Stonehaven RNLI smashes target for new station appeal by raising £100,000

In June 2023, Stonehaven RNLI launched their latest fundraising campaign to raise £50,000 for their new state-of-the-art lifeboat station.

Now, just 10 months later, the lifesaving charity is upping their ambitious target to £125,000 following the success of the initial campaign.

Andy Martin, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Stonehaven RNLI says: ‘We are absolutely delighted with the incredible amount raised so far for Stonehaven RNLI’s new station appeal. We can’t thank the local community enough for all of their support with this appeal and the amazing amount raised so far.

‘Even though the initial target of £50,000 has been met, all extra funds raised on top of this will go towards the new station and support the crew here in Stonehaven. We’d encourage everyone to keep an eye on our social media for the latest updates, and to continue to support our local fundraising activities where they can. Thank you.’

Lifeboat volunteers at Stonehaven have been saving lives at sea for over 130 years, thanks to the support of the local community, but for the last 10 years, the crew have been launching to rescue from a makeshift lifeboat station.

However, exciting plans reveal developments for the volunteers at Stonehaven, with a new state-of-the-art station being built on the harbour.

The new station will have a large integrated boat hall, space for training, an operations room, changing and shower facilities, a mechanic’s workshop, kitchen and breakout area.

The new station-build is estimated to cost around £900,000*, and after the initial success of the campaign, Stonehaven RNLI has increased its fundraising target to £125,000 to support the appeal.

Throughout 2023, Stonehaven RNLI fundraisers held a number of events to help raise funds for the new station build, and in September, seven volunteer crew members took on The Beast Race and raised over £800 for the appeal.

Hunting Energy Services, with office locations in Portlethen, Westhill and Fordoun, have supported the fundraising appeal of Stonehaven RNLI’s new station. They have generously donated over £12,000 to the campaign.

In addition, Stonehaven RNLI were generously supported by Stonehaven Midsummer Beer Happening last summer that raised £10,000 for the appeal.

By pledging your support today, you can help raise the £900,000* needed to make the new Stonehaven RNLI Lifeboat Station a reality.

If you would like to support the new station appeal for Stonehaven RNLI, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/RNLIstonehavenappeal?utm_source=copyLink&utm_medium=one_page&utm_content=campaign/RNLIstonehavenappeal&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=42788b0fc0874a95a3a75a767a625fb2

Notes to editors

• Stonehaven lifeboat station was established in 2014, but the tradition of lifesaving goes back as far as 1854. To find out more visit: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/stonehaven-lifeboat-station

• *This is the estimated cost of the work required as of March 2023.

• If you would like to support the new station appeal for Stonehaven RNLI, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/RNLIstonehavenappeal?utm_source=copyLink&utm_medium=one_page&utm_content=campaign/RNLIstonehavenappeal&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=42788b0fc0874a95a3a75a767a625fb2

RNLI media contacts

Anna Carlton, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Tom McGuire, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland, 00353 87 476 4436, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

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.

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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.