RNLI FUND RAISING: CHANGES

[TC]

We’ll all remember the “discussion” we had on NESA regarding the recent closure of the Teesmouth Lifeboat Station and the annoyance we felt after discovering that the RNLI held over £480 MILLION in their reserves.
For my own part, I’m MORE than happy to continue with NESA supporting and raising funds for the RNLI………..but………NOT to go into their national coffers.

Despite a comment which was posted during the above mentioned “discussion”, ALL the money raised for a specified station DOES ONLY get used by that station. Here’s a quote from an e-mail I received from the RNLI on the issue:

“Funds donated direct to a station for their use are not physically held at the station or in a local account, the money is held by the RNLI but is allocated specifically to the station and can not be used for general funds, so it does go to the station.”

Now, I’ve been informed by the RNLI that they aren’t really too keen on money being raised for a specified station - it’s not their “policy”. Here’s another quote from the same e-mail:

“I appreciate why people may have issues with giving to the main pot for general use, but I would like to give you an example of why we try to encourage donations to the general pot. A station located in a major coastal town with lots of tourists would receive large amounts of donations. If we restricted all these to that station, the money would be locked to the station only, which would be fine for them and give them all the equipment they need. However other stations located in less busy places but undertaking rescues would receive little or no funding and we would be unable to use the money locked with the other station. By using a general pot, projects, boats, maintenance and equipment can be provided over an even spread.”

I can appreciate what they say, but with over £480 MILLION in their national coffers, I can’t see why THEY can’t provide better funding to those stations in the “less busy places”.

So…….what am I leading to?????????

As you’ll know, we currently raise money for the RNLI on 2 fronts:
Annual Boat Comp in May - proceeds going to a specified N.E. RNLI Station
Annual Shore comp in November - proceeds going to RNLI national pot.

The reason I wanted to hold an event which would raise money to be used outside of the N.E. is that NESA has members from all over the country - and it’s only right that they should feel some benefit of our fundraising,, not just the N.E.

However, I’ve decided that the money raised from the Winter Shore Comp will no longer be going into the RNLIs’ national coffers. There are 2 alternatives:-

1.I’ve requested the RNLI to send me a list of those stations in the “less busy places” (ie those who are solely funded from national resources). If I receive such a list, then the money raised from future Winter Shore Comps will be sent to a station on that list.

2.If I don’t receive such a list, then I will invite NESA members (from outside the N.E.) to nominate a station to receive the money raised. All the nominations will be “put into a hat” and I will do the “draw” to determine which station will get the money.

As it\'s been quite some time since I requested the list of \"poorly funded\" stations, it looks like option 2 will be employed.

It’s a sad day when I have to say that NESA no longer supports the RNLI Nationally, but I’d much rather see the money we try so hard to raise actually going to a station which needs it and not just lying in the RNLIs’ account, gathering profits.

As always, your comments on this will be appreciated

 

[willywetegg]

No probs here Tony mate and as I will be organising the November comp again this year I am very happy to let the monies raised go to a part of the RNLI prefered by our members.

Jim.

 

[SIXFOOTSTEVE]

I agree with funding needy stations Tony ,personally I\'d rather see it distributed locally but secondly any needy station in the country rather than the national fund / honey pot .

 

[peter.m]

No problems with that. I\'ve been down to St Ives a couple of times and when you walk into the harbour you have to walk past the boat. The crew are often out chatting and showing people about, there are collection points and it is VERY busy. i can therefore see that in busy, small places like that they would cream it in.

Whatever gives stations the better spread gets my vote. I occassionally fish around the UK and would welcome that reassurance of RNLI cover.

 

[alan]

No problem with that Tony,I\'d prefer option 1 that way lesser funded staions would get there \"bit\" and NESA would be recognised outside the North East for its fundraising if it means the lesser funded station is located away from the NE,as you say it looks like option 2 then so be it,I cant see any alternative for fundraising so lets carry on with the 10k target

 

[TC]

1. Steve..................I know NESA is a N.E. based site, but we do have members from all over the country - I think it\'s only right that NESA supports RNLI stations both in the N.E. and in other parts of the country, too. I mean, why should somebody living in (say) Scotland or Wales (and we do have a fair number of NESA members from there), contribute to fund raising for a station in the N.E. of England ?

