Holiday Letting Firm Donates £1,000 To Support Freshwater Lifeboat Station Upgrade

A holiday letting company with an office on the Isle of Wight has donated £1,000 to help fund improvements to a lifeboat station on the Island’s west coast.

Classic Cottages is backing the Buy a Brick fundraising campaign run by Freshwater Independent Lifeboat with the donation, which will contribute towards a major upgrade of the charity’s station at Freshwater Bay.

The lifeboat service was founded by members of the local community in 1972 and is funded entirely through donations, local business sponsorship and community grants.

The organisation operates two lifeboats covering the south-west coast of the Island from Hurst Point to St Catherine's Point.

Earlier this year, work began on a major renovation and expansion of the lifeboat station, being carried out by local firm Stoneham Construction.

The project will create a new upstairs training area and community space for local groups, a larger shop to help fund the charity’s work, and improved storage facilities.

Classic Cottages’ £1,000 contribution is the equivalent of purchasing 20 bricks as part of the campaign, which allows supporters to symbolically “buy” a brick to help fund the building work. More than 400 bricks have already been sold.

A dedicated Buy a Brick wall will be installed inside the station, displaying the names of everyone who has donated or had a brick purchased on their behalf – including those commemorating loved ones or marking special family occasions.

Rachel Crutcher said:

"The Freshwater Independent Lifeboat provides a vital service to residents and visitors, being on call to HM Coastguard 24 hours a day and receiving 20 to 30 shouts a year.

"We’re delighted to be supporting the Buy a Brick campaign and hope our donation encourages other businesses to get involved.”

Josh Macgregor added:

“Every brick brings us closer to a station that will improve how we serve the community, train volunteers, and respond to emergencies.

"Local support like this helps keep the Freshwater Independent Lifeboat service strong.

"We’d like to thank Classic Cottages for their commitment to saving lives at sea.”

Those wishing to support the campaign can purchase a brick via the charity’s JustGiving page or by contacting the lifeboat station directly.

Classic Cottages is part of the UK-based Sapphire Holidays group, which also includes Aspects Holidays, Boutique Retreats, Unique Hideaways and Island Escapes.