
Fulfilling careers in fundraising beckon as RNLI opens applications
‘I wake up in the morning feeling excited and can’t wait to see what the day will bring.’
Applications are now open to become one of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) face-to-face fundraisers. This vital role includes sharing safety messages with the public and encouraging new supporters to sign up and donate to the lifesaving charity.
A role within the RNLI’s face-to-face fundraising team offers flexible working in some great coastal locations, with fundraisers receiving competitive rates of pay whilst developing valuable skills for life.
One person who has experienced first-hand the benefits that a role as a face-to-face fundraiser can bring is Fern Jones. Fern, who began working as a fundraiser in 2018, has since progressed to the role of Deputy Face-to-Face Manager, supporting her team working on some of the UK’s most popular beaches.
‘From my experience of sailing, I’ve always known about the RNLI and how important it is to have this incredible network of lifesavers ready to save every one they can,’ says Fern. ‘So it was an incredible opportunity to find a job that not only meant a summer working on the beach, but would also mean I was doing something really rewarding, helping to share safety advice and raise important funds.
‘I was excited, and nervous, when I first got the job, but in no time at all I made friends and was learning so much. As a fundraiser you are given coaching and advice throughout the summer – I can’t tell you how much my confidence grew in those first few weeks at the beach.’
And it’s not ‘just’ a summer job – many fundraisers, like Fern, go on to put those skills to use in more senior fundraising roles and beyond.
Fern says: ‘It’s been fantastic to be recognised for the efforts I have put in as a Face-to-Face fundraiser. I’m now working as a Deputy Face-to-Face Manager, helping to support our teams on the beaches and providing them with coaching, which is a real privilege.
‘By being enthusiastic and having a ‘can do’ attitude, I’ve been able to achieve things I would have been so nervous about before joining the team. The RNLI is an incredible charity to work for and I want to continue my journey here.’
Lucy Hampson, Senior Face-to-Face Fundraising Manager at the RNLI, said: ‘Our face-to-face fundraiser roles are the perfect fit for anyone who is friendly, energetic and able to talk to anyone. We provide full, high-quality training to make sure that all our fundraisers feel confident and capable of being a lifesaving ambassador.’
And for Fern, it’s a job that has led to a full-time career with the lifesaving charity:
‘I would never have thought back in 2018 that the summer job I’d been encouraged to apply for would turn into such a passion.
‘If anyone is considering become a Face-to-Face Fundraiser, I say just do it! I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t enjoyed it. It’s such a great job to have. I wake up in the morning feeling excited and can’t wait to see what the day will bring. You’ll never regret going for it, but you’ll regret it if you don’t!’
This year, the lifesaving charity is looking to recruit around 200 face-to-face fundraisers to join Fern and her team, with part-time, seasonal and year-round opportunities available. If you are dynamic, engaging and have great interpersonal skills, this could be the role for you – acting as an ambassador for the RNLI and helping to save lives at sea, whether by delivering lifesaving safety messaging to help people enjoy the beach safely, or inspiring new supporters to donate to the charity.
RNLI face-to-face fundraising vacancies are available across the UK and Ireland with a range of hours from part- to full-time. To apply or find out more information, visit RNLI.org/FundraiserJobs
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 146,000 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.