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Fancy a brew? 4 reasons to make your next cuppa a lifesaver

A wooden table is covered with cups of tea and coffee, as well as plates with sandwiches and cakes. There are hands in shot – one pair of hands is wrapped around a cup of tea. Another hand is reaching for a cupcake, and another hand is pouring tea from a teapot. There is also a Cuppa for the Crew Fundraising Guide on the table. The photo has been taken from a top-down angle. Photo: RNLI/Nathan Williams.

Fancy a brew? 4 reasons to make your next cuppa a lifesaver

Tuesday 27 October 2026

After a long, cold shout, RNLI lifesavers love the comfort of a warm cuppa. Find out how popping your own kettle on can help save lives at sea.

Nothing beats a nice cup of tea. Morning cuppas, relaxing bedtime brews, tea and cake with friends, a hug in a mug after a rainy walk – there’s a cuppa for every occasion.

And tea is a well-respected tradition among our lifesavers too, especially after a cold, wet shout.

Our friends in the French lifeboat service admire our tea-loving tendencies. An article in their magazine Sauvetage highlights the hot water boilers installed on our Shannon class lifeboats, adding affectionately: ‘… at some stations, a boiler is even accompanied by a sign that lists how each crew member likes their tea!'

Coffee plays an important role in RNLI lifesaving too, of course, and is often the launch fuel to tea’s comforting winddown.

It’s fair to say that our crews are pretty fond of a cuppa. So much so that we have our own tea-themed fundraiser: Cuppa for the Crew.

Three people are sitting around a table. On the table is a cake stand filled with cakes, as well as plates covered with cakes, fruit and sweet treats. A man, wearing a blue check shirt, is holding an orange teapot and pouring tea into an orange teacup, which a woman at the table is holding in her right hand. Another woman sitting at the table is holding a piece of cake in her hand, with a napkin in her other hand. — Host your own Cuppa for the Crew event

What is Cuppa for the Crew?

Cuppa for the Crew is a simple, enjoyable way to get people together while raising vital funds for RNLI lifesavers. All you need to do is gather your favourite people for a friendly cuppa this autumn and collect donations from everyone who takes part.

So pop the kettle on, grab some sweet treats (or make your own!) and put on a fundraising event that everyone will be sure to enjoy.

Here are four reasons to get involved and make your next cuppa a lifesaver:

1. You’ll raise lifesaving funds

The money you raise from your Cuppa for the Crew will make a real difference to RNLI crews and those they rescue. From the toughest kit to world-class training, you’ll help fund everything our lifesavers need to continue bringing people home safely. That means you (and your cuppa!) are lifesavers too.

Aberdeen RNLI volunteer crew members standing on the quayside on a sunny day. They are all wearing crew kit. — Your Cuppa for the Crew will help RNLI volunteers save lives

2. Your cuppa, your way

A cup of tea is one of life’s simple pleasures, and there are so many ways to enjoy it. That’s why getting involved with Cuppa for the Crew couldn’t be easier!

You could host a coffee morning at your local community venue, serve up tea and cake at home, or organise an afternoon tea break at work. No matter how you host yours, you’ll be doing something brilliant for a lifesaving cause.

A woman is sitting at a table. A cake stand, plates of cakes and cupcakes, teacups and a teapot are all on the table. The woman, who is smiling, has cut a slice of cake and is lifting it up to place it onto a separate plate. — There are lots of different ways to host your Cuppa event

3. Free fundraising resources and dedicated support

When you sign up for your Cuppa for the Crew, you’ll get your own personalised online fundraising page. You’ll also get a free downloadable fundraising guide, which is packed with helpful advice and tips.

To help you spread the word about your Cuppa event and make it a success, you’ll get a whole suite of useful resources including social media posts, posters, bunting, cake toppers and more.

If you have any questions or need support with planning your event, our friendly fundraising team will be on hand to guide you – one cuppa at a time!

A wooden table is covered with plates of sandwiches, cakes and cupcakes. There are three hands in the shot – all three hands are reaching over to a plate of cupcakes to grab one. To the left of the plate of cupcakes, there is a Cuppa for the Crew Fundraising Guide. The photo has been taken from a top-down angle. — Your fundraising guide includes top tips for boosting donations and fun ideas for your event

4. A wholesome way to boost your mood this autumn

Not only will your event raise money to save lives at sea, but getting together with friends, family or colleagues is a great way to boost your mental health. There’s nothing like a cuppa to bring people together!

And with the weather cooling down and the cosiness of autumn approaching, there couldn’t be a better time to settle down with a warming cup of tea and slice of cake.