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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea

Powered by the kindness of people like you
lifeguard on the lookout at the beach

Find your nearest lifeguarded beach

Find your nearest beach
Photo of a busy beach in Boscombe during the summer lifeguard season.

Keep safe in and around the water

Stay safe this summer

The RNLI's lifesaving mission

Anyone can drown. No one should. Here’s how we’re working to save lives right now:

Aerial drone shot of St Marys Severn class all-weather lifeboat The Whiteheads 17-11 at sea.

Lifeboats

Our lifeboat crews are ready to launch to the rescue 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whenever the call comes in, they are ready to answer.
A female lifeguard wearing a helmet, buoyancy aid and wetsuit rides a rescue watercraft across grey seas. She reaches out towards a casualty off screen.

Lifeguards

Our lifeguards keep thousands of people safe at the coast every summer. They share beach safety advice - and are ready to rescue if needed.
Simulation of a man drowning incident. Casualty is waving to lifeguards for help.

Water safety

Our water safety teams share advice with people of all ages, to help keep them safe.
Faisal (11) and Jamal (18) fish on the floodwaters after a monsoon. Cox s Bazar. Bangladesh. One inch of water international project.

International

Our international teams work with communities most at risk from drowning to share expertise and advice on how to keep people safe from harm.
Portrait of volunteer Sam Smith
It’s truly a huge privilege to be a part of the crew making a real difference in someone's darkest hour
Sam Smith, volunteer crew member at Newhaven RNLI

WE ARE LIFEGUARDS podcast

A Severn class all-weather lifeboat battles through a wave on rough stormy seas

Listen to our podcast exploring everything you need to know about being an RNLI beach lifeguard. Part of our lifeguard 25th anniversary celebrations.

Listen now
A Severn class all-weather lifeboat battles through a wave on rough stormy seas

For every £1/€1 donated

RNLI/Nigel Millard

54p/54c helps equip volunteers with the lifeboats, lifeboat stations and rescue equipment they need to save lives at sea quickly, safely and effectively.
28p/28c helps us run our 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service to save those in trouble at sea.
12p/12c helps our lifeguards prevent accidents before they happen and respond instantly when they do.
4p/4c helps our volunteers educate, raise awareness and keep people safe.
2p/2c helps towards international drowning prevention.
Data taken from 2024 figures

How your donations save lives

Our lifesavers rely on the kindness of people like you to provide everything they need - because the RNLI is a charity independent of the government.

Stories featuring RNLI lifesavers

All stories
A portrait of Euan, who was rescued by the RNLI, sitting at the beach. He’s staring directly at the camera. Photo: RNLI/James Moffatt.

'It was like trying to swim on a treadmill': Euan's story

Close your eyes and imagine that you’re swimming in the sea, trying to get back to shore. But rather than moving forwards, you’re on a treadmill and going nowhere. Does it feel terrifying? That’s how Euan and his brother felt when they got caught in a powerful rip current at Longsands Beach last May.
Read more
An all-weather lifeboat at sea travelling from right to left, with a white motorboat in the background giving off plumes of black smoke.

Volunteers save trapped sailors from burning boat

When a motorboat crew were trapped aboard their burning craft, Dún Laoghaire lifeboat volunteers headed to their aid within minutes.
Read more
Teignmouth lifeboat crew and shore crew in their boathouse. Photo: RNLI/Nigel Millard.

Your first shout as shore crew

A nighttime image of a B class lifeboat and a D class lifeboat floating on the water next to an incident at the base of some cliffs. A spotlight illuminates HM Coastguard volunteers in bright orange jumpsuits as they tend to a casualty.

‘I felt my back break when I hit the ground’

Kinghorn inshore B class lifeboat cruises along the water on a bright sunny day

9,000 launches in 2025, powered by courage and kindness

Shop to save lives

Browse gifts, clothing, homewares and more – 100% of the money you spend with the RNLI helps save lives at sea.

Shop more on RNLI shop
A navy baseball cap with the RNLI flag logo on the front.
RNLI Flag Cap, Navy
£9.00
RNLI Heritage Flag Bone China Mug
RNLI Heritage Flag Bone China Mug
£10.00
Milly ILB Crew Bear
RNLI Milly Lifeboat Crew Bear
£15.00
RNLI Heritage Timeline Jigsaw
RNLI Heritage Timeline Jigsaw
£18.00
RNLI Crew Bowling Set
RNLI Crew Bowling Set
£15.00
RNLI Airfix Shannon Kit
RNLI Airfix Shannon Kit
£20.00
RNLI Flag Lapel Pin Badge, Gold
RNLI Flag Lapel Pin Badge, Gold
£3.50
Teardrop-shaped glass thermometer with coloured glass temperature drops floating inside.
Teardrop-shaped Galileo Thermometer
£18.00
RNLI Lifeboat Race Board Game
RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Board Game
£15.00
RNLI Saved from the waves, Paperback
Saved from the Waves: Animal Rescues of the RNLI
£10.99
Blue shopping bag.

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Latest lifeboat launches

Latest launches

In an emergency at the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Black and white photo of Cromer lifeboat station's launch ramp with wooden boat.

Our lifesaving heritage

Since 1824, the RNLI has been saving lives at sea. Take a look back at some of the stories of courage from our archive.
Our history