Royal National Lifeboat Institution facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Abbreviation	RNLI
Formation	4 March 1824
Type	Life savers
Legal status	Registered charity
Purpose	To save lives at sea.
Headquarters	Poole, Dorset, England
Region served	United Kingdom Ireland Channel Islands Isle of Man
Chief executive	Mark Dowie
President	Duke of Kent
Main organ	The Lifeboat
Budget (2022)	£221.6 million
Staff (2022)	1,972
Volunteers (2022)	More than 9,700

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a special charity that saves lives at sea. It helps people around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. They also help on some rivers and lakes.

The RNLI started in 1824. It was first called the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck. Soon after, King George IV supported them, so they added "Royal" to their name. They became the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1854.

This charity is based in Poole, England. Most of its money comes from gifts left in wills (65%) and donations (30%). Most of the people who work on the lifeboats are volunteers, meaning they don't get paid. The RNLI has over 400 lifeboats at 238 stations. They also have paid lifeguards who work on nearly 250 beaches. The RNLI gives free safety advice and works with other rescue groups around the world.

History of the RNLI: Saving Lives at Sea

How the RNLI Started

The idea for the RNLI came from William Hillary in 1822. He lived on the Isle of Man and saw many shipwrecks. He wanted a national group to save people from these accidents. At first, the government didn't do much. But with help from important people like King George IV, a public meeting was held in London on March 4, 1824. There, they decided to create the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck.

Memorial in Douglas, Isle of Man to the lifeboat rescue of the sailors from the St George in 1830

The new group had three main goals:

• To give awards (medals or money) to people who rescued others from shipwrecks.
• To give special line-throwing tools to all coastguard and lifeboat stations.
• To provide lifeboats to as many places along the coast as possible.

In the beginning, the RNLI struggled with money. By 1835, their yearly income was very low.

Getting Stronger and Better Lifeboats

Things started to change for the better around 1850. A new leader, Richard Lewis, helped raise a lot more money. By 1882, they were getting over £43,000 a year!

Important naval officers joined the committee, making the operations more organized. Captain John Ross Ward helped design and introduce cork lifejackets for the volunteers.

ON440 RNLB Licensed Victuallers III, a standard self-righter built in 1900

The Duke of Northumberland started a competition to design a better lifeboat. The winning design could use both oars and sails, allowing boats to go further out to sea. James Peake improved this design, and his lifeboats were used for many years.

In 1854, the group changed its name to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). They focused only on saving lives, while another charity helped people who were rescued. The RNLI also started getting a small amount of money from the government, but they stopped this by 1869 when they had enough funds on their own.

In 1886, a sad event happened: 27 lifeboat crew members from Southport and St Annes died during a rescue. This led to a campaign to raise money for the families of volunteers who died. In 1891, the first 'Lifeboat Day' was held in Manchester. Lifeboats were paraded through the streets, and people donated money. This raised over £5,000 in one day!

Lifeboats in the World Wars

1974 postage stamp showing the rescue of the Daunt Lightship crew by the Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936.

The RNLI started using steam-powered lifeboats around 1890. Later, petrol-powered engines became more common. During the First World War (1914-1918), lifeboat crews launched over 1,800 times and saved more than 5,300 people. Many of these rescues were for ships hit by torpedoes or mines.

After the war, the RNLI started building more motor lifeboats. These later used special diesel engines, which were more fuel-efficient and could travel longer distances. By the start of the Second World War in 1939, most of the RNLI's fleet had engines.

During the Second World War (1939-1945), the RNLI faced huge challenges. They saved 6,376 lives during this time.

The Dunkirk Evacuation

A famous event was the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940. Nineteen RNLI lifeboats sailed to Dunkirk to help rescue soldiers. Lifeboats from Ramsgate and Margate went directly to France with their own crews. The Ramsgate crew alone picked up 2,800 troops! The coxswains (captains) of these boats received medals for their bravery. Other lifeboats were sent to Dover and helped ferry soldiers from the beaches.

New Lifeboats and Services

After the wars, lifeboat engines continued to improve. From the 1960s, the RNLI developed faster lifeboats. This meant they could reach 95% of people in trouble within 30 minutes. Some older stations closed, but new ones opened where needed.

As more people started using the sea for fun, the RNLI began using smaller, inflatable rescue boats. The first of these 'D-class' lifeboats were used in 1963. By 1969, they had saved 541 lives. Larger inshore lifeboats, like the 'Atlantic 21', also joined the fleet.

In 1974, the RNLI's main office and workshop moved to Poole. A new training center, the Lifeboat College, opened there in 2004.

