The RNLI has been forced to defend their lifesaving overseas work after some sections of the mainstream media criticised the life-saving charity.
Over the weekend, both the Mail Online and The Times published articles that criticised the charity for its overseas work, at a time when UK-based salaried staff are facing job cuts.
The headline published by the Daily Mail said:
‘RNLI buys burkinis for Africans as it axes 100 UK jobs: How £3.3 million of donations to lifeboat charity are spent aboard including aid for Tanzania swimmers and creches in Bangladesh’.
Mail Online article
The Times article
In a detailed statement, the RNLI addressed several areas of criticism, including those highlight in the Daily Mail article.
Why are the RNLI spending money on overseas projects while cutting 135 staff in the UK?
“The RNLI has always been dedicated to drowning reduction.
“The World Health Organization estimates that 320,000 people drown each year worldwide, and we believe that with others, we should use our lifesaving expertise to try and help tackle this.
“Our work so far has shown that simple, inexpensive solutions are very effective; a relatively low investment in overseas projects goes a long way and makes a big difference.
“We currently spend less than 2% of the RNL I’s total annual expenditure on our international drowning prevention activity and we actively seek donations specifically for this work, including the Isle of Man’s International Development Fund and Department for International Development in the UK, both of which have made substantial donations to our international work this year.
“Providing the very best search and rescue service in the UK and Ireland remains our priority but we are also proud to use our expertise, knowledge and influence to help others save lives across the world, particularly in countries where drowning rates are high.
“Since 2012 there has been a steady increase in international expenditure that reflects the increase in the number of projects the team are involved in.
“However, all areas of RNLI work – including our international budget – are being looked at and we are reducing costs wherever we can as part of an organisational wide programme of activity to get us back to living within our means”
RNLI response to criticism that the charity has misled donors who thought they were donating to save lives in UK and are now surprised to learn that money is being spent overseas?
“We greatly value our supporters and have not misled them.
“The RNLI’s international work has been reported in detail in our annual reports going back several years and information is also available from the RNLI website and regularly reported elsewhere.
“The financial commitment to our international work is reported separately and there has been no sleight of hand.
“The RNL I’s priority is to provide the very best search and rescue service in the UK and Ireland, but we are also proud to use our expertise, knowledge and influence to help others save lives across the world, particularly in countries where drowning rates are high.
“Our founder, Sir William Hillary, had the vision that we ‘should extend our views [of drowning prevention] from our own immediate coasts, to the most remote quarters of the globe, and to every neighbouring state’.
“This remains relevant today.
Why are the RNLI involved in doing International work?
“We don’t operate RNLI lifeboat or lifeguard services overseas – instead, we support the work of partners to build local capability.
“Our international drowning prevention work currently includes educating children in water safety and survival swimming; training personnel in lifeguarding, search and rescue and lifesaving leadership skills, and international advocacy to champion the drowning prevention cause at a global level.
“Our aim is to increase the number of people who can make a difference to the safety of others in their communities, and share their skills so the lifesaving legacy continues, as well as to call for greater awareness, resources and action at a global level.
“We can’t do this alone, so are working in partnership with other organisations to increase our impact”.
Why are the RNLI funding burkinis?
“The Panje Project teaches women swim survival skills in Zanzibar.
“The burkini, which is a full length swim suit is an innovative (and cheap) way of enabling girls in strict Muslim countries, to get into the water without compromising their cultural and religious beliefs.
“The RNLI have been involved in the Panje Project with the majority of the RNL I’s involvement funded by a donor who specifically wanted the money to go towards this project.
Why is the RNLI getting involved in creches?
“The Creches for Bangladesh programme helps reduce children’s risk of drowning by ensuring they have close supervision throughout the day.
“Around 40 children a day die from drowning in Bangladesh.
“Children are most vulnerable to drowning between 9 am and 1 pm when parents must work to feed their families, and are unable to provide close supervision.
“Community-based creche facilities provide a safe environment for children aged between 1-4.
