“Our bicentenary campaign aimed to celebrate, commemorate and inspire. It was an incredible opportunity for the archive to support all aspects of the campaign and to raise the profile of our heritage collections within the organisation.”
Hayley Whiting, Heritage Archive and Research Manager
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the charity that has been saving lives at sea since 1824. The RNLI marked its bicentenary in 2024 with a year-long campaign of activities funded by donations from members of the RNLI 200 Club.
The RNLI started preparing in 2019 with an aim to commemorate its legacy, celebrate its staff and volunteers, and inspire future generations of supporters. The charity’s archive, led by Heritage Archive and Research Manager Hayley Whiting, played a pivotal role in shaping the anniversary’s narrative and enhancing the charity’s reputation.
From the outset, the archive was positioned as a dynamic resource for storytelling, engagement, and advocacy. Hayley worked across departments, including media, retail, fundraising, and communications to ensure the archive had a voice in every major project. She helped staff to understand what was in the collections and offered training in how to access materials and use them effectively.
Throughout the planning process, Hayley advocated for inclusive storytelling to uncover new voices across all regions. She provided engaging stories and imagery for media coverage – including interviews, podcasts, TV appearances, and books – as well as fact-checking content. The RNLI launched The 200 Voices podcast which captured diverse personal stories from across the charity’s communities, including voices often absent from official records.
They also contributed archival material to a special episode of the documentary series, Saving Lives at Sea, highlighting the RNLI’s role during World War Two. The episode has since sparked a new project about stories of courage during World War Two, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The anniversary significantly raised the RNLI’s profile leading to an 18% rise in the charity’s membership and The Charity Times ‘Campaigning Team of the Year’ award. Public engagement for the archive surged, with increasing enquiries, donations, and interest in family history.
The archive also secured new material to preserve the legacy of the 200th anniversary for future generations. By advocating for the value of heritage and embedding it into organisational planning, the RNLI archive not only celebrated the past but helped secure its future, demonstrating how archives can elevate reputation, foster connection, and drive meaningful engagement.
Hayley’s proactive approach has also raised internal awareness about the archive, and positioned it as a respected, strategic asset to the charity. Having strengthened internal relationships, the archive is well positioned to provide advice and support to departments, advocating for effective archive and records management across the RNLI.