2014 Report published
The Lifeboat Fund’s Report and Financial Statements for calendar year 2014 are now available. These tell the story of 2014 and April 2015’s AGM.
The year 2014 featured: lifesaving, development of our fundraising capacity and, of course, fundraising itself!
The Lifeboat Fund’s lifeboats in the RNLI fleet gave excellent service again in 2014, rescuing 368 people - eight of whom owe their lives to their brave rescuers.
With the help of a fundraiser, seconded by the RNLI, we set about:
- building a new website compatible with the full range of communications media used by existing and potential donors;
-
producing new fundraising materials with RNLI help;
-
acquiring a database to help build relationships with supporters;
-
embarking on payroll giving campaigns; and
-
promoting online shopping as a route for raising donations that cost supporters nothing!
The traditional appeal raised over £60,000 – an increase on 2013, thanks to our supporters’ generosity and hard work. Along with payroll and pension payroll-giving, legacies and money from reserves, we were able to hand over to the RNLI £280,800 to support crew training. The charity proudly maintains its position as the RNLI’s longest-serving supporter and one of its biggest single contributors.
At the 2015 AGM, we were thrilled to welcome ‘on board’: Admiral Sir George Zambellas, the First Sea Lord, as our Vice Patron; three new Trustees, including Home Office Permanent Secretary Mark Sedwill, as a Deputy Chair; and James Warren, our new fundraiser, bringing robust experience of raising donations, advocacy and events management from the RNLI. Ian Dalton of BT Global Services has also become a Patron of the 150th Anniversary Appeal. These new arrivals are great news for the cause and their support is hugely appreciated.
Now The Lifeboat Fund has launched its 150th Anniversary Appeal, all energy is focused on raising £1.1m for a new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, so the crew at RNLI Wells-next-the-Sea can continue saving lives for many years to come.
The Appeal is the charity’s most ambitious to-date and we are incredibly grateful to all who help us towards our goal.
Photo: Trustees at the 2015 AGM