Southwold RNLI receives generous donation

The Christmas Day swim saw 420 swimmers bravely dip in the North Sea, watched by a large crowd and with crew from Southwold RNLI in attendance as members of the safety team. The event raised over £10,000 which was divided between three charities.

In a presentation event held at Southwold Sailing Club, Colin Coe, President of Blyth Valley Rotary presented a cheque for £3,200 to the Chair of Southwold & Dunwich RNLI Fundraisers, Lisa Cooper Dann.

Lisa said: 'The Blyth Valley Rotary Christmas Day swim is an annual tradition in Southwold; an occasion enjoyed by many. A big thank to Blyth Valley Rotary for choosing us in our 200th year as one of the three charities and to the kind volunteers that pause their Christmas celebrations in order for us to enjoy the exhilarating cold water of the North Sea. This money donated helps to keep our station operational so we can all enjoy our coastline throughout the year so thank you.'

This donation follows a record breaking year of fundraising in 2024, the RNLI's 200th year, where the work of the Southwold & Dunwich Fundraisers, raised over £40,000.

In recognition of this remarkable accomplishment Lisa Cooper Dann was presented with the RNLI's Achievement in Volunteering award at the crew's annual dinner in January.

Southwold Lifeboat Operations Manager, Simon Hazelgrove commented: 'Lisa’s hard work over recent years reached new heights last year with the Southwold lifeboat ball; an amazing evening that thrilled all who went. The money raised from this along with other fundraising activities took the annual total higher than it had ever been before. Lisa is a powerhouse of energy, confident leader and an absolute joy to have on the team.'

The volunteer fundraisers work tirelessly throughout the year and the events keep coming, with a quiz night on Friday March 7th at Reydon Village Hall. See the poster for full details or email: [email protected] to enter.

The team at Southwold is always on the lookout for volunteers to help with fundraising and is currently looking for someone to join the existing team in the role of Lifeboat Treasurer, full details here

RNLI Media contacts
For more information, please contact Jeremy Taylor, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [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 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok 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.