RCA X RNLI community collaboration project

Collaborating and partnering with different groups and organisations pushes us to think outside of the box and continue to develop and grow as a charity that has, so far, lasted the test of time! These collaborations and partnerships mean our important lifesaving work can have a greater impact and we can work towards our mission to save every one.

The Royal College of Art (RCA) is a public research university based in London who we’ve collaborated with before on projects centred around sustainability and design. These projects have included how to extend the life of our old lifesaving equipment and recycling RNLI waste to save it from landfill, helping us to reach our goal of no waste to landfill by 2030 - which is just one of the RNLI’s environmental ambitions.

This year the RCA is looking to connect and collaborate with you, our RNLI volunteers, as part of the 2022/2023 RCA Grand Challenge.

What is the RCA Grand Challenge?

The RCA Grand Challenge is a design project briefed to around 500 RCA postgraduate students each year, to tackle key global challenges through collaboration. The aim of this year’s challenge is to explore the ways design can get communities to come together to work towards innovative solutions to increasing the health, productivity and sustainability of the world’s oceans.

Why is the RCA collaborating with the RNLI?

Many of us who volunteer or work (or both) for the RNLI are both directly and indirectly linked to water – we are the charity that saves lives at sea. In this year’s Grand Challenge, we intend to study the diversity of the UK coastline in terms of people and the environment. So the RCA approached us specifically for this research collaboration, wanting to work with people who consider themselves to live in a coastal community or near water.

For the Grand Challenge the RCA students will be assigned a geographic location and given the contact details of an RNLI person with whom to connect, focusing their research within that specific location.

Do I need to know about ocean sustainability to put my name forward?

Absolutely not, you don’t need to be an ocean sustainability expert to put your name forward. We're looking for motivated people with local knowledge and experience of coastal issues and opportunities local to you. If you are an RNLI volunteer or staff member you are welcome to apply. The students taking part in the Grand Challenge are hoping to connect with RNLI people from a variety of backgrounds, RNLI roles and experiences.

Do I need to be based at the coast to take part?

We are looking for RNLI people who live on or near to the coast, who are interested to discuss and further explore some of the challenges faced in their local area, to get a deeper understanding of their situation, needs and motivations.

As the students may be required to travel to their locations on restricted budgets, we are only looking for applications from RNLI volunteers and staff based in mainland UK.

What will be required of me to take part?

In order to take part, you will need to be available for approximately 3 hours during the month of January 2023 – when the project will be taking place. These 3 hours may be broken up into smaller chunks depending on what works for you and what is decided between you and the students you connect with.

Although the RCA is based in London, the students taking part in the challenge are based across a variety of locations. Your initial contact with the students will be via email, with some students coming to visit their locations during the research. If you are selected to take part you will not be required to travel.

How do I register my interest?

If you would like to put your name forward, please fill in the form below with your details. If there are any dates in January that you are not available for, or any unsuitable times you cannot be contacted – please state this information in the application form.

RCA Grand Challenge Application Form

Closing date for applications is 5pm on Thursday 15 December.

Share with your fellow RNLI people

Please spread the word about this opportunity with your fellow RNLI volunteers and teams! If you would like to know anymore information about this, please contact [email protected].

Thank you.