Boosting Skywatch NI’s Life‑Saving Capability

Aim

We’re raising money to equip our volunteers with essential new kit, fuel our life‑saving search operations, and introduce a new support van.

Who are we, and what is our project about?

Skywatch NI is a volunteer‑led search and rescue charity supporting communities across Northern Ireland during missing‑person incidents, coastal emergencies, flooding, severe weather events and other high‑risk situations. Using drones, specialist ground teams, and now our new Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), we work alongside emergency services to locate vulnerable people quickly and safely.

Our project will strengthen Skywatch NI’s ability to respond to climate emergencies such as flooding and wildland fires, by equipping volunteers with new protective kit, covering essential fuel for deployments, and introducing a dedicated support van to transport and launch our new USV. This aligns directly with Aviva’s Climate Action priority by helping communities prepare for and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate through faster, safer, more resilient emergency response capabilities. 

This work matters deeply to us because the people we search for are often at immediate risk: children, those with additional needs, individuals in mental‑health crisis, and older adults who may be lost or exposed to dangerous conditions. Every minute counts and having the right kit, fuel and equipment can be the difference between tragedy and a life saved.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We’re raising money to ensure our volunteers can respond safely and effectively as climate‑related emergencies increase in frequency and severity. Currently Skywatch NI only has the resources to fund essential PPE for volunteers and these individuals must fund their remaining equipment and clothing when joining the organisation. Current high fuel costs also limit Skywatch's ability to deploy multiple response vehicles, slowing down searches when time is critical. This funding will remove the financial barriers of entry that volunteers currently experience, especially with the ongoing cost of living crisis. 

This funding will allow us to:

• Provide essential new all‑weather kit so volunteers can operate safely in harsh conditions.
• Cover fuel for emergency callouts, ensuring we can deploy multi‑vehicle teams across Northern Ireland.
• Introduce a support van to transport and launch our USV during water‑based and flood‑related incidents.

Your support will help us reach vulnerable people faster, operate more safely, and protect communities facing the realities of a changing climate.

How we’ll spend the money raised

Every donation will go directly toward strengthening our frontline emergency response capability:

Essential volunteer kit & PPE

Operational jackets, trousers, mid‑layers, hoodies, PPE and cold‑weather gear to ensure volunteers can work safely in extreme conditions.

Fuel for emergency deployments

Fuel costs are one of our biggest operational barriers. Funding will allow us to respond rapidly with multiple vehicles and avoid volunteers covering costs themselves.

Support van for our USV

A dedicated van to transport and launch our new Unmanned Surface Vessel - vital for flood rescues, coastal emergencies and severe weather incidents.

How you can help

1. Make a donation

Every contribution brings us closer to protecting more people in emergencies. Early support is especially powerful and helps build momentum.

2. Spread the word

Share our project with friends, family, local groups and your wider network. The more people we reach, the greater the impact we can make.

3. Volunteer with us

If you’d like to be part of Skywatch NI—whether on the ground, in support roles or helping with fundraising—get in touch via our project page using the subject line:
“I want to volunteer my time or expertise.”

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 26th June 2026 at 4:21pm