Applications are now open to become one of the RNLI’s face-to-face fundraisers along the Causeway Coast in Antrim, and in counties Down and Dublin.
This vital role helps the lifesaving charity reach thousands of people every year, sharing safety messages and encouraging new supporters to sign up and donate.
A role within the RNLI’s face-to-face fundraising team offers flexible working in some great locations. Fundraisers receive full, high-quality training and competitive rates of pay while also developing valuable professional and personal skills.
One person who knows very well the impact that funds raised can have is Gill McIlmoyle from Portstewart. A former bank manager, she joined the RNLI’s face-to-face fundraising team in 2021.
“There are a variety of reasons why people choose to work for the charity but for me,” Gill says, “I was at a stage in my life where I wanted to do something that really mattered to me, something that was worthwhile and having grown up alongside the coast, I was always aware of the lifesaving work of the RNLI.
“I enjoy meeting and interacting with different people everyday. You get the opportunity to work in lots of different areas, very often the most beautiful parts of the country and you get to enjoy the outdoors.”
For Gill, a real highlight of the job is when she has the privilege to hear and listen to the personal stories of those who have been touched by the RNLI.
“I have met so many people whose lives have been impacted in different ways by the work of the RNLI,” she says. “The stories I have heard from people I have met along the way are personal — from those who have been rescued or who know someone who has been rescued to those who may have lost a loved one but who are grateful to the RNLI for bringing their loved one home.
“It gives me a great sense of pride and satisfaction to be part of a team which is responsible for successfully raising funds that make a difference in this way. The fact that you know your contribution helps to keep volunteer crews safe and equipped with essential lifesaving kit and training and that it helps to keep lifeboats fuelled and maintained, is rewarding. This is turn helps our crew to continue their work in saving lives at sea.”
The funds raised by Gill and her colleagues are vital in supporting the RNLI’s lifesaving service. The charity, which recently celebrated its 200th anniversary, operates 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland and operates a lifeguard service along the Causeway Coast and in Co Down in Northern Ireland.
Neal Somerville, face-to-face fundraising manager at the RNLI, said: “Our face-to-face fundraiser roles are the perfect fit for anyone who is friendly, energetic and able to talk to anyone. It really is a vital role in supporting the RNLI’s lifesaving work, sharing safety advice with thousands of beach visitors every summer, as well as inspiring them to support our lifesavers with a donation.
“This year is a particularly exciting time to be considering becoming part of the RNLI family, as the charity marks two hundred years of saving lives at sea. I’d encourage anyone, no matter what career you are considering, to take up the challenge and apply for a face-to-face fundraising role.”
To apply or find out more, visit rnli.org/FundraiserJobs.
