RNLI / Lifeboats
In the early 19th Century there were an average of 2,000 shipwrecks per year around the British coastline and the danger of being shipwrecked was an accepted part of life at sea. The vision for a Service dedicated to saving lives at sea began in 1823. Sir William Hillary was a resident of the Isle of Man and over the years had witnessed dozens of shipwrecks. He decided he had to act and petitioned the Government for help. The response was unenthusiastic and so he appealed to philanthropic friends in London Society. His plans were adopted  and the 'Institute for the preservation of life from shipwreck' was established in 1824.
The Society gained Royal patronage and in 1854 its name was changed to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the RNLI. In 1850 the Institution had 96 Lifeboats increasing to 276 by 1880.
As a Sea faring nation the Institution was incredibly popular with the general public and has been funded by charitable donations since this time as it was felt it could operate better without Government interference. Lifeboats launched over 1,800 times during WW1 to save over 5,000 lives from ships either struck by mines or torpedoes. 
Rescuing survivors from aircraft shot down in the English Channel during the 'Battle of Britain' in WW2 saved hundreds of lives.
There are now nearly 250 Lifeboat Stations around the coast of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Lifeboat crews are on call to head out in all weathers to aid those in distress on the sea. The cost of this Service has come at a heavy price.
Over 600 volunteers have lost their own lives in the service of saving others since its inception.