The Lifeboat Fund donates nearly £500,000 to help RNLI save lives at sea

Since it was first formed by a group of civil servants in 1866, The Lifeboat Fund has continuously supported the RNLI. It has provided the charity with 54 new lifeboats, helped refurbish lifeboat stations and lifeboats, funded crew kit and training for volunteers and lifeguards.

In 2025, The Lifeboat Fund contributed £387,577 to be split evenly across two lifeboat station rebuild projects at Dart in Devon and Kirkcudbright in Scotland. It also gave the lifesaving charity £80,000 to be used in its general funds.

John-Paul Marks, Chair of the Lifeboat Fund, said: ‘I’m incredibly proud to have become Chair of The Lifeboat Fund, a charity founded by civil servants with a remarkable history of supporting the RNLI and saving lives at sea. It’s a cause that is very close to my heart.

‘I’m also delighted that in 2025 we’ve made significant contributions to the rebuilds at Dart and Kirkcudbright lifeboat stations. These projects will strengthen the RNLI’s lifesaving capability for years to come, and I’m grateful to all the trustees, fundraisers, and supporters who made this possible.’

Volunteers at Dart Lifeboat Station began operating from their new building at the beginning of December 2025. The D class inshore lifeboat is now housed in a purpose-built boathouse, with the station now fully operational from a state-of-the-art facility in Dartmouth.

Meanwhile, Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station is undergoing an extensive rebuild and extension on its boathouse, providing modern facilities for its volunteers, including a workshop and separate changing facilities. The work is due to be completed by the summer.

The funds will help RNLI volunteers continue to save lives at sea as the charity enters its third decade.

Peter Sparkes, RNLI Chief Executive, said: ‘We are extremely grateful The Communications and Public Service Lifeboat Fund has chosen to support the development of these two lifeboat stations with the funds raised in 2025, providing state-of-the-art facilities for our volunteer crews.

‘The Lifeboat Fund has generously supported the RNLI since 1866, providing vital funds to keep our volunteers safe when they risk their lives to assist others, making it the RNLI’s longest-standing contributor and single biggest donor.’

Notes to editors

· High-res images of The Duke of Edinburgh Shannon all-weather lifeboat and Mr Eric Sharpe D Class inshore lifeboat, both funded by The Lifeboat Fund, can be downloaded here.

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Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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