A 5-year, £1 million a year Government grant was announced in November 2014 to support the work of life-saving charities which operate lifeboats and other rescue boats on rivers, lakes and other inland waterways within the UK.

The Department for Transport has published guidance which provides inshore/inland waterway rescue boat charities with details on on how to apply for funding under the 2015/16 grant fund scheme to purchase equipment, training and other items which support their operations.

The grant funding scheme is open to all UK registered charities who already operate an inshore/inland lifeboat or rescue boat within and around the UK.

The window for applications opens on 19 October and closes at midnight on 30 November 2015.