Dryrobe pledges to donate £100,000 each year to the RNLI

The original changing robe manufacturer, dryrobe®, has announced a partnership with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), making a pledge to donate £100,000 each year for the next three years.

Inspired by their shared love of the water, dryrobe® and the RNLI have teamed up to deliver key water safety messaging and raise vital funds for the charity that saves lives at sea.

The partnership is part of dryrobe’s® Warmth Project, a commitment to support coastal communities, protect the environment and promote wellbeing through outdoor activity alongside key charity partners.

As part of the pledge, dryrobe® will donate £1 from every adult and kids dryrobe® Advance, Towel dryrobe® and dryrobe® Dog product sold on the dryrobe® website.

A shared love of the sea

The RNLI is a charity dedicated to saving lives at sea. Their 24/7 volunteer lifeboat service and seasonal lifeguard patrols rescue those in trouble in the water and provide a reassuring presence along our coasts. In fact, since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,200 lives.

Nevertheless, every year approximately 150 people lose their lives around the UK and Irish coasts. Through the partnership, dryrobe® intends to share the RNLI’s important water safety messaging with their community across their website and social media channels.

“Everyone here at dryrobe® is excited to be partnering with the RNLI,” said founder Gideon Bright. “Anyone with a connection to the water in this country knows that the work they do is as vital now as it was when the RNLI was formed nearly 200 years ago.”

“We are proud to be raising money to support the incredible work they do and amplify their important water safety advice. This partnership truly brings together our shared love of the sea.”

The original change robe

Established in 2012, dryrobe® was created by Gideon Bright, a south-west based designer. A changing robe his mum made for him when he was a teenager, as well as many undignified post-surf changes in cold car parks, inspired his design. These warm and versatile changing robes soon became an essential piece of kit for open water swimmers and other outdoor sport enthusiasts.

The RNLI sees their partnership with the changing robe manufacturer as a natural collaboration between two organisations who value the coast and everything it has to offer.

“We are delighted to enter into a new partnership with dryrobe®,” said Gareth Morrison, RNLI Head of Water Safety. As we see a rise in popularity in activities such as open water dipping and swimming, the need to support this demographic with lifesaving information couldn’t be greater.

“dryrobe®’s support will enable us to reach even more people with our water safety messages and bring vital funds into the charity so we can continue saving lives at sea.”

dryrobe® products are designed for people with a love of the sea and who take part in water sports such as outdoor swimming, surfing, and stand-up paddleboarding.

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the UK and Irish coasts. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.

Read Outdoor Swimmer’s cold water swimming advice.