Almost £1 million awarded to 66 water rescue charities

Published: 24 January 2017
By Chris Haycock

Water rescue charities around the UK have been awarded £913,000 by Maritime Minister John Hayes today (24 January 2017).

This is the third round of funding provided under a 5 year, £5 million scheme, announced as part of the 2014 budget statement.

The grant supports charities running local lifeboat and rescue services, helping those in danger on and around inland and inshore waterways, including during flooding and other incidents. The money can be used to buy new lifeboats and other equipment such as lifejackets and safety gear.

Map of inshore and inland rescue boat grant scheme funding recipients, 2014 to 2017

Maritime Minister, John Hayes, said:

Every day countless volunteers in water rescue charities across our island nation carry out vital work during emergencies, not only around our coasts but also keeping our rivers, lakes and inshore waters safe.

An expert panel - including representatives from the devolved administrations, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and the Royal Yachting Association - assessed applications submitted to the Department for Transport on the basis of:

• how the equipment or training will be used to support lifesaving, search and rescue operations and flood response capability locally and nationally
• whether the funding will deliver wider community benefits
• how the equipment and skills will bring sustainable benefits

Bids for funding were accepted from UK charities as defined in the Charities Act 2006. Other criteria are set out in the guidance notes published on GOV.UK.

The annual £1 million fund also covers administration of the scheme.