The difference you make

Thanks to the support of brilliant people like you, our lifeboat crews aided an average of 29 people a day in 2023. Our lifeguards aided 19,979 people.

The seas, beaches and waterways watched over by our lifesavers are enjoyed by millions of people every year. But the water remains an unpredictable environment that can catch people out. People will always need our help and – thanks to you – we will always be there to answer that call.

9,192 lifeboat launches

In 2023, RNLI lifeboat crews launched 9,192 times around the coasts of the UK and Ireland, aiding an average of 29 people a day. It's clear that our volunteer lifesavers are still needed to help keep our coastline safe.

As our frontline rescue service continued to keep thousands safe, we also looked at how to support and sustain this lifesaving work long into the future.

Being an RNLI lifesaver takes huge personal commitment and sacrifice from our volunteers, and you help to keep them safe by equipping them with everything they need for the demands they face.

Aiding 19,979 beachgoers

We provided lifeguard cover on 239 UK and Channel Island beaches in 2023. Our lifeguards aided 19,979 people and responded to 14,213 incidents.

For the latest information, please visit our beach safety page.

A female RNLI lifeguard is on a rescue board in the sea, paddling away from the shore, with the beach and cliffs visible in the background — RNLI lifeguards are ready to save lives at a moment's notice

Drowning prevention

In 2023, your support also helped us reach people with water safety messages, preventing them from getting into trouble in the water in the first place.

Water safety volunteers continued teaching young people lifesaving skills, and RNLI lifeguards gave water safety advice to 118,485 schoolchildren.

Over 14,000 young people took part in Swim Safe. This outdoor swimming session teaches children skills that help them stay safe in and around open water.

Every other minute, someone around the world drowns. That's why, in 2023, we continued to work with international partners to help prevent drowning. In Bangladesh, we helped 9,000 children learn swim survival skills. We also kept more than 11,000 young children safe through community-based creches.