RNLI announces 41 redundancies

27 Jan 2012 News

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has cut 41 staff, citing the challenging economic climate for charities that rely on public donations.

Copyright RNLI Sunderland

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has cut 41 staff, citing the challenging economic climate for charities that rely on public donations.

RNLI head of communications Spencer Gammond said that “after long and careful deliberations” the lifeboat charity decided that some posts were no longer needed. Seventeen of the jobs were based at the charity’s headquarters in Poole, Dorset.

"It costs around £150m per annum to provide our 24/7 life-saving service around the coasts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland,” said Gammond. "It is becoming more difficult to raise the money we need to continue saving lives at sea."

RNLI did not wish to disclose the exact nature of the excised roles, but did stress that the changes will in no way affect its frontline rescue services, which are run by volunteers.

In July 2010 the RNLI embarked on a programme aimed at creating greater efficiency across the charity, and Gammond said that it still aims to maintain and improve its lifesaving services.

The RNLI employs 1,300 people in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, 600 at its headquarters. It also has around 43,000 volunteer crew, shore helpers and fundraisers.