What makes a lifesaving legend?
You do

Generations before us never gave up. Neither will we

‘In the 1880s, my great-great-great-grandad Thomas and his crew put themselves at the mercy of the sea in an open rowing boat to rescue those in peril. They were lifesaving legends – saving countless people through epic storms.

‘I’m proud to continue my family tradition as an RNLI volunteer. So is my dad, Mike, who manages our lifeboat station. He was a crew member himself, before passing the baton to me. We do it because people still get into trouble today. And crews like ours are still determined to save them. But, as a charity, we can’t do it alone. This Christmas, we're relying on donations from kind people like you. It's your support that enables us to launch whenever the call comes.’ Luke Picknett, Volunteer Crew, Redcar RNLI

The Picknetts' RNLI family tree

Frightened people will need us this winter, and we need you

A lot has changed since great-great-great-grandad Thomas's day. But the unpredictability of the sea hasn’t. As we move into our 200th year, you can give volunteer crews like ours the training and kit we need to bring every one home safely – and reunite more people with their families.

Your donation will save lives in so many ways. In 2022, for every £1/€1 spent on charitable activities, 57p/57c was on lifeboats, property and equipment; 26p/26c on running the lifeboat service; 11p/11c on lifeguard rescue; 4p/4c on safety, education and awareness; and 2p/2c on international drowning prevention.