RNLI fundraising volunteer Suresh Bharwaney collecting at Waterloo train station.

Be a fundraising and events volunteer

RNLI/Nathan Williams

Rally support, raise vital funds and join our fundraising volunteer crew

Lifesaving depends on people giving up their time and energy – people just like you. Our volunteers raise vital funds to pay for things like kit and training to keep volunteer crews safe. As part of our fundraising volunteer crew you’ll be helping to raise vital funds too.

As a fundraising volunteer you decide how much time to give, and when. That way you can fit your RNLI volunteering around your other commitments. And, like your fundraising crew mates, you’ll get a warm glow from knowing you are helping to save every one.

Why we need you

£191M/€221M Cost of saving lives at sea in 2023

355 Lives saved by lifeboat crews and lifeguards in 2023

94% Proportion of RNLI income from donations and legacies in 2023

5 Great reasons to join our fundraising volunteer crew

What's in it for you?

  1. Have fun, meet new people and become part of a great community.
  2. Join a motivated and enthusiastic team who are making a difference and feeling good by giving something back.
  3. Learn new skills – we’ll give you all the training and support you need to carry out your role effectively.
  4. Fit volunteering around your other commitments for maximum flexibility.
  5. If you’re worried about travel costs and other out-of-pocket expenses, we can even cover those too. Check our volunteer expenses policy for exact details.

What volunteer roles can you do?

Lead roles

These roles guide and motivate fundraising activities in the community, while having fun and making new friends. These roles include branch chair, fundraising group leader and volunteer fundraising coordinator.

Team roles

Join a fundraising team to help raise funds and the profile of the RNLI in your community. These roles include team members, branch members and volunteer fundraisers.

Retail roles

Some fundraising teams have a designated retail role. They sell a range of RNLI gifts at different events and seek new retail opportunities, to raise funds to save lives at sea.

Finance roles

Our finance roles look after our fundraising teams’ money and accounts, and include the roles of treasurer and finance coordinator.

What events roles can you do?

Event organiser/assistant

Help organise and support with a variety of different activities from coffee mornings to quizzes, and reindeer runs to raft races.

Cheerer

Motivate our race competitors raising funds for the RNLI by cheering them on along the route at different fundraising events throughout the year.

Meet our fundraising and events crew

  • Fundraising Volunteer Cian Mathews standing by a bay wearing his fundraising volunteer crew polo shirt
    • Video
    • Video
    Volunteer Fundraising RNLI Branch Chair Cian Matthews
    Cian is our fundraising chair in Littlehampton. Watch the video to find out why he volunteers.
  • Fundraising Volunteer Nicola
    • Video
    • Video
    Volunteer Fundraising RNLI Branch Secretary Nicola Barker-Harrison
    Nicola is our fundraising secretary in Kinghorn. Watch the video to find out why she volunteers.
  • Fundraising Volunteer Chris Copeland with lifeboats in the background wearing his fundraising volunteer crew polo shirt
    • Video
    • Video
    Volunteer Fundraising RNLI Branch Chair Chris Copeland
    Chris is our fundraising chair in Sherborne. Watch the video to find out why he volunteers.

Current fundraising and events volunteer opportunities

See all opportunities

Can't find what you're looking for?

We have more ways for you to find the perfect volunteering role

We are one crew image of different face shots of RNLI volunteers and staff

Volunteer opportunities

Take a look at our latest volunteer vacancies to see where your skills, time and passion can help the RNLI.
Mixed group of RNLI fundraisers walking and running on a promenade

opportunity alert

Set up an opportunity alert and we'll email you when we advertise a vacancy that matches your preferences.
An RNLI shop volunteer stands outside of an RNLI shop holding a trio of RNLI teddy bears.

Express your interest

Let us know what how and where you'd like to volunteer and we can help you find the right role.
Buy RNLI gifts and souvenirs from our Swanage shop and help save lives at sea.

be a shop volunteer

Provide a friendly, welcoming service selling RNLI charity souvenirs and gifts as a shop volunteer. 
Group shot of Anstruther operational volunteer crew members

be a lifeboat station volunteer

From the shore to the lifeboat, there are a variety of volunteer roles at our lifeboat stations.
A female RNLI Education volunteer giving prevention and safety advice to the children of Coldfall primary School in London.

be a water safety volunteer 

Help make sure everyone gets to go home safely through education and water safety advice.
Cheerers stood behind railings supporting the RNLI at the London Marathon

quick ways to volunteer

Fancy volunteering but don’t have the time to commit to a role? Find our quick and easy ways to support here.