Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild

The life saving work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is funded almost entirely through voluntary donations, subscriptions and legacies.

Fundraising in many RNLI lifeboat stations is organised by a local RNLI Lifeboat Guild or a RNLI Fundraising Committee. In addition, there are many RNLI fundraising guilds and committees located in towns and villages throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

'Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild' has a vibrant fundraising team of men and women that raised £119,828 in 2010 towards the cost of the Station's new boathouse, built to house our new 'Blue Peter V' lifeboat and to provide extra training and other facilities for our volunteer lifeboat crew members.

If you, your club or your organisation would like to make a donation to the RNLI you can do so here;

Or you can donate through 'Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild' by contacting our Honorary Treasurer, Mike Miall, here guild@portaferrylifeboat.com

Photo: RNLI - Jim Brown

Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild raising money in 1999 at the Salt Water Brigg, Kircubbin, during a barbecue

What it takes and costs to save lives

 

In 2020 the RNLI had 238 lifeboat stations throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland which were operated by about 5,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and over 3,500 volunteer shore crew (including station management).

There are 10 RNLI lifeboat stations in Northern Ireland.  These are located at Portrush, Cushendall, Larne, Bangor, Donaghadee, Portaferry, Newcastle, Kilkeel, Carrybridge (Lough Erne) and Eniskillen (Lough Erne).

During 2020, RNLI lifeboats were launched in UK & Irish waters a total of 8,239 times and aided 8,374 people, saving 239 lives. During 2019 there were 1,089 lifeboat launches from the 46 stations around Ireland (including 10 in Northern Ireland) aiding 1,406 people and saving 9 lives.  

In addition, during 2020 RNLI Lifeguards patrolled 248 beaches along the coastline of the UK & Northern Ireland (9 beaches in Northern Ireland) and aided 25,172 individuals, saving 110 lives.

Around 95% of lifeboat crews are volunteers.  All the crew of Portaferry Lifeboat Station are volunteers.  Due to the complexity of all-weather lifeboats such stations require a full-time mechanic to maintain the lifeboat and the crew equipment to the highest of safety standards.

More detailed financial information can be found in the 2020 RNLI Annual Report which can be found here.

To help raise funds there are over 23,000 voluntary community fundraisers and many others who give safety advice, help in RNLI museums, offices, shops and visitor centres.

Fund raising activities of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild have included; coffee mornings, golfing events, treasure hunts, duck derby's, fashion shows, lifeboat dances/balls and sailing and rowing races.

 

Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild officers for 2020/2021 are:

* President - Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow

* Chairman - Mrs Pat Browne

* Honorary Treasurer & Vice Chairman - Mr Mike Miall

* Honorary Secretary - Mrs Kate Rebbeck

* Souvenir Secretary - Mrs Joan Peacock

If you would like to consider joining our friendly team of fundraisers at Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Station, please contact one of our members (if they are known to you or your friends) or alternatively please e-mail us at;

guild@portaferrylifeboat.com

Last update 04/09/21

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