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RNLI to get All Hands on Deck at sailing clubs to fundraise in 2024

Lifeboats News Release

In 2024, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) will have been saving lives at sea for 200 years and, to mark the milestone, the charity is inviting sailing clubs to celebrate with them.

All Hands on Deck, supported by the RNLI’s corporate partner GJW Direct, is a drive to get sailing clubs across the UK and Ireland to create a fundraising event to ensure the lifesaving organisation can be there for generations of sailors to come.

Representatives from the RNLI and GJW Direct attended Southampton International Boat Show to launch the fundraising initiative.

RNLI Head of Region for the South East Ryan Hall said: ‘As a charity, the RNLI is supported by generous donations from the public and our partners.

‘Next year in our 200th anniversary year, people can get involved with out All Hands on Deck initiative, where we are encouraging sailing clubs to organise a fundraising event to support the RNLI and help protect the future of lifesaving.’

Jeremy Entwistle from GJW Direct said: ‘All Hands on Deck is an opportunity to get your sailing club involved in the 200th anniversary commemorations of the RNLI in 2024.

‘You can make an event already in your calendar – be it a race, a cruise or a family fun day or barbecue – an All Hands on Deck event, or create something specifically around the initiative. It can be anything you like for your club to help mark the charity’s bicentenary and raise funds to help the RNLI save lives at sea.’

Sailing clubs are invited to organise a race, connect with other clubs for joint events or to plan a land-based charity day to show support for the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews.

Club representatives can visit RNLI.org/200Sail to sign up, and the RNLI will be in touch with further details on how to set up

RNLI/Tom Dale

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.