The RNLI has announced that an astonishing £60,000 has been raised by the local community so far towards the £1.2million required for Kirkcudbright RNLI’s new state-of-the-art lifeboat station.
Since the RNLI lifeboat station was established in 1892 at Torrs Point, volunteer crew have been launching from a 19th century boathouse.
May Brown, President of Stewarty of Kirkcudbright RNLI Fundraising Group says: ‘The boathouse has hardly changed since it was established over 130 years ago. The new boathouse will bring our facilities into the 21st century and give the volunteer crew the facilities they deserve.’
The extended station building will have separate changing facilities and WCs for men and women, a place volunteers can warm up and a dedicated workshop where the volunteer team can maintain the lifeboat.
In June 2024, the RNLI announced the launch of Kirkcudbright RNLI’s fundraising appeal to raise £50,000 towards the £1.2million required. Now just 5 months later, volunteers have raised a staggering £60,000 thanks to the generosity of supporters and now have ambitions to raise even more ahead of building works starting in 2025.
May continues: ‘We are absolutely delighted and overwhelmed with all the support for our appeal so far. We cannot thank our local community and supporters enough for their generosity in supporting us with this appeal. It means the world to all of us here at Kirkcudbright RNLI.
‘The community have really got behind the appeal and supported us, which is brilliant to see.’
Locally, the station has been supported by numerous organisations in Kirkcudbright, such as Kirkcudbright Development Trust, Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities during the Arts and Crafts Trail, the lorry parade and the festival of light, and the Soundwave and youth choirs to name but a few. Many local individuals have also raised money to support the appeal too.
The Kirkcudbright RNLI fundraising committee have raised thousands through numerous events, including talks, raffles, and coffee mornings. Volunteers have even taken on their own fundraising challenges, including running a half marathon and swimming 200 lengths of the local pool.
But with fundraising events planned for the new year, the volunteers at Kirkcudbright RNLI have no plans on slowing down just yet.
Jill Hepburn, Head of Region for the RNLI in Scotland, says: ‘We have been amazed by the response to our new station appeal for Kirkcudbright RNLI. Every single penny raised will go towards the £1.2million needed to provide the volunteers at Kirkcudbright RNLI, with a new boathouse and modern facilities. We would like to thank everyone for their generosity and support with this appeal so far.’
For updates from Kirkcudbright RNLI, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/KirkcudbrightRNLI
To support the new station appeal, visit: https://justgiving.com/campaign/rnlikirkcudbrightappeal
· Kirkcudbright lifeboat station has been operating since 1862. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/kirkcudbright-lifeboat-station
· The £1.2million required for the new station at Kirkcudbright RNLI will be made up of funds from the local community appeal, plus donations from philanthropic supporters of the RNLI.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
