Seafarers' Seaview Summer 2022

Your supporter magazine from The Seafarers’ Charity Summer 2022

Platinum Jubilee

Copyright Protected Image © www.royalimages.co.uk

Special moments from our history celebrate our Patron’s and the Royal Family’s momentous milestones and support to our Charity. page 6

Humanitarian crisis in Ukraine

Cost of living crisis

Fly the Red Ensign 2022

Seafarers International Relief Fund supports those impacted by the conflict.

See how our latest appeal supports seafarers who are already struggling.

Your invitation to our annual campaign for Merchant Navy Day.

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Seaview • Summer 2022

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theseafarerscharity.org

Welcome from the CEO

A warm welcome

from Catherine Spencer, Chief Executive Officer, The Seafarers’ Charity It’s a huge privilege to introduce this edition of Seaview containing great examples of our work to support seafarers and our delivery partners.

As I write, we are delighted at the prospect of celebrating our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We are grateful recipients of an annual stipend from Her Majesty’s Privy Purse, and we meet frequently with His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, our President. Since our founding as the King George’s Fund for Sailors, we have enjoyed the patronage of the Royal Family and it is a pleasure to share some of our memories in this edition.

There’s also exciting news as we introduce The King George’s Fund for Sailors’ Club – our opportunity to reignite our much-loved past and connect it more formally to The Seafarers’ Charity (read more on page 12).

The Seafarers’ Charity 8 Hatherley Street, London SW1P 2QT t 020 7932 0000 e contact@theseafarerscharity.org w theseafarerscharity.org An audio version of Seaview is available. Please email contact@theseafarerscharity.org or call 020 7932 0000 to request your copy.

Stay in touch The Seafarers’ Charity (Seafarers UK, formerly King George’s Fund for Sailors) is a Registered Charity, no. 226446 in England and Wales, incorporated under Royal Charter. Registered in Scotland, no.

SC038191. Registered Office: 8 Hatherley Street, London SW1P 2QT. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen President: His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex and Forfar KG, GCVO Chair of the General Council: Paul Butterworth LLB (Hons) MNI

The excitement that the Platinum Jubilee brings is contrasted by the dangers of the world around us. Most recently, the horror of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has seen the world deal with another humanitarian disaster. We’re doing impressive work with our charity partners, the International Chamber of Shipping, International Maritime Organisation and many others, to help seafarers and their families (read more on page 3).

There have been some heart-breaking stories of seafarers in Mariupol and Odessa, that only a few months ago would have been unimaginable.

The Seafarers International Relief Fund is a collaborative venture between maritime charities and the maritime industry. It was still providing help to seafarers impacted by COVID-19 when it became clear that we needed to provide immediate support to seafarers and their families caught up in the war. I’m grateful to the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network for managing a fund which provides initial support to those in dire need.

Closer to home the impactful work our fabulous delivery partners provide across the UK has contrasted with the shocking treatment of P&O Ferries workers. Sacked over the Internet, and without mandatory union consultation, it has brought widespread condemnation. We have in place our ‘UK Maritime Anchor Fund’, providing a range of support for seafarers impacted, which remains available for all UK seafarers of working age to access (read more on page 3).

Finally, it has been a great privilege to be the Chief Executive Officer of The Seafarers’ Charity. I am exceptionally grateful to our dedicated General Council, the Executive Team and our colleagues for ensuring that the Charity is in a great position. Thank you to all our supporters, whose generosity allows us to continue supporting seafarers. Due to personal circumstances, I have made the difficult decision to step down. Work is underway to appoint my successor, but I will treasure the time I have spent with such a great charity.

Chief Executive Officer: Catherine Spencer

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Summer 2022 Latest news

Maritime industry comes together to support seafarers and their families affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine The Seafarers International Relief Fund (SIRF) is providing emergency help for seafarers and their families impacted by the humanitarian disaster in Ukraine, thanks to widespread support from the maritime industry, which raised over US$280,000 in donations since March 2022.

Initial grants have been made to the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) and the welfare fund of the Ukrainian Marine Transport Workers’ Trade Union, Mortrans, to provide immediate financial support to seafarers and their families impacted by the crisis.

We were impressed by the immediate response from the maritime sector to the SIRF to provide relief from COVID-19.

More funds are now urgently needed to support seafarers and their families affected by the Ukraine crisis. The maritime industry is impressive when it comes together to help their own, and we hope that it will once more generously donate to the SIRF.’ Catherine Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of The Seafarers’ Charity

Seafarers with families in Ukraine are rightly concerned. I urge the maritime industry to give generously to this important cause and help our seafarers at this time of crisis.’

Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping

To make a donation or keep up to date with the latest information from SIRF, follow us on Twitter @SIRFund, or visit our website: www.seafarersinternationalrelieffund.org

UK Maritime Anchor Fund supports P&O Ferries workers made redundant The Seafarers’ Charity’s ‘UK Maritime Anchor Fund’ opened for applications from those impacted by the P&O Ferries redundancies on 22 March.

Grants are available to access a range of financial and emotional support through Seafarers’ Advice and Information Line (SAIL) which includes mental health and wellbeing counselling through Relate and TogetherAll. The UK Maritime Anchor Fund was created in 2020 and is open to any working-age, UK national seafarer experiencing hardship, regardless of rank or length of service.

UK merchant seafarers needing help should contact SAIL by calling 0800 160 1842 or emailing advice@sailine.org.uk

The magazine of The Seafarers’ Charity • theseafarerscharity.org

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Latest news

Maritime UK 2022 awards support The Seafarers’ Charity

The Seafarers’ Charity was selected as the chosen charity at this year’s Maritime UK awards held in Glasgow on 10 March, which raised over £1,000 on the night.

The Seafarers’ Charity’s Chief Executive Officer, Catherine Spencer, was thrilled to be able to speak to everyone about the incredible work we are doing to support seafarers in need and their families.

Thank you to everyone who made a donation and congratulations to all the winners!

The Seafarers’ Charity attends first Pride in Maritime Day On 28 February, Maritime UK launched the first Pride in Maritime Day to discuss the progress made to support the LGBTQ+ community in the maritime sector.

A live-streamed panel event, hosted by Associated British Ports and attended by representatives from Nautilus International, Royal Navy, RNLI,

It was an honour to discuss the importance of Pride in Maritime with so many esteemed panellists. The Seafarers’ Charity has recently set up an internal Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group and it was great to hear about the fantastic work other organisations are doing.’

Kian Goodsell, The Seafarers’ Charity

Shipowners’ Club and The Seafarers’ Charity, amongst others, discussed how the maritime sector could be more welcoming for LGBTQ+ people.

The Annual National Service for Seafarers returns The Annual National Service for Seafarers is set to return to St. Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday 12 October after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New and returning guests are invited to attend the event which, since 1905, has paid tribute to all members of the seafaring profession and given encouragement to

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Seaview • Summer 2022

young people who are the seafarers of tomorrow.

There is no charge for attendance, but a ticket will be required. Should you wish to attend, you can add your details to the mailing list by calling Sharon Palmer on 020 7932 0000 or emailing anss@theseafarerscharity.org

Grants awarded

Making a difference

The past several years have continued to be challenging for many seafarers and their families, but thanks to your support, we have been able to continue to fund essential services.

To-date in 2022, we have already awarded £914,220 in grants to 16 organisations, supporting more than 400,000 people in need.

For more information about our grant funding, visit our website: www.theseafarerscharity.org/grants-awarded

Our impact in 2022 to-date:

£914,220 Awarded in grants

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Grants awarded

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Organisations supported

Examples of grants awarded to-date in 2022

• Cornwall Community Development Ltd - £150,000 • CHIRP Charitable Trust - £75,000

• Clyde Fishermen’s Trust - £75,000

• Cornish Fish Producers Organisation - £21,000 • Fighting With Pride - £30,000

• Fishermen’s Mission - £5,000

• Fishing into the Future - £42,000

• International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network - £112,000

• Merchant Navy Welfare Board - £31,000 • Mindfully Wired - £3,720

• Nautilus Welfare Fund - £142,000

425,958 People assisted thanks to our funding

• Port of Bristol Seafarers’ Centre - £25,000 • SAMA 82 - £2,200

• Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society - £75,000 • Stella Maris - £120,200

• The Money Charity - £5,100 The magazine of The Seafarers’ Charity • theseafarerscharity.org

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Platinum Jubilee

Celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee On 6 February 2022, Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to mark 70 years on the throne and celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.

The Seafarers’ Charity, established in 1917, was supported by her grandfather, King George V, who gave us our original name, King George’s Fund for Sailors (KGFS). Queen Elizabeth II has been involved with our Charity with a number of public engagements before becoming our Patron in 1952, ahead of her coronation.

From our archives, we have picked a selection of key moments in our history to celebrate our Patron’s and the Royal Family’s momentous milestones and support to our Charity.

