Montrose RNLI volunteers roll up their sleeves to save lives on land

The crew used their usual Monday night training session to take part in this life-saving initiative. The idea was proposed by Jen Crews, Lifeboat Crew and Water Safety Officer, who wanted to inspire her crew and the wider community to donate.

Several crew members gave blood for the first time, while others marked significant milestones: Graeme donated for the 32nd time, Sally for the 20th, and Jen for her 4th donation in Scotland.

Jen said:

"As a regular blood donor I know the blood stock levels can be really low at times, and every donation makes a genuine and life-changing difference. I was thinking about how to encourage more people to donate so I raised the idea to our crew, and it's brilliant to see so many of our crew signing up. We train to save lives at sea, but that shouldn't mean that's where we stop helping people. If you're considering a New Year's resolution or just want to make a difference, giving blood is an easy and rewarding way to achieve this. The staff are wonderful, it's painless, and the whole process is usually done within an hour."

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) was thrilled to welcome the RNLI crew and highlighted how important it is to have more people donating blood in Scotland. By taking part, the Montrose crew are helping to raise awareness and inspire others in the community to give this life-saving gift.

Gwen Fenton, Donor Recruitment & Publicity Officer at SNBTS, added:

"We are incredibly grateful to the RNLI Montrose volunteers for their support in helping us raise awareness of the importance of blood donation. RNLI volunteers and crew are lifesavers every day, saving lives at sea, and by giving blood they’re saving lives on land too. Their commitment to giving blood at the Town Hall, Montrose on 5th January 2026, powerfully reflects that same dedication to saving lives in another way. With the number of people actively donating blood having fallen from around 3% of the population to under 2%, the support of organisations like the RNLI is vital in inspiring more people across Scotland to register and give blood."

By taking part, the Montrose crew showed that their life-saving mission doesn’t stop at the coastline. Their actions serve as an inspiring example of how simple steps, like giving blood, can make a real difference in the community.

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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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.