This page answers some of the questions we are frequently asked about how the
Portishead and Bristol lifeboat is funded, and some of the fundraising activities
that go on
Please click on one of the links above, or scroll down to find out more…
How much does it cost to run the lifeboat each year?
It costs a lot! We need £30,000 each year to keep the service operational.
This includes maintenance and repair (and, from time to time, replacement) of the
lifeboat and its engines, electrical equipment and other onboard equipment, drysuits,
helmets, pagers, fuel costs, the boathouse, the boat trailer and tractor (used to
push and pull the lifeboat into the water from the slipway), as well as sundry
administration costs such as the annual accounts, postage, and other necessary costs
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How is the lifeboat funded?
The lifeboat – being independent – is supported entirely by voluntary donations from:
- Ordinary members of the public – via collecting tins at local events and in shops,
Friends' donations (see How can I make a donation?), coffee mornings, plant sales,
eBay charity listings, sales of clothing, calendars and a music CD, legacies…and more!
- Companies, particularly sponsorships – most notably Hydrex (for plant and equipment,
as well as maintenance of the tractor), Avon & Somerset Constabulary (for use of their
conference and training facilities), Vodafone (for the provision of telephone facilities),
Burleigh Press (for producing the Lifeline newsletter), Dingley Brown Accountants
(for postal and answering service facilities), Yansec (for financial assistance with
slipway improvements), Barrus (for assistance and advice regarding the lifeboat engines),
as well as numerous other companies, shops, etc who have collecting tins for us or raised
funds on behalf of the lifeboat through raffles and other events;
- Town and council grants – from Portishead and North Weston Town Council, North
Somerset Council, Clevedon Town Council, Nailsea Council, Backwell Town Coucil, Pill
& Easton in Gordano Parish Council;
- Other charities and organisations, such as the Lions Club, Rotary, Round Table,
Freemasons, schools and youth groups, Portishead Carnival Committee, and many others,
not forgetting Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club (PYSC) for the location of the
boathouse at Sugar Loaf Bay and the generous extension of their facilities to the
crew, deputy launch authorities (DLAs) and shore helpers during training and callouts
In our experience the National Lottery is not sympathetic to the work of lifeboat
organisations
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Why are you not part of the RNLI?
Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat is not part of the RNLI and receives no funding
from them.
In 1995 when The Portishead Lifeboat Trust was being proposed, the RNLI was approached
by the Portishead and North Weston Town Council to set up a station in Portishead. This
approach was declined, for reasons of financial constraints being experienced by them
at that time. Therefore a group of local people established what is now known as
Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat as an independent lifeboat with charitable status.
The organisation does however provide some valuable logistical support and advice from
time to time.
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Are the crew and fundraisers paid for what they do?
No. All the people who work for the lifeboat – chairman, trustees, crew, deputy
launch authorities, shore helpers, and fundraisers – are all volunteers, giving
freely of their time and services. They are not paid for this.
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How can I make a donation?
Thank you! Donations are always gratefully received. You can either look for
one of our collecting tins in local shops and at various local events, or you
can send a cheque made payable to “Portishead Lifeboat” to P.O. Box 999, Bristol
BS20 6WY, or to our registered office.
Alternatively, if you would like to make a regular donation, why not consider
becoming a “Friend of Portishead & Bristol Lifeboat?” By standing order from
your bank account you can make a contribution of £2 a month (single) or £3 a
month (couple/family), or a greater amount if you wish. These regular donations
help the trust maintain a steady income to help cushion against necessary
expected - and unexpected - expenditure. Download a Friends Standing Order
form (minimum requirements Adobe Acrobat Reader – you can download the
latest version here).
In return you will receive a newsletter (produced by the fundraisers) called
Life Line, three times a year. This gives details of what’s been happening
on callouts, crew news and fundraising activities, as well as forthcoming
events and is a great way to keep in touch with what’s happening! Download
back issues here:
Nov 2005,
Apr 2006,
Aug 2006,
Nov 2006.
Also, why not consider leaving a sum of money to Portishead and Bristol
Lifeboat in your will? Donations paid to charity in your will are free
from inheritance tax, so as well as keeping it out of the taxman’s hands,
it goes to benefit a good cause. It is important that your instructions
in your will make it clear which organisation you wish to benefit,
particularly where there might be confusion with other similar
organisations, so please let us know if this is something you wish
to arrange for the Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat.
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What about Gift Aid?
If you are a UK taxpayer and have paid sufficient tax in the year of your
donation the Trust can reclaim Gift Aid tax relief on it, at no cost to you.
This helps boost your donation by an extra 28%, so for instance a £10 donation
with Gift Aid means the Trust actually gets £12.80!
Please don’t forget to tick the Gift Aid box where you can – and don’t forget to
include it on your self-assessment tax return (if applicable). If you’re not
sure whether you qualify for Gift Aid, please ask us.
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Are you on ebay?
Yes we are! Recently The Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat signed up with eBay
so that eBay sellers can if they wish choose to donate a percentage of their
sale proceeds to us. eBay’s partner company Missionfish help by collecting your
chosen donation and claiming Gift Aid on it, then distributing the final amount
to the Trust (less a small administration charge).
Look for “Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat” (listed alphabetically under P) on
eBay’s charity pages.
Also on eBay is a very special CD “Rescue Me” by American band Seven Nations,
in aid of Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat, retailing at £7.50. Produced in
memory of local photographer Mike Lindsay, his family and close family friends
Seven Nations are kindly donating £5 from the sale of every CD to the Trust.
Log on to www.ebay.co.uk and in the search
box type “Seven Nations.”
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How can my organisation help?
We are grateful for donations and sponsorship, fundraising events in aid of
the Trust, and also other types of assistance, such as the use, loan, or donation
of equipment and services.
If you think your organisaion can help, please do get in touch by writing to us at
the registered address or to: P.O. Box 999, Bristol BS20 6WY. Or by email to
. We would love to hear from you!
To help get you started we can arrange for a member of the crew to do a
presentation to your staff or members about the lifeboat and who can answer
any questions that you may have. This has proven popular with many organisations,
and can be arranged for a convenient time such as lunchtime or evening.
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How can I find out more about local fundraising events?
The Fundraising Committee arranges and co-ordinates a number of fundraising
activities throughout the year. Details are published in Life Line, the newsletter
for Friends of Portishead Lifeboat (see How can I make a donation?), and in press
releases to the Clevedon Mercury, The Portishead Paper, and The Portishead Times.
Click here to find out what events and activities are coming up!
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How can I help with fundraising?
Please do get in touch. We’ve no shortage of ideas but we do need people
willing to help organise or staff these events, and also with some of the
behind-the-scenes activity such as letter-writing and administration,
promotional activities, and producing the Life Line newsletter.
Our fundraising committee meets approximately every two months and we need
new members to come on board. No previous experience is necessary, just
enthusiasm and willingness to lend a hand. You won’t be thrown in the deep
end and we like to think of ourselves as a supportive and friendly bunch.
If you think you might like to help out at can rattles or other events,
write letters or articles, help produce Life Line, or help out in
organising or bringing about any events please contact Brett Higgins
on 07886 644594 or email
. We look forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks to all our supporters, from the Fundraising Committee.
Brett Higgins – Trustee for Fundraising
Mrs Joan Herbert – Vice Patron and fundraiser
Mrs Wendy Makins – Vice Patron and fundraiser
Derek Weatherburn – fundraiser
Nick & Maureen Churchill – fundraisers
Helen Lazenby - fundraiser
Rachel Harper – Friends co-ordinator, Life Line & fundraiser
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