The Lifeboat Fund 2010

The Fund's 2010 appeal is well and truly underway. Find out more and, at the same time, enter their great free competition for a 'money can't buy' prize.

The Lifeboat Fund (formerly known as CISPOTEL) is an official charity of the Civil Service, Royal Mail and BT. The Fund raises money to provide new lifeboats and fund Crew Training in Northern Ireland. Since it was founded in 1866, The Lifeboat Fund has provided 51 lifeboats for the RNLI, saving over 4,700 lives and, most recently, helped refurbish a new lifeboat station on the River Thames, the busiest in the whole service. Last year the Fund collected £189,000 for the RNLI.

This year we will be holding The Lifeboat Fund Appeal Day on Friday 17 September 2010 to raise funds to purchase a new lifeboat for Portrush. We need to raise £25,000 by the end of 2010.

There are lots of ways you can get involved, raise money and have some fun at the same time. Here are a few ideas:

• Have a Friday dress up or dress down day and collect donations from everyone who does or doesn’t join in!


• Get everyone to bring in their unwanted items (and maybe unwanted Christmas presents!) to sell.


• Organise a coffee morning - bring in cakes and ask for donations.


If you would like to find out how more about the Appeal Day and how you can get involved, please check out www.thelifeboatfund.org.uk

'Win a day with the RNLI' Competition

The Lifeboat Fund is again giving you the opportunity to win a tour of the state of the art RNLI survival centre in Poole. The prize includes two nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast in the onsite hotel where every room has stunning views of the sea. In addition, you could win second prize (£75 Marks & Spencer gift voucher) or third prize (£25 Argos gift voucher)!

Simply answer the questions below and return it to: Diana Allpress, Hon. Secretary, The Lifeboat Fund, 85 Entry Hill, Bath, BA2 5LS. Entries are free but donations are willingly accepted.

1. Where will the Fund’s next lifeboat go into service in 2010?
2. How much does the Fund need to raise to buy the Portrush lifeboat?
3. How much money was raised by The Lifeboat Fund in 2009?

Terms and Conditions:
1. The closing date for the competition is 31 Dec 2010. The winner will be notified within 14 days of the draw.
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Competition entrants must be at least 18 years of age at time of entry.
4. The Hon. Secretary’s decision is final.


New Brighton Lifeboat Naming Ceremony
The Lifeboat Fund's 51st lifeboat, Charles Dibdin, was officially named during a ceremony at the New Brighton Lifeboat Station, Merseyside on Saturday 24 July 2010. Diana Allpress, The Lifeboat Fund's Hon. Secretary, handed over the lifeboat on behalf of the Fund.

Charles Dibdin is an Atlantic 85 rigid inflatable lifeboat. The lifeboat was named after Charles Dibdin, who was one of the founders of The Lifeboat Fund in 1866 and later went on to become RNLI Secretary.