The lifeboat service relies heavily on its network of branches, guilds and volunteer fundraisers to bring in the money, so it is important that the best tools for the job are readily available to those who need them.

The Lifeboat speaks to Steve Baker, fundraising development manager, and Lucy Fry, fundraising materials coordinator, who have been taking a fresh look at the RNLI's fundraising materials.What are fundraising materials? Steve: Basically, everything we make available for our volunteers to fundraise with - whether it be a collecting box or bucket, banners to advertise an event, or a large mobile display unit.

Why have you recently been reviewing the range of materials available? Lucy: It's good practice to take stock every few years - we want to make sure that we are providing the best possible support with the budget that we have. We recently spoke to a broad cross-section of branch and guild members from all across the UK and Ireland.

What were the main findings of these discussion groups? Steve: People universally recognised a difficulty in recruiting new, younger members to branches and guilds - this came across loud and clear. They also disliked the cardboard trays used on flag days and said that all our materials should have a common look and style. To our great concern, we also learned that shops and pubs are increasingly unwilling to take our traditional double-ended boat collecting box as it takes up loo much room on the counter and needs securing. Branch members also thought that information on what was available was generally not well communicated.

What have you been doing to redress some of these issues? Lucy: We designed a new order form clearly illustrating everything available. We are also looking at a smaller static box styled on a modern lifeboat, which will give box secretaries an alternative. Most people we spoke to agreed that many fundraising items reflected a very traditional image of the lifeboat service that did not readily attract younger supporters.What new products are available? Steve: We've always been asked for collecting boxes to keep at home to save loose change. This has been difficult to accommodate with the permanent lifeboat boxes such as you see in pubs.

So we have developed a pyramid-shaped cardboard collecting box, which we are calling the home box.

It can be posted flat and then assembled. They are available through regional fundraising offices or local fundraising area organisers and it is hoped they will make a significant contribution to income this year.

Can you justify the costs involved in producing these items? Lucy: Definitely, in fact we are actually saving money. There are now cheaper materials that we can use to make items like flags, banners and collecting boxes. The cost of the home box is less than 10p and can potentially raise £10-15 a time, which is really efficient fundraising. We are also looking at a very smart cardboard flag day box, which would save money on cleaning, postage and storage but we are moving slowly with this and testing it in London this spring.

How will you decide what new products are needed in the future? Steve: I would like to think that attitudes in the lifeboat service have changed considerably in recent years. There was a time, many years ago, when we would design a new fifeboat, build it, deliver it to a new station and say there you go! Now we work closely with crew and coxswains through every step of the development process to give them the best boat for the job.

My aim is that this process of involvement should be the same with our fundraising volunteers. We will be listening closely to everybody's views.Today and yesteryear - the new home collecting box (above, left) produced in 2002 and (above) a collecting box sign produced m the early part of the 20th century.

'People universally recognised a difficulty in recruiting new, younger members to branches and guilds - this came across loud and clear' - Steve Baker 'It's good practice to take stock every few years - we want to make sure that we are providing the best possible support with the budget that we have' - Lucy Fry.