Modern Services and Challenges

In the 1990s, the RNLI realized they could do more than just rescue people after accidents. They started campaigns to prevent accidents from happening in the first place. This included giving safety advice to divers, sailors, and other water users.

In May 2001, the RNLI began providing lifeguards on beaches. By the end of that decade, they were helping over 10,000 people each year on 100 beaches. The RNLI also opened its first lifeboat stations on inland waters, like Lough Erne and the River Thames.

In recent years, the RNLI has been involved in rescuing migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. The British government has praised their "vital work." The RNLI's mission is to help anyone in danger at sea, without judging them. In 2022, only 3% of their call-outs were for migrant rescues, but they saved 108 lives in those situations.

Rescues and Medals for Bravery

Amazing Rescues and Lives Saved

The RNLI has saved many lives since it started. In its first year (1824), 124 lives were saved. By the end of the 1800s, this number grew to over 41,000! Between 1900 and 1999, they saved over 91,000 people. In 2022, 389 lives were saved, and another 16,476 people were helped.

Suevic on the rocks, 1907

The biggest rescue in RNLI history happened on March 17, 1907. The large ship SS Suevic hit rocks near Lizard Point. In a strong storm and thick fog, RNLI volunteers rescued all 456 passengers, including 70 babies! Crews from four different stations rowed for 16 hours to save everyone. Six silver RNLI medals were given out for this incredible rescue.

The RNLI's main goal is to save lives. They do not charge money to rescue boats or their cargo. They will tow a boat to safety if needed, but they don't ask for a salvage fee. They do encourage people to donate to their charity.

Losses and Memorials

Sadly, over 600 people have died while serving the RNLI since 1824. These brave individuals put their lives at risk to save others.

A special memorial was built outside the RNLI's headquarters in Poole in 2009. It has William Hillary's motto: with courage, nothing is impossible. The names of all those who have died are carved into it.

Medals for Heroism

Bust of Henry Blogg of Cromer

The RNLI gives gold, silver, and bronze medals to its crews for amazing acts of bravery. They also give out special certificates for important contributions. Up to 2004, they had given out about 150 gold, 1,563 silver, and 791 bronze medals. In 2022, 12 medals were awarded.

The most decorated lifeboatman was Henry Blogg GC BEM. He was the coxswain (captain) at Cromer for 37 years. He received three gold medals and four silver medals, along with other honors. He is known as "The Greatest of all Lifeboatmen."

Many other lifeboat crew members have received multiple medals for their courage, including:

• William Henry Tregidgo (three silver medals)
• Robert Hook (two silver medals)
• Daniel Shea (three silver medals)
• Henry Freeman (two silver medals)
• Richard Evans BEM (one bronze, two gold medals for rescues in hurricanes)
• Daniel Kirkpatrick BEM (three silver medals)
• Brian Bevan MBE (bronze, silver, and gold medals for three rescues in just seven weeks!)

In 2022, Lee Duncan from Trearddur Bay became the first crew member of an Atlantic-class lifeboat to receive the RNLI silver medal for rescuing a surfer in extreme weather. His three crewmates also received bronze medals.

How the RNLI Works

The RNLI is a charity that follows rules set out in a Royal Charter from 1860. It is managed by a board of trustees and an executive team led by the chief executive.

The RNLI divides its work into six main areas:

The main headquarters are in Poole, Dorset. This site includes the Lifeboat Support Centre and the Lifeboat College, where crews are trained. The college has a special pool for survival training and lifeboat simulators. RNLI Ireland has its own office in Swords, County Dublin.

The RNLI has always had support from the Royal Family since it began.

Lifeboat Stations and Boats

Lifeboat station and slipway at Douglas, Isle of Man

In 2022, the RNLI had 238 lifeboat stations around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. Each station has lifeboats that fit its local needs. Some larger boats are kept in the water, while smaller ones are launched using special trolleys and tractors.

Tower Lifeboat Station on the River Thames in London is the busiest RNLI station. In 2013, its crews rescued 372 people and saved 25 lives.

Types of Rescue Craft

The RNLI had 438 lifeboats in 2022. The boats are called 'RNLB' (Royal National Lifeboat) and have an Operation Number for easy identification.

