General FAQs
Find answers to our most frequently asked general questions.
The RNLI was founded, with royal patronage, in 1824. The charity was originally called the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck and was later renamed the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1854.
You can find your nearest lifeboat station using our search facility – simply enter your postcode or the station you’re looking for. Once located, you will find the contact details for the lifeboat station.
Alternatively, contact us and we can help you find the contact details for your local lifeboat station.
Contact us online, by phone or by letter and we can make this change for you.
You can find a wealth of information and advice about staying safe on, in and around the water in our safety pages.
You can arrange collection of your donations by contacting your local RNLI Community Fundraising Support Team.
We're sorry you're not happy with the level of service you've received.
As a member of the Fundraising Regulator, we always aim to provide the highest level of customer service to all of our supporters.
We'd really like the opportunity to put things right. So here's what to do if you have a complaint about fundraising.
Our Supporter Experience Team are available Monday–Friday between 8am and 6pm.
GBP Payments
Barclays Bank PLC, 100 High Street, Poole, Dorset BH15 1BL
Sort code: 20-68-95
Account number: 70 23 23 51
Account name: Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Ref: Please could you add your name as a reference, so we can match your payment with any existing record we have of you.
Euro Payments
Bank of Ireland, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2
Sort code: 90-14-90
Account number: 86 57 97 37
SWIFT/BIC: BOFIIE2D
IBAN: IE29 BOFI 9014 9086 5797 37
Account name: Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Ref: Please could you add your name as a reference, so we can match your payment with any existing record we have of you.