Perfect fit as Falmouth RNLI shop relocates into Harbour Office

The RNLI shop team will be hosted and co-located with the Falmouth Harbour front office team at 44 Arwenack Street – a perfect fit between the maritime organisations and the bustling footfall of local community and visitors to the historic waterfront.

The RNLI’s former shop was located within the lifeboat station building, further towards Falmouth Docks, but closed in December 2022 as the space was required for new changing facilities for the volunteer crew. The crew of 37 is around 25% female now and the additional space is being converted into a much needed new changing area.

Thanks to the support of Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, the shop is now in a fantastic new location on Arwenack Street, and the charity is looking forward to throwing open its doors once more.

Andy Bramwell, Community Manager for Cornwall, says: ‘Falmouth’s lifeboat has a proud history so I’m delighted for the station and its volunteers that we will opening a new shop in a part of town with more footfall. It means our supporters will find us more easily and the volunteer shop crew will be able to raise more funds for Falmouth’s lifeboats and their crews.

‘As with all RNLI shops, we depend on volunteers to open the doors and we are looking for new volunteers to get involved in what will be a busy shop in an RNLI town.’

The new shop will sell a wide selection of RNLI gifts and souvenirs, from homewares and clothing, to toys and cards. An official opening of the new shop will take place on Thursday 15 June, ahead of the International Sea Shanty Festival weekend.

Holly Manvell, Falmouth Harbour’s Head of Commercial Operations, says, 'We are delighted that the RNLI will be at home alongside us in Falmouth Harbour. Their much-valued legacy and hard work to protect us all at sea is greatly appreciated.

'Falmouth Harbour is a marine hub in a sea-faring town, with over 2,500 water-going customers and over 110 sq km of water to oversee including 54km of coast and 80km perimeter of harbour. With all that in mind it’s incredibly humbling and exciting to be being able to support the local operation of our nations’ much-loved institution. Welcome, RNLI!'

To find out more about how to volunteer please contact Andy Bramwell [email protected] or apply online at rnli.org/volunteer and search for Falmouth.

For more on the work of Falmouth Harbour visit www.falmouthharbour.co.uk

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. 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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.