RNLI anticipates role confusion over Coastguard strike
Howard Lake | 21 January 2008 | News
The RNLI is concerned that misunderstandings over the roles of the charity and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will adversely affect its ‘SOS Day’ national fundraising day this coming Friday.
There have been several instances where the respective roles of the RNLI and HM Coastguard have been confused by the media. Fundraising and communications director David Brann said: “Our volunteers have spent months preparing for this event, but if the public think we are part of the coastguard and part of any strike action, they will not support our fundraising. That’s why it is so important to use that our position is made clear and the selfless lifesaving actions of our lifeboat volunteers, such as in saving eight crew from the sinking Ice Prince are accurately reported.”
HM Coastguard has a statutory responsibility to initiate and co-ordinate search and rescue around the coastline of the UK. It has promised the RNLI that it will put in place contingency plans to ensure the communications chain to RNLI crews is safeguarded.
SOS day will see individuals, schools, offices and others take part in fundraising activities around the country.
www.rnli.org.uk
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.