New donations help Dart RNLI’s station appeal reach milestone

The Dart RNLI station appeal has recently been awarded a £250,000 grant from The Julia Rausing Trust. Julia was widely known for her commitment to philanthropy and her impactful contributions to a wide range of UK charitable causes. She passed away in 2024. Her husband Hans Rausing established the Julia Rausing Trust in order to make grants in her name, supporting causes she was passionate about.

And on Thursday (25 July), Cllr Guy Pannell, the former chairman of South Hams District Council, presented a cheque of £2,000 to Dart RNLI appeal chairman, and High Sherriff of Devon, Commodore Jake Moores OBE. The money was raised during Mr Pannell’s last year in office as his chosen charity, and will go towards the station appeal.

These donations, in additional to several other recent generous donations and successful fundraising events, take the appeal’s total to a fantastic £850,000.

With £350,000 still to raise, a host of fundraising events are taking place this summer, with the next event on Thursday 8^th August. A summer fete is being held in Royal Avenue Gardens, Dartmouth from 10am. There will be a chance to meet the crew and volunteers, see the D class lifeboat, and enjoy a variety of family fun stalls including face painting, RNLI gifts, cakes and games. Music will be provided by the All Hands On Deck sea shanty band.

Other events include a curry evening, quiz night and river cruise.

John Butler, acting chair of Dart RNLI’s fundraising committee, said: ‘We’re so delighted that the appeal towards funding the new lifeboat station for Dart RNLI is getting ever closer to its target. This is no mean feat and is thanks to the incredible support of our local community and fundraisers, as well as generous legacies and donations from charitable trusts and foundations.’

Building work began earlier in July to convert Ferry View House, the original lifeboat station in the 1800s, into a purpose-built station with modern facilities for Dart RNLI’s volunteer crews. The project is expected to be completed next summer. The current lifeboat station in Coronation Park is a temporary building at the end of its lease, so to continue saving lives, the crew need to relocate to a permanent, purpose-built station, with suitable facilities for the lifesaving volunteers.

John continued: ‘Our appeal will continue to run throughout next year and into 2025, as we strive to raise as much as possible towards the renovation cost. Please support us however you can, we’re working on a variety of fundraising events for the future so watch this space for more information and how you can get involved.’

For more information on the appeal and to donate visit: https://rnli.org/support-us/give-money/give-to-a-special-appeal/dart-local-appeal

We’re still looking for new volunteers to join the team at the Dart RNLI Visitor Centre. For more information visit https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2023/july/26/new-volunteers-needed-at-dartmouth-rnli-visitor-centre

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected]

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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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.