1917

During the First World War, thousands of lives were lost at sea – many of them young sailors – and the public wanted to support those who were fighting, as well as their dependants. A central organisation, called the Sailor’s Fund, was established to help direct the funds.

Our early fundraising activities sparked the interest of HM King George V. His supporting donation of £5,200 saw us become the King George’s Fund for Sailors on 5 July 1917.

1936

HM King George V, the Charity’s first Patron, died at Sandringham House, aged 70. He was succeeded as Patron later that year by the Charity’s then President, who became King George VI.

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1946

Princess Elizabeth made her first public appearance at a charity ball when she attended the Royal and Merchant Navy Ball in aid of the King George’s Fund for Sailors at the Dorchester Hotel and was pictured dancing with Captain Lord Rupert Nevill.

1952

HM Queen Elizabeth II became Patron of King George’s Fund for Sailors, prior to her coronation on 2 June 1953.

1967

HM Queen Elizabeth II congratulated King George’s Fund for Sailors on our 50th anniversary with a message from Buckingham Palace wishing the charity ‘continued success in our great work’.

2011

HRH The Earl of Wessex and Forfar KG, GCVO became President of the Charity.

1953

HM The Queen unveiled the Second World War extension of the Tower Hill Memorial in London. It commemorated the 36,000 men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who have no grave but the sea.

1971

1978

2017

Despite many advances and improvements in ship design and navigational aid, the power and unpredictability of the sea are unchanged; the welfare issues which may afflict seafarers and their families are exacerbated by a harsh and dangerous working environment often far away from home and loved ones.’

HRH the Duke of Edinburgh attended a KGFS fundraising evening as a guest of honour, which raised a record £16,000 for the Fund.

The Charity celebrated its 100th anniversary with a range of commemorative events and a major conference to set a clear path for the future provision of charitable services to the maritime community.

Our Patron, HM The Queen, approved the appointment of Admiral of the Fleet HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh to succeed his uncle as President of KGFS.

HM The Queen, on the occasion of The Seafarers’ Charity’s Centenary

The magazine of The Seafarers’ Charity • theseafarerscharity.org

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Latest appeal

For seafarers who are already struggling, this year is a nightmare

Bullying. Intimidation.

Your partner is thinking of leaving you because you haven’t been home for nine months and the kids don’t know you anymore.

These things and more play on seafarers’ minds all the time.’

David Watkins, Director at Befrienders Worldwide

at sea, if a seafarer is in emotional distress they aim to be there.

The Seafarers International Emotional Support Service (SIESS) is a helpline which can be accessed through the App and offers callers a space to be heard in confidence without fear of judgement or recrimination from their peers or their employers.

An energy crisis unlike anything we have seen in decades is squeezing more out of those who have the least. As the months roll by, the price of turning on our lights, cooking our food, and heating our homes, has jumped dramatically. This is a worry for most of us, but for those who are already struggling, it’s a nightmare scenario.

Many seafarers put their lives on hold when they leave their families to go to work. But their worries follow them, which can quickly lead to anxiety and depression.

We are working alongside our delivery partners to ensure informational, emotional, and practical support is made available to seafarers and

their families when they need it most. But we need your help.

Befrienders Worldwide, supported

by The Seafarers’ Charity, is providing emotional support to seafarers by connecting them to trained volunteers in support centres around the world, through their easy-touse Help App. Whether on land or

With the headlines we’ve seen in recent months, it seems like spring was always going to be a difficult time.

It’s a small comfort that in the warmer months we expect to use less energy to heat our homes, which might ease the pressure for some. But with prices rising elsewhere, the seafarers who are already struggling to work and look after their families need help navigating through this crisis.

With your help, we can get the funds to where they are most needed and ensure that those who reach out in desperation always have somewhere to turn to.

If you have already made a donation, thank you for your kind generosity.

Seafarers seeking emotional support can access the Seafarers International Emotional Support Service by visiting https://help.befrienders.org

Please donate what you can by completing the donation form attached, by scanning the QR code on the right, or by visiting our website: https://theseafarerscharity.enthuse.com/cf/springappeal

Please note that due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19 on the way our Charity operates, it currently takes 2–3 weeks to process your postal donations.

We, therefore, encourage you to make donations online.

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Seaview • Summer 2022

Our impact

How your support makes a difference: Better Working Lives at Sea In this edition of Seaview, we are delving deeper into one of five areas of need supported by our grant funding – ‘Better Working Lives at Sea’ – to show how your support and our approach to funding creates an essential support system for seafarers and their families in need.

