Step aboard Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI lifeboats at summer fundraiser

The fundraising community event takes place from 10am until 4pm at Hoylake Lifeboat Station on North Parade, with all proceeds supporting the lifesaving charity. Visitors will have the chance to tour Hoylake RNLI’s all-weather Shannon class lifeboat and hovercraft and West Kirby RNLI’s inshore IB1 lifeboat.

The stations’ launch and recovery vehicles will also be on display, including Hoylake’s Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS) and West Kirby’s Hagglund BV206 launch vehicle - the only vehicle of its type based on station in the RNLI.

The RNLI volunteer crews will be showcasing how they work together with their specialist equipment to save lives at sea and around the region’s coast. The Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team will also be displaying their lifesaving kit.

A fantastic range of RNLI gifts and souvenirs will be on sale, including the charity’s ever-popular Christmas cards and calendars. Refreshments will be available including hot drinks and homemade sweet treats.

There will be fantastic prizes to win in a fundraising raffle and tombola and stalls and displays to visit, including from the RNLI Water Safety team, Birkenhead Kennels, and second-hand maritime books. A range of classic cars and a miniature steam railway will also be on show.

With public parking limited on North Parade, visitors are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport where possible.

Carron Jones, Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI Branch Fundraising Chair, said:

‘This really special event gives our local lifesavers the chance to welcome the community and showcase the lifesaving vessels, equipment and kit they use to save lives at sea.’

‘Our Meet & Greet Day is a free, family-friendly event with plenty of brilliant ways to learn more about the RNLI’s lifesaving work and enjoy a fun day out. There will be refreshments available and if the weather is kind, visitors are welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy the day on our beautiful coast.’

‘Our RNLI shop will be selling some fantastic gifts and souvenirs and there will be range of activities promoting water safety skills as we head into the school summer holidays. We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone along to support Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI’s lifeboat crews.’

In 2025, lifeboats around the UK and Ireland launched over 9,000 times and helped 8,290 people, making it the sixth-busiest year in the charity’s history. A total of 272 lives were saved. But as a charity, the RNLI relies on voluntary donations to power its lifesaving work, which last year cost a total of £196.9 million.

Last year’s Meet & Greet Day raised almost £5,000 to fund the lifesaving work of the RNLI.

If you would like to donate online directly to support the lifeboat stations visit https://fundraise.rnli.org/fundraisers/Hoylake

Notes to editors

Hoylake Lifeboat Station was founded in 1803 and is one of the oldest lifeboat stations in the UK. It operates the Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood and Inshore Rescue Hovercraft Hurley Spirit.

West Kirby Lifeboat station was founded in 1966 and operates the inshore IB1 lifeboat Leonard Pownall. It is the only lifeboat station in the RNLI to operate the Hagglund BV206 all-terrain launch vehicle.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Dan Whiteley, Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 851 316 or email [email protected]

Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]

Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

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