There are two main types of lifeboats:

• All-weather lifeboats (ALBs) are large boats with enclosed cabins. They can go out in any weather and can right themselves if they capsize. Some ALBs carry a small inflatable 'Y-boat' for rescues closer to shore. ALBs can travel at speeds from 17 to 25 knots. Examples include the Mersey, Trent, Severn, Tamar, and Shannon-class classes.
• Inshore lifeboats (ILBs) are smaller, inflatable boats or Rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RIBs). They work closer to the shore and in shallow water. The smallest are 'D-class' and the larger ones are 'B-class' (like the Atlantic 85). Special 'E-boats' are used on the River Thames. All inshore lifeboats are built and maintained at the RNLI's center in Cowes, Isle of Wight.

The RNLI also uses other craft like hovercraft, small inflatable rescue boats, and personal water craft.

• 

  Severn-class ALB

• 

  Tamar-class ALB

• 

  Shannon-class ALB

• 

  B-class ILB

• 

  D-class ILB

People and Their Gear

Lifejackets from different years at the Poole Lifeboat Museum

Most lifeboat crew members (97%) are volunteers. In 2022, there were over 5,700 lifeboat volunteers and more than 4,000 shore crew volunteers. The lifeguard service has paid staff, but also 119 volunteer lifeguards.

In the past, women often helped launch and recover lifeboats. While most lifeboat crews are still men, more and more women are joining the lifeboat and shore crews.

• Elizabeth Hostvedt was the first female inshore crew member in 1969.
• Frances Glody was the first woman on an all-weather lifeboat crew in 1981.
• Aileen Pritchard was the first female crew member to receive a medal for bravery.
• In 2017, Di Bush became the RNLI's first full-time female mechanic, and later the first full-time female coxswain.
• In 2011, Cardigan launched an all-female crew, a first for Wales. In 2022, Cullercoats RNLI also launched an all-female crew.

Lifeboat crews get trained at their stations and at the Lifeboat College in Poole. They wear special safety clothing. Lifejackets have changed over the years, from cork to kapok, and now modern inflatable ones.

Water Safety Advice

A Sea Safety event outside the former lifeboat station at Watchet

Volunteers (922 in 2022) give water safety advice and training to many different people, from school children to commercial boat users.

The RNLI shares safety tips in person and in books. They help people who use boats or beaches, as well as specific groups like divers and kayakers. They also teach young people about sea and beach safety.

International Help

The RNLI has helped other countries during disasters. For example, they sent lifeboats and crews to Bangladesh during floods in 1970 and 1988, to Mozambique in 2000, and to Guyana in 2005.

When the RNLI replaces its older lifeboats with newer ones, the old boats are often sold to other countries like Iceland, Uruguay, Chile, and China. The RNLI also helps train people and provides education in many countries.

How the RNLI is Funded

The RNLI is a charity that saves lives at sea. In 2022, they received £221.6 million. Here's where their money came from:

In 2022, the RNLI spent £188 million on its charitable work:

The RNLI has over 700 volunteer groups and 750,000 individual members who help raise money. Many companies and organizations also donate. One big supporter is 'The Lifeboat Fund', which has provided 53 lifeboats since 1886.

Volunteers run shops and collect money in towns and at open days. The RNLI also has collection boxes, some of which are very old and historic!

RNLI Museums and History

The RNLI has a special Heritage Trust that looks after its old objects and records. They run several museums:

• Historic Lifeboat Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard (where many old lifeboats are kept).
• Grace Darling Museum in Bamburgh (about the famous rescuer Grace Darling).
• Henry Blogg Museum in Cromer (about the most decorated lifeboatman, Henry Blogg).
• RNLI Whitby Museum in Whitby.
• RNLI Zetland Museum in Cleveland (home to the world's oldest intact lifeboat).

Many old lifeboats have been saved by people who love them. They often appear at special events.

The RNLI in Media

Newspapers often report on lifeboat rescues and stories. Since the 1890s, they have also helped raise money for the RNLI.

The first time an RNLI lifeboat was on television was in 1947. Since then, many TV shows have been made about lifeboats and their brave crews. The popular children's show Blue Peter has even helped raise money to buy many lifeboats!

The BBC series Saving Lives at Sea, which started in 2016, shows real-life rescues and the work of the RNLI.

The Life-Boat Journal

The RNLI started publishing a magazine called The Life-Boat in 1852. It shared information about lifeboats, shipwrecks, rescues, and awards given for bravery. It has changed names a few times but is still published today.

The RNLI Flag

The RNLI flag was designed in 1884 by Leonora Preston after her brother was rescued. It has a Saint George's Cross with red letters showing the charity's name. The flag also includes a crown and an anchor, showing the RNLI's connection to the Royal Family and the sea. This flag is flown at every lifeboat station.

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See also

In Spanish: Royal National Lifeboat Institution para niños