What does ‘Better Working Lives at Sea’ mean?

People working at sea experience unique challenges, including many months spent away from their family and social networks, isolation, irregular sleep patterns and fatigue from a physically demanding job.

‘Better Working Lives at Sea’ is our second largest area of grant funding each year, supporting charities who provide maritime ministries, visit ships in ports and make digital welfare services accessible to those working at sea.

How our grant funding supports this area of need:

£112,000 was awarded to International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network for SeafarerHelp – a free, confidential and multilingual helpline accessible to seafarers worldwide 24/7.

Our grant enables seafarers to receive advice on their employment contract, relationships onboard and emotional support. This service has been in operation for over 15 years and is currently accessible to an estimated 1.6 million active seafarers, globally.

£75,000 was awarded to Clyde Fishermen’s Trust to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of fishers in Scotland.

Fishers on the Clyde coast are continuing to experience challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and increased difficulties with exports following Brexit. In addition, in January, a local fishing area was shut for three months by the Scottish Government to help recover local cod stocks, affecting fishers financially.

Our grant funded two full-time project managers and one part-time fundraiser to develop projects which would challenge the ongoing threats and ensure the long-term financial sustainability of fishing businesses.

£31,000 was awarded to the Merchant Navy Welfare Board for their UK Port Welfare Vehicle Replacement Project which benefits domestic and international seafarers visiting ports across the UK. Restrictions that were put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the amount of time that can be spent ashore before returning to sea. The vehicles are used to collect seafarers from their ships and provide an efficient way of accessing the nearest seafarers centre or the local town to have time ashore and away from their vessel.

To learn more about how our grant funding contributes to creating ‘Better Working Lives at Sea’, visit our website: www.theseafarerscharity.org/our-influence

The magazine of The Seafarers’ Charity • theseafarerscharity.org

In 2021, we awarded 15 grants to 9 organisations worth a total of £824,300 to support Better Working Lives at Sea.

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Impact news

Funding to support women working in fishing The Seafarers’ Charity is funding a new membership organisation to represent and support women working in the UK fishing industry with a grant of £27,000.

Developed with the ambition to increase the visibility of women’s work in this traditionally male-dominated industry, UK Women in Fisheries is now open for women who are vessel owners, fleet managers, fishers, fishmongers, processors, fishing conservationists, charity workers, trainers or working in other roles in the fishing industry to join and

We recognise that seafaring is a male-dominated industry and that creates an assumption that the welfare needs of women seafarers may be similar to those of men. However, with this new research project, we want to explore that assumption. If women seafarers have unique or different welfare needs, we want to understand this and if necessary, use our grant funding to ensure that the welfare needs of women seafarers are as well supported as their male colleagues.’

benefit from in-person and online networking opportunities, events, training, and mutual support.

For more information about UK Women in Fisheries and how to become a member, please visit: www.women-fisheries.com

For too long the important contribution made by women in the UK fishing industry has been ignored. I hope that The Seafarers’ Charity’s funding of UK Women in Fisheries will provide representation and support for women working incredibly hard in the UK fishing industry.

‘In addition to our funding, we will also promote the significant contribution that women make to the industry – not just in processing but working out at sea catching fish, various shore-based roles, and of course within fishing businesses and the family.’

Catherine Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of The Seafarers’ Charity

New research to explore the welfare needs of women seafarers

On International Women’s Day, 8 March, The Seafarers’ Charity revealed £39,500 in funding to explore the welfare needs of women seafarers working on cargo ships and the extent to which these are currently met.

Catherine Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of The Seafarers’ Charity

The research, carried out by the Seafarers’ International Research Centre at Cardiff University, aims to include the experiences of 30 women seafarers, their use of port-based welfare facilities and their preferences for the delivery and scope of welfare services in the future.

Research findings will be published by the end of 2022 and will help shape The Seafarers’ Charity’s future funding of services to support and improve the experience of women working at sea.

If you are a woman with experience of working at sea and would like to take part in the research, please visit: www.theseafarerscharity.org/new-research-survey-for-women-working-on-cargo-ships

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Impact news

Fishing First Safety Management adopted by 50 vessels The Seafarers’ Charity is delighted to have supported the pilot project in the South West of England to improve safety in the UK fishing fleet.

