Is the RNLI going bust

Re: No, they\'re not going bust....

Would it be better if the RNLI did the same as the French or Swedish lifeboat service and charged people for AA type rescues, like running out of fuel?
 
Re: No, they\'re not going bust....

My last home on land was in Beaumaris. The sight of the inshore lifeboat racing up the Straits was an almost daily occurrence.

On many occassions this was to rescue suicide jumps from the Menai Bridge. What do card carrying members think about that?
 
As a matter of getting one's facts straight, I have personally will-gifted the proceeds of my home ( no children ) to the Institution because I believe the RNLI 'sharp end' is the real mackoy, and earns my admiration and support.

It is not wrong to criticise where a policy or management decision seems to be in error, and a better use of public-subscription resources might be made. That is, in fact, a valuable form of support, as it leads to wider debate - as here - and arguably a better form of accountability.

As long as I see lifeboat crew members short of an up-to-date suit of oilies or a safety helmet, I will continue to question 'prestige projects' like the RNLI College, which many would consider bloated and excessive for the stated primary task. Every thousand pounds spent unecessarily on bars, restaurants, atria, pot plants, award-winning staircases and B&B bedrooms for passing yotties is a thousand pounds not spent on the peeps at the sharp end.

If there's *any* lavish entertainment or expenses going, they should be offered first to the crews, second to the local Hon Secs and administrators, and last to the management wonks...

And that's what I dig into my pockets for.......
 
You're right that the lifeboat crews should be properly equipped. Surely though they should also be equipped with the best available training?

I suppose they could be trained in an old wooden shed but I fail to see why people object to them having decent facilities made available to them. They need to eat, so restaurants are needed. Maybe they want to have a relaxing drink at the end of a training day so a bar seems sensible?

If the facilities save money compared with what happened before why criticise them?
 
Imagine the sharply rising cost of administration and closing of lifeboat stations if the RNLI was government run by Bliar, Brown and Prescott Inc.
 
Not to mention the chaos which would follow when they introduce a new computer system to handle the launches.......
"Whitby lifeboat launched to answer a shout in Plymouth" /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Re: No, they\'re not going bust....

Some 10 and a bit years ago I visited RNLI HQ for a presentation, we were told then that if donations stopped coming in that day they would have enough money in reserves to continue with their build program for 15 years.
Donations havn't stopped coming in so I assume that they are probably ok.
I wonder though just how much of their budget gets spent on callout payments or whatever they want to call them these days.
 
Re: No, they\'re not going bust....

I guess the "new" training facility is needed now that more of the crews (most?) are from a non-seafaring background, ie did not start out on fishing boats etc at the age of 3 months.....and were out in all weathers.........

Possibly the answer to my next question............... whilst it is probably the case that 90% of the lifeboat callouts are within the capabilities of many of us - even when the weather is s#tty. It is being prepared to go out in the other 10% of weather and situations that they are there for. So I guess that is why some of their boats (to me who will NOT be going out during that "10%") look kinda overspeced, in the last 20 years.

Whilst writing this, I am wondering whether it is the case that the RNLI would (or even could) be formed today. Maybe they would use helicopters as the primary SAR means with the boats as a back up / more inshore work?? even if in certain circumstances a Lifeboat was better.
 
Re: No, they\'re not going bust....

Without doing any research to answer, but....

Last year, or early this, the RNLI removed their all weather boat from a village somewhere in the UK. The villagers and neighbouring villages were up in arms about the decision and began fund raising.

They bought a 2nd hand brede type lifeboat and now have a privately funded lifeboat.

This is how the RNLI started, so yes, I believe it could all start again if that is anything to go by..

No doubt, someone will fill in the one or two blanks from my story!
 
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