MRI purchases base at Stonehaven Harbour, August 2007

The Scottish Charity, Maritime Rescue Institute (MRI), has taken another leap forward by purchasing its base at the harbour in Stonehaven. The purchase greatly enhances the long term future of MRI - the charity that provides Stonehaven with its independent Lifeboat. Additionally it strengthens MRI's ability to provide local educational programmes and to further develop its provision of SAR Lifeboat training to national and international lifeboat trainees. Worldwide MRI is considered second to none in the provision of its methodology of SAR Lifeboat operations training and it is hoped that there will be a continued growth in the numbers of delegates visiting this corner of the North East Coast.

The purchase of the building has been a major focus of attention of MRIover the past few years but as in many situations that which appears straight forward on the surface often involves complexity; however successful purchase has been achieved with the help and support from all sides involved.

Aberdeenshire Council who own the land have been very supportive and both The Robert Gordon University and Petrofac RGIT offered help by means of a reduction in the buyout price of the building lease. The Robertson Trust donated £30,000 towards the purchase and Social Investment Scotland was then able to offer MRI a loan for the realistic balance.

Social Investment Scotland (SIS) is a unique partnership between Scotland's four biggest banks and the voluntary and public sectors.  SIS provides loan finance and business support to social economy organisations that are unable to raise any or all of the loan finance they need from normal commercial sources.

The Robertson Trust is an independent Scottish grant-making Trust which exists to provide financial support to charities where the work takes place in, or has an impact on, Scotland.

MRI's next goal will be to seek funding to pay off the loan of £151,000 as soon as practically possible, thereby strengthening the charity even further.

For further information or images please contact Ann Laing on 01569 765768. 

Press Release issued 20 August 2007

If you would like to know more about or help the MRI, please contact Ann Laing at
the Maritime Rescue Institute in Stonehaven
Tel: 01569 765768 or EMail: ann.laing@btconnect .com

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