RNLI ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2019 We are one crew. This is our watch We are the RNLI: The charity that saves lives at sea Every day of every year, people of all backgrounds get into danger in the water. It’s a problem we’re here to tackle. We’re here to explain the risks, share safety knowledge and rescue people whose lives are in danger. We’re here to work with others to make the water a safer place for everyone. We’re here to prevent tragedies inshore and offshore. And with your help, we always will be. CONTENTS Annual Report of the Trustees of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution CONTENTS 01 Welcome 03 What we do 05 Our impact 13 Our plans 17 Financial review 23 Governance 35 Independent auditor's report 37 Financial statements 43 Notes to the accounts 69 Officers and contacts 73 Our structure Just some of our crew members and lifeguards who featured in series four 75 Thank you of Saving Lives at Sea RNLI ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2019 WELCOME FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE ‘Our founder established the RNLI to save lives both home and abroad. We remain true to that vision’ 2019 was a busy year for the RNLI. Our lifeboat crews and lifeguards, volunteers, staff, shore teams, fundraisers – indeed everyone – faced the Perfect Storm. All are lifesavers and, together, they are One Crew saving lives at sea. Living within our financial means, while lives of 374 men, women and children last well-established and has taken to the role experiencing an unceasing demand for year (329 in 2018) – and educated many with zeal, determination and ambition. our services, was challenging. We had to thousands more in water safety. We also Whether you’re a volunteer, supporter, make some difficult decisions and I want heard from more people who said that our governor, trustee, fundraiser, member of to thank you for your continuing support Float to Live water safety message helped staff – or one of the myriad other people vital and dedication. to save their lives. to the success of the RNLI – I want to thank Last year we also received press criticism Our courageous, selfless lifesavers you for everything you do. You enabled our of our international work to reduce the undertake thousands of amazing rescues lifesavers to rescue those in danger, while thousands of drownings worldwide. We are every year. Picking out one is not easy, but we helping others enjoy the water more safely proud of what our teams are achieving. Our recognised a special one in January – where As I write this we are in the midst of founder established the RNLI to save lives at Castletownbere lifeboat crew launched into Covid-19. The possible implications are sea both home and abroad. We remain true to a force 9 to save the lives of six fishermen. reviewed in this report. In such uncertain that vision. We did lose a few supporters after Coxswain Dean Hegarty very much deserves times I hope that you and your families will that coverage but, the good news is, very many the RNLI Bronze Medal for his part in this stay well and look after yourselves and those more spoke out in our support, increased their difficult mission. See page 7 for more on this. near you. The RNLI will be doing all it can. donations or signed up as members. 2019 saw the retirement of Paul Boissier, As you will see in this report, our income who had led the RNLI as chief executive for showed some improvement following our nearly a decade. He achieved significant Perfect Storm campaign and by reaching out advances and oversaw improvements to new supporters. This helped us to position ensuring we remain the marvellous service ourselves to meet the growing demands of that we are today. We owe him a big thank Stuart Popham our lifesaving work. RNLI people saved the you. Mark Dowie, his successor, is now RNLI Chairman 1 WELCOME ‘It’s our job to keep our charity safe and secure for the next 200 years’ The RNLI is powered by passionate, talented and kind people. Volunteers, staff and supporters like you worked together as One Crew and achieved a great deal in 2019. Thank you for playing your part in that. From a personal perspective, my first published an important document that shares remain loved and treasured by so many. 8 months as RNLI Chief Executive were filled our strategic intent and ensures that everyone This also means preparing for the future. with challenges but also with moments of is pulling in the same direction, within the By modernising, pushing the boundaries surprise and joy. We took decisive action and bounds of our Purpose and towards our Vision. and exploring new ways, we can save even made great progress towards some of our We will continue working and thinking more lives. long-term goals. Sadly, this involved saying differently, with razor-sharp focus, so that While the ramifications of Covid-19 goodbye to some of our colleagues and we can operate with maximum efficiency. are still developing, they are having a friends, but it was unquestionably in the best In 2020 and beyond, we will reinforce two significant effect on our operations, interests of our charity. important shifts in our thinking: staff and volunteers. We hope that these We put out our biggest fundraising appeal effects will be relatively short-lived. The ever and smashed its target, we launched a • First, we are One Crew. One Crew commitment to our Purpose, memory by sharing the names of thousands We are all lifesavers and we are all Vision and the Outcomes we are working of loved ones on Invergordon’s Shannon class fundraisers. Everyone is valuable and we on remains undiminished. lifeboat, and we got new craft and protective are all working together towards a shared kit to thousands of volunteer lifesavers at the goal of saving as many people from That is what has always driven us and it’s sharp end. drowning as possible. what makes every one of us a lifesaver. We also set up a new regional structure to improve support for our people and our • Secondly, this is Our Watch. lifesaving and fundraising activities at home, It’s our time – like generations of lifesavers while our international advocacy and projects before us. It’s our job to keep our charity A Shannon class lifeboat, ready to leave the spray booth, at the RNLI's All-weather continued to make a huge difference to the safe and secure for the next 200 years Mark Dowie Lifeboat Centre in Poole cause of saving lives globally. We have now so that it can continue to save lives and RNLI Chief Executive RNLI ANNUAL REPORT 2 AND ACCOUNTS 2019 WHAT WE DO WATER SAFETY FLOOD RESCUE Making people safer is core to the RNLI’s With sufficient notice, our flood rescue teams We save lives and prevent drowning through these key activities: operations. We use research, targeted can reach nearly any flood rendezvous point campaigns and lifesaving plans to encourage in the UK within 6 hours. changes in people’s behaviour, in and around the water. LIFEBOATS LIFEGUARDS Our lifeboat crews aim to launch within Our lifeguards aim to reach anyone up to 10 minutes of being alerted, and can operate 300m from shore, within the red and yellow up to 100 nautical miles out to sea. We aim flags on RNLI-patrolled beaches, within to reach at least 90% of casualties within 3½ minutes. 10 nautical miles of the coast, within 30 minutes of a lifeboat launch – in any weather. Most crew members are volunteers. INTERNATIONAL FUNDRAISING We work with partners globally and in As a charity, we rely on the generous support countries with a high-drowning burden to of donors to meet the cost of our lifesaving elevate the drowning problem onto the activities. We set exacting standards in our global agenda, widen the research base, grow fundraising to protect and maintain good skills and identify cost-effective and practical relationships with our supporters and ensure solutions to save more lives. financial stability. 3 WHAT WE DO Girvan volunteers brave the elements from the foredeck of their Shannon class lifeboat Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan SAVING LIVES RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the UK and Ireland, and our seasonal lifeguards look after people on busy beaches. Our in-house experts and specially trained volunteers also support flood rescue throughout the UK. MORE THAN A RESCUE SERVICE Wherever drowning occurs, we aim to defeat it. With your support the RNLI can break the drowning chain and make early interventions by influencing, supervising and educating people. We work with partners to understand the risks and offer innovative solutions – and our Water Safety teams share that knowledge with anyone using the water to keep them safer. We share that expertise internationally too. We give support to countries where drowning rates are significant, and work with like-minded organisations to raise awareness of the problem and how we can address it together. These lifesaving activities are underpinned by people and initiatives that raise funds and ensure that we are well- AROUND governed and compliant. OUR VOLUNTEERS Volunteers are the lifeblood of our charity, supported by 95% expert staff to enable communities to save lives. Around 95% of RNLI people are volunteers – including more OF RNLI than 5,600 crew members, 3,500 shore crew (including , station management), 180 lifeguards and 23,000 5,600+ 1500+ PEOPLE ARE fundraisers.