The RNLI launched a new membership recruitment initiative at the Southampton Boat Show this morning. The RNLI Ambassador scheme has been designed for yacht brokers and boat retailers wishing to support the recruitment of RNLI Offshore members.

By paying an annual fee to become RNLI Ambassadors, companies will be able to ofer their boat-buying customers one year’s free membership of RNLI Offshore. The RNLI hopes that new members will decide to continue funding the membership themselves after the first year. The scheme is already off to an encouraging start, with Brian Peters to sign up as the first Ambassador later this afternoon.

The Ambassador scheme has been developed nearly ten years after RNLI Offshore was launched as a means for sea users to support the charity. 50,000 Offshore Members have signed up since then, but, with annual running costs of over £120m and a deficit of 2m last year, the RNLI now needs to find new means to recruit new supporters.

The RNLI has also launched its first podcast. Download or listen live to Lifepod for information about the charity, rescue reports and up-to-date events news. For more information go to www.rnli.org.uk/lifepod