews rescue more than 7,000 people. The work of these dedicated crews, the ordinary people doing extraordinary things, remains the vital thread that runs through the history of the RNLI. Nearly 200 years on, we are still proud to rely on the expertise and courage of our volunteer crews and fundraisers. We are also proud to be a
registered charity, depending on voluntary contributions and legacies from the public. Every year it costs over £100M to run the RNLI,
which comes almost entirely from voluntary donations. For every £1 spent, 80p goes directly on the rescue service itself, 16p is used for fundraising and 4p for support. Help us save lives at sea by joining today. Call 0800 543210 or visit www.rnli.org.uk
