Kirkcudbright RNLI scoops top fundraising award
Community fundraisers for the RNLI have won a major national award after raising £120,000 in only 12 months.
Community fundraisers for the RNLI have won a major national award after raising £120,000 in only 12 months.
The charity’s volunteers in Kirkcudbright had set themselves an ambitious target of raising £50,000 towards the £1m-plus costs of upgrading their inshore lifeboat station.
But within six months they had raised £60,000 and then doubled that in the next six months.
Their impressive efforts won them the award of Best Use of Community Fundraising Initiative at the annual awards ceremony in Glasgow by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Scotland.
In 2024 the RNLI won the fundraising team of the year award. After the ceremony on 23 September, Paul McKeown, Fundraising and Partnership Lead for the RNLI in Scotland, said: ‘We are incredibly proud of our volunteers in Kirkcudbright for receiving this well-deserved recognition.
‘Their dedication and tireless efforts have helped make a real difference and brought the community together to support their new lifeboat station. Congratulations to each and every one of them.’
He added that the fundraisers have been blown away by the outpouring of support shown by the community. On average the fundraisers bring in about £7,000 annually.
‘Thanks to their efforts, they have helped create the most successful community fundraising appeal the RNLI has ever experienced for a new lifeboat station in Scotland,’ said Mr McKeown.
Work has now started on the modernisation of the lifeboat station which is more than 130 years old and lies four miles down river from the town.
It is one of the oldest RNLI lifeboat stations in Scotland and lacks basic amenities such as heating, showers and an inside toilet.
Volunteer crew member, Betsey Jameson summed up the problems by saying: ‘When you come off a shout you’re cold and you stay cold, especially at night. I’m looking forward to having separate changing rooms and an inside loo.’
However, the tucked-away location of the lifeboat station made it seem remote from the town and even some fundraisers, prior to the appeal, had never set foot inside the tiny Victorian building.
The appeal was launched in 2024 with the aim of ensuring that the volunteer crew would have the facilities they require to help them to continue saving lives at sea.
Following extensive media exposure, local organisations, groups and businesses came forward with offers of help and ideas to support the volunteers with their fundraising.
Fundraising events included:
- RNLI was the theme for the Annual Kirkcudbright arts and crafts trail
- Businesses in Kirkcudbright decorated their shop fronts in support of the appeal
- Local choirs put on concerts
- Kirkcudbright Tractor parade raised funds for the appeal
- Individuals walked, ran and swam in a variety of challenges
- Monthly coffee mornings were held
- Historic walks and wine tasting took place
- Raffles and collections were organised
Local clubs, including sailing, football, golf and bowling clubs held fundraisers – and an ABBA tribute night was organised by RNLI volunteers.
To reduce the cost associated with fundraising, the fundraising group focused on asking others to fundraise in a way that they could wave their costs, given the significance of the project for the local community.
Over 30 volunteers assisted with the appeal and it also helped foster a real sense of teamwork and camaraderie amongst the group, bringing them together for a common goal.
There is still an opportunity to support the fundraising appeal for the new lifeboat station in Kirkcudbright. Get in touch directly with the lifeboat station, follow their social media for upcoming events or donate by visiting rnli.org/kirkcudbrightappeal
RNLI Media Contacts:
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
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
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