2. Alan......................believe me, I\'d prefer \"option 1\", too - but it was weeks ago when I asked for a list of \"lesser funded\" stations and I\'ve heard nothing back. Maybe that\'s because (as I mentioned earlier), raising money for specific stations isn\'t really encouraged by the RNLI.
It may well be (and looks almost certain) that \"option2\" is our ONLY option.
\".......so lets carry on with the 10k target \"..........getting towards that area, Alan
With the total raised from the auction, we\'re now standing at £7,426.00 and still have this years Boat Comp and Shore Comp to go :exclam:

It would be REALY some achievement to attain THAT double figure

[Edited on 21/5/2006 by TC]

 

[Mike.Haley]

Tony, I too would prefer option 1, but am happy with whatever is decided as long as it dos,nt go into the national pot. I am sure the members around the country can come up with a list of poorly funded lifeboat stations.
Jim, put my name down for the winter shore comp.

 

[SIXFOOTSTEVE]

A good point well made Tony

 

[RobAdair]

This will put the cat amongst the pigeons and I\'ll probably be shot down in flames, but here goes anyways.

Surely we should be supporting our sport, i.e. encouraging newcomers (especially youngsters) to the sport. This is the only way that the we can actively swell the ranks of anglers and continue to gather support against the anti\'s and any impending government legisation.

We are in a unique position to give something back to the sport which we all love. We have funds, tackle dealers as members and a wealth of expertise with regards to the actual fishing.

My suggestion is to take the Shore Fishing Comp funds which would normally go to the national pot (which appears to be a faceless, uncaring pile of wealth IMO) and put together fishing kits (ie rod, reel, tackle) which could then be distributed to residental care homes for children anywhere in the country (as Tony says by nominations from all members throughout the country)

It would work something like this:
1. We raise £? from the shore comp
2. Our friendly tackle shop members source decent rod, reel and tackle setups at cost (therefore more tackle to the £)
3. NESA members collectively put together a photocopied, stapled together, A5 sized basic instruction booklets containing tackle setup, knots, rigs, bait, SAFETY, tips etc etc
4. Nominations are put forward for residental care homes throughout the country by members.
5. The homes receive the tackle in time for Christmas (these kids get very little as it is) and hopefully a handful of NESA members give up 4-5 hours one day over the holidays to meet the children and care staff, and give them some basic instruction on casting, baiting up, and actual fishing.
6. End result, we (hopefully) actively encourage kids to take up the sport (keeping them off the streets due to boredom, which usually leads to crime), we (as anglers) receive some good press and publicity, the care homes may well join NESA (even if only to receive there 10% discount on tackle) and the tackle dealers benefit from the extra business (after all, they would have deserved it)

My wife used to work in care homes before becoming a family support worker for Social Services and all these kids need is something to keep them occupied, and somebody to show them that there is people who care enough about them to actually give them some time and attention.

The tackle would go directly to the homes, not the kids, so it couldn\'t be sold on for drink or drugs. The care home staff would supervise the outing, thereby eliminating the need for the anglers to be police checked before providing any tuition. These homes hold no more than 6 children on average, which would be an easily managed group which could feasibly receive one on one tuition from NESA members (depending on the location of the home). We would be able to provide tackle setups for several homes at once with the proceeds (say 6 sets to each home). Looks like a win/win to me.

Sorry if I\'ve went on a bit, but I feel that the money we raise could be put to a much better use than just sitting in a more than ample bank account to be used at the discretion of accountants who have probably got no interest in our sport at all.

 

[sless]

i agree with that rob

how much have they got in the bank

 

[alan]

Cracking post Rob and your opinion is valued along with everyone else mate,
and no you wont be shot down in flames by anyone

 

[STEVO]

Excellent post mate and definately food for thought

 

[jamiebrennan]

Good post mate, its just a damn shame that whenever the good people of this world try too do something good theres just 2 much bull**** and politics involved which seems 2 get in the way!

 

[SIXFOOTSTEVE]

Can\'t and wouldn\'t shoot that down in flames Rob , a very well thought out post and I like what you\'re suggesting.

 

[ray]

great idea Rob

 

[TC]

Got to agree, it\'s a great idea, Rob and I applaud your sentiments.

However - and this is by no means shooting anything down in flames, or pouring cold water on it - when I asked for comments, the comments I was referring to were those regarding the suggested changes to our RNLI fund raising, not suggestions for a new \"cause\".