“Run by local women; these facilities provide a secure place away from open water for children to play and learn important skills.
“Access to a free creche place reduces a child’s risk of drowning by an incredible 82%, as well as providing essential early childhood development.
“We work in partnership with the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh (CIPRB), who are experts in injury prevention and drowning prevention.
“Alongside CIPRB we have already helped to fund 10,000 creche places for some of Bangladesh’s most vulnerable children.
“All public donations to our recent appeal were matched by the Department for International Development”.
Are there any changes or cuts happening to the RNL I’s international work in the current climate?
“All areas of RNLI work are being looked at as part of our programme of activity to get us back to living within our means, this is underway, and we can’t confirm any details or figures at this stage.
“The main priority is ensuring we can maintain our world-class domestic search and rescue service.
“Any work we do on top of this will not detract us from our core purpose.
Respond to criticism that the charity has become too hung up on political correctness
As an emergency service, the RNLI must adhere to the very highest standards of safety and behave in a way that meets the expectations of a modern emergency responder.
“And as a charity, we take our ethical and legal responsibilities very seriously.
“This means that we expect our staff and volunteers to behave appropriately towards each other, supporters and members of the public.
“We do not consider this political correctness.
“We are a charity that our volunteers, supporters and those we rescue can trust to do the right thing – whether that’s rescuing those in peril, keeping our volunteers safe or making sure anyone who is part of the RNLI feels welcome and valued.
“And we’re proud of our volunteers’ professionalism and our organisation’s commitment to being a modern emergency service and principled charity”.
Supporters of the RNLI have taken to Twitter in order to re-affirm their support for the charity.
@Alexvtunzelmann tweeted:
“I’ve just sent the RNLI a donation.
“If you can afford to, please consider doing the same.
“How wonderful it would be if the result of the revolting campaign against them was a fundraising bonanza”.
Meanwhile, Ben Fogle tweeted:
“Imagine being the kind of person that would cancel a charitable donation because they only wanted it to save a British child not a Bangladeshi child”.
Neil Gaiman also tweeted:
“I just donated. It may make up for a few people who stopped donating because they think that more people should die at sea”.
Stephen Fry tweeted:
“I haven’t read whatever frothing filth the Daily Mail has vomited up this morning, but I gather #RNLI_disgrace shows the marvellous public response.
“We should all go to http://bit.ly/DonateRNLI to show our support (Christians surely will, drawing on the Good Samaritan parable).”
The hashtag: ‘RNLI_Disgrace’ has been trending on Twitter, but many people who have been making donations following the negative press have been using the hashtag in their defence of the RNLI
‘RNLI_disgrace’ is currently trending on Twitter
Join our WhatsApp community!
ESN is now on WhatsApp, and we want you to join our 'read only' channel.
To join, you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is click the link and press 'Join community'.
No one will be able to see who is signed up, and no one can send messages except the ESN team.You won't get any 'SPAM' just news stories & videos written & produced by our team of former emergency services personnel.
Joining our WhatsApp channel is a great way to help support our work and best of all, it is free!
If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Before you read or leave a comment...
In an age where mainstream media often overlooks the sacrifices made by our emergency services personnel, Emergency Services News is a critical fact-based voice you can trust
While we persist in our mission, we need your help to continue. Your donation directly enables us to produce high-quality content that elevates the stories and challenges faced by the men and women who serve, stories that are often ignored elsewhere.
We deeply appreciate your support. Your contribution empowers us to keep shining a light on the remarkable, yet often overlooked, individuals who serve our communities every day. Thank you for standing with us.
You can support emergency services news from as little as £1. It only takes a minute. Every contribution, however big or small, is vital for our future.
Please help us to continue to highlight the life-saving work of the emergency services, NHS and armed forces by becoming a supporter.
They do good work but some of the senior staff are paid too much for a charity that relies on volunteers who give their time free and I can’t understand why an “inappropriate mug” can cost some one their job. Perhaps they could make the PC snoopers jobs the first to go.