Saving Lives at Sea attracts 21,738 to Hastings Lifeboat Station

Visitors included 51 pre-booked groups alongside 19,325 walk-ins, many discovering for the first time that they could view the lifeboats and learn about the public-funded charity and the dedicated volunteers at the station.

Following the record-breaking bicentenary year in 2024, interest in the station remains strong, and 13 group visits are already booked for 2026. Pre-arranged visits often involve schools and youth groups such as the Scouts, Marine Cadets, and international student groups. Pre-booking allows guides to showcase the station’s two lifeboats: the Shannon class all-weather lifeboat and the D-class inshore lifeboat, while also teaching visitors about lifesaving, water safety, and the RNLI’s mission.

Walk-in visitors can explore the all-weather lifeboat from the viewing gantry, which features interactive screens and children’s activities that bring the RNLI’s lifesaving work to life. Popular questions include how the lifeboat exits its relatively low boathouse doorway, when it last launched, and how the RNLI is funded. Volunteer crew, guides, and the shop team are on hand to explain that the RNLI provides a 24/7 lifesaving search and rescue service, funded entirely by public donations.

The station’s volunteers work together to make every visit memorable. Beyond the station, the team visits local care homes, community groups, and charitable organisations within a 10-mile radius, extending the lifesaving message and inspiring more people to learn about the RNLI’s work.

Anyone keen to arrange a visit can pop into the station or email the Lifeboat Station Visits Officers, Judith Collins and Annette Veness, to find out more about experiencing the station and discovering the lifesaving work of the RNLI.

Email: [email protected]