I\'d always had in mind a target of £10,000 for NESA ro raise for the RNLI. Once that target was reached, we\'d have the option of continuing to raise money for the RNLI or decide upon another \"worthy cause\". There was also to be the option of doing BOTH - retain a comp for the RNLI and hold the other comp for the \"new\" cause (whatever that \"cause\" might be).
Your suggestion, good as it is, has kinda pre-empted that process.

I love the idea of being able, as a group, to help some of the kids in these care homes. However, I don\'t think it would be as plain sailing as you suggest. Dealing with kids, in any capacity, is fraught with legal issues and Local Authority red tape - even more so when you are talking about \"looked after children\" who are in vulnerable circumstances. There are all sorts of issues not only to consider, but to overcome. From the simple \"Approved Equipment\" through to any insurance implications which may arise involving the \"tuition\" sessions you mention.
Speaking of the tuition, this brings me to the bit which most worries me..........
Say we do go ahead with this:
we hold the comp - raise the money - buy the equipment - send it off to the chosen care home. Now we need people in the locality of the care home to spend \" 4 or 5 hours\" giving tuition to the kids on how to use the gear..............nobody comes forward.

Another, (and even more sobering / worrying), aspect to consider with the \"tuition\" is that of \"competence\" on the part of those doing the teaching. In recent years there have been several incidents of kids being injured (even killed) by following the instructions of \"un-qualified\" instructors who \"meant well\". Because of this, the rules, regs, guidelines, etc. governing the supervision and instruction of children during outdoor activities have come under a great deal of scrutiny.

I may be looking on the negative side, but I can\'t help feeling that at some stage, we could let down those very kids we are trying to help. And God knows, those kids will have been let down plenty of times in their lives, already.

Given the speed at which we\'ve been raising money for the RNLI, it\'s not gonna be long before that £10K total is reached.
Believe me, I\'d love to take up Robs\' idea that money raised from the Winter Shore Comps could be used in such a way, I just think that both the legalities and the logistics of it need to be explored a bit more in depth. The time from now, until the £10k RNLI target is reached, should be used for exploring those possible hurdles. If they can be surmounted, then I\'ve got no problem in taking NESA down the road of Robs\' suggestion and I\'d support the cause whole-heartedly.



[Edited on 22/5/2006 by TC]

 

[RobAdair]

I have to agree with you Tony, I\'ve spent all night reading up on the points you have mentioned regarding tuition, supervision, outdoor pursuits etc (BTW S/Tyneside council have a great website which covers the legal aspects of this in great detail) and legally and logistically it would be a nightmare. I think enthusiasm got the better of logic this time around

A practical, workable and this time well thought out solution (honest) would be to pay for the kids to have qualified tuition (although this would be either fly or coarse fishing) which would still give them a day out and hopefully whet their appetites to maybe take up fishing one day. This would probably be cheaper than actually buying tackle and therefore could probably benefit more disadvantaged kids and it would not be location specific as the UK is pretty much well covered as far as coarse and fly fishing venues go. They could even be presented with a certificate at the end of the day to say that they had attended a days fishing tuition at blah blah sponsored by NESA.

Maybe once we hit the £10k?

 

[SIXFOOTSTEVE]

I admire your enthusiasm Rob it\'s good to see and the idea is a great one ,I ,like you hadn\'t thought of the \" ins and outs \" red tape etc that Tony mentions .I think it would be great to see it go ahead after the 10k target is reached . Not only great for the kids but for the site as well .A pat on the back from me and I\'m sure many others as it could lead the site into new areas of giving ..

[Edited on 22/5/2006 by SIXFOOTSTEVE]

 

[mickthefish]

theres a little trout pond 5 mins away from me who do something very similair .they have about a dozen kids who are supervised by 3 community workers and the 1 lad who works there teaches them what they need to know. after that they just get on with it.they get a discounted rate on their fishing tickets and free rod hire.
i think sea fishing would be a lot different as im pretty sure the guy who runs the pond would have some type of insurance/accident cover.
i think freshwater fishing would be the way to go on this one but who knows?
great idea though.

 

[craigyboy]

Cant believe what i have just read £480 million your right in what your saying tony i totaly agree. after i have done the great north run i have decided to help the blyth lifeboat as they dont have anything as big as the rnli behind them and atleast you know where your money is going with them.