Energy and fuel supplier, Certa, is to play a key role in helping the RNLI to promote water safety and to raise funds to continue its lifesaving work in Galway after designating the organisation at its Official Charity Partner for the coming year.
Certa, which is part of DCC Energy plc, operates Ireland’s largest network of pay@pump forecourts and home heating depots, including a Certa forecourts in Claregalway, Ballinasloe and Headford and a Certa depot in Grannagh.
The new partnership with the RNLI will help to promote water safety and to raise funds to maintain the search and rescue service that the charity provides at three stations at the Aran Islands, Galway and Clifden.
Certa has also been appointed as the RNLI’s Official Fuel Supplier for the next three years after a competitive tender process. It will supply fuel to all 46 RNLI stations on the island of Ireland and will also support the RNLI’s plan to transition its entire fleet to HVO renewable fuel into the future.
“Certa is proud to support the search and rescue service that the RNLI provides in Galway. The RNLI is a natural fit to become our Official Charity Partner as we are both part of the local communities not only in Galway but across Ireland,” said Laura Byrne, Head of Sustainable Fuels at Certa.
“Certa is also delighted to be appointed as the RNLI’s Official Fuel Partner. We understand that maintaining fuel supply is critically important to the rescue service that the RNLI’s volunteer crews provide 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. We have a strong supply chain, and our fuel management, monitoring and storage solutions provide customers with assurances they can trust,”
Certa will raise significant funds for the RNLI by donating 1c per litre from every online order for home heating oil throughout August. A similar donation campaign will be made across its forecourts and depots throughout November with select sites having specially branded ‘donation pumps’, which will donate 1c per litre from every transaction, giving thousands of motorists an opportunity to support the RNLIwhen they fill up.
Customers will also have the option to make separate donations to the RNLI at Certa’s 49 pay@pump forecourts and 21 local depots and on its website.
The RNLI will also make use of the digital advertising units across the Certa network to promote water safety initiatives throughout the year. Certa’s Volunteering Day Programme, which facilitates its 370 strong workforce in taking paid days out of the business each year to volunteer and give back to their local communities, will also be heavily focused on supporting the RNLI.
Killian O’Kelly, RNLI Fundraising and Partnerships Lead said they are delighted to partner with Certa and look forward to working with the team in the year ahead.
‘Last year, RNLI lifeboats at our 46 stations including the five in County Galway, launched 967 times with our volunteer crews bringing 912 people to safety, 17 of whom were lives saved.
“280 of those launches were carried out in the hours of darkness. Each year we see how quickly things can change on the water. Our crews are always ready to respond, but we can only do what we do thanks to the generosity of others,” he said.
‘Every launch represents someone in urgent need and our volunteers drop everything to help. Ensuring that we have a secure supply of fuel is critical to the service that the RNLI provides. Certa understands this and we look forward to working with them as we continue our lifesaving work, and start our transition to HVO as a renewable fuel”
