Portrush RNLI fundraiser nominated for top award.

Portrush RNLI fundraiser and RNLI Shop manager John Martin was invited to the Titanic Hotel Belfast recently as he had been nominated in the category of Fundraising Volunteer of the Year under the auspices of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland.

John volunteers as the Manager of the highest-earning RNLI shop in Northern Ireland and, until recently, also served as Chair of the highest earning fundraising branch in Northern Ireland. These achievements, entirely voluntary, make it no exaggeration to call John a true lifesaver.

To date since joining the Portrush and Portstewart Fundraising Branch in 2014, John has been an active part in raising £876,870.81 for the RNLI. This total of life saving funds would not be possible without his motivation to bring the RNLI front and centre to the community of Portrush. He has a special way of involving the locality be that through using Portrush Yacht Club, the golf clubs, pubs, and social spaces for fundraising activity venues, or encouraging members of these establishments to come together for events like quizzes, wine tastings, fish supper nights, and mayday mile walks. A month does not go by in Portrush social calendar without a RNLI fundraising event led by him, and in turn the local community continue to show generosity and support towards the RNLI.

Under John’s management, in 2023, the shop reached the highest sales in the area coming in at £63,293, despite the shop being closed for the first three months of the year due to renovation works. He made this possible by taking the shop out into the community in pop-up form on his own initiative, allowing people the chance to buy a life saving gift even though the shop building was shut. Last year, 2024, the shop reached £72,000, its highest sales income ever. It is John’s dedication to the RNLI that proves the Lifeboat Shop moniker ‘more than a shop’ to be true.

However, the impact that John has had on the branch has proved to be far more than financial. With his support and encouragement for other volunteers radiating throughout the community. 2020 was a tough time for many and being a small seaside community, Portrush was no exception. One local was laid off during lockdown however being aware of the RNLI community in Portrush, and knowing how many different activities they were still managing to do in line with the restrictions at the time, they decided to volunteer in the shop. This volunteer credits John for boosting their confidence by creating a welcoming environment through his kindness and caring this volunteer continues to give their time alongside their new full-time employment.

Kirstin Bews RNLI Community Fundraising Manager for Northern Ireland said;-

John is quite simply and exceptional man and a joy to work with. Nothing is too much trouble, and we are delighted that he was nominated for this prestigious award’

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.