Within a week of launching in autumn 2021, the project, delivered by the SafetyFolder, was fully subscribed with over 50 fishing vessels enrolled to receive professional support and onboard audits to develop a safety management system and demonstrate compliance with ILO C188 and the Fishing Safety Management Code.

Jeff Parfitt from The Nautical Institute said: ‘The project was designed by fishers for fishers. The auditor course developed at The Nautical Institute, includes a bespoke fishing module and there are now 19 qualified auditors within the UK fishing industry. The new qualification has been so well received that we are already planning more courses in the future.’

Robert Greenwood at the SafetyFolder said: ‘The infrastructure to deliver the Fishing First Safety Management service has now

been well-tested in the UK and demonstrated it can be adapted to suit all types of fishing vessels from under 10m to large ring netters. We have also delivered the service to international fishing fleets, including the Falkland Islands and Korea.

‘Next steps are to look at how we can roll out the service to the whole UK fishing fleet and offer Fishing First Safety Management to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the rest of England, and continue to improve and enhance safety standards for everyone in fishing.’

For the latest information on the Fishing First Safety Management project, please visit our website: https://www.theseafarerscharity.org/what-wedo/our-influence/safety-management-onboard-fishing-vessels-2

The magazine of The Seafarers’ Charity • theseafarerscharity.org

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Impact news

Funding to help raise safety standards at sea In March 2022, The Seafarers’ Charity awarded £75,000 in grant funding to CHIRP Maritime to continue to provide a safety reporting system for incidents, accidents and near misses at sea to seafarers worldwide.

paper publication in the languages most spoken by seafarers (English, Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian and several others) to raise awareness of incidents and contribute to improved safety across the maritime industry.

Confidential Human Incident Reporting Programme (CHIRP Maritime) is raising safety standards and practices for everyone working at sea by allowing seafarers to report safety issues anonymously and free from the fear of reprisals or penalties.

The number of reports received has more than doubled since 2017 and each incident is investigated by the CHIRP Maritime staff and analysed by the Maritime Advisory Board.

Analysis is published on CHIRP’s website and in its Maritime FEEDBACK

Fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world and at The Seafarers’ Charity we are keen to encourage people working in fishing to feel confident to report incidents and near misses to CHIRP and help stop an accident happening to someone else.’

Tina Barnes, Head of Impact, The Seafarers’ Charity

See our YouTube channel for a short film about CHIRP Maritime: https://bit.ly/TheSeafarersCharityYouTube or visit: www.chirp.co.uk

Introducing the King George’s Fund for Sailors Club

To mark the Platinum Jubilee, and in recognition of our longstanding ties with the Royal Family, The Seafarers’ Charity is launching a new journey for our most dedicated supporters, the King George’s Fund for Sailors Club.

When we were established in 1917, it was a time when Great Britain had come nearest to defeat in the First World War. Public sympathy for those who were fighting and dying at sea was never higher.

There was no shortage of organisations set up to help sailors, but it was difficult for people to know where their hard-earned money would be most effectively used. The King George’s Fund for Sailors was set up to be the central fund for all naval charities.

Our aim was to ‘ensure adequate support for organisations that

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helped and comforted mariners in sickness and in distress and to make certain of timely aid to the widows and orphans they left behind.’

regular supporters, by sharing details of our work, the value of their gifts, and reminding them in a powerful way why they have chosen to support us.

More than a 100 years later many things have changed, including our name, but our goals have not. We still retain our original name in our KGFS stamp to commemorate our heritage and the thousands of seafarers whom we’ve helped since the First World War. We still retain our ambition and our commitment to that same cause.

Being a King George’s Fund for Sailors Club member, you will receive the official KGFS pin, specialised updates on The Seafarers’ Charity work, invitations to exclusive events, as well as KGFS Club reports.

The King George’s Fund for Sailors Club is an extension of that. It brings us closer to our most dedicated

Seaview • Summer 2022

If you would like to find out more about the King George’s Fund for Sailors Club, please contact Rory Warwick, Individual Giving Manager, by emailing rory. warwick@theseafarerscharity.org

Harbour Master Sailing Challenge sets sail for penultimate year

Mark Ashley Miller has begun the fourth and penultimate year of his fundraising challenge to circumnavigate Great Britain and meet every Harbour Master in aid of The Seafarers’ Charity. in London, where Good Dog was stationed, to bring together Mark’s family, friends, crewmates, as well as members from the maritime industry, and celebrate his achievements before he set sail again in April.

From fishing villages in Cornwall to urban container ports, Mark has so far visited 215 harbours, sailed 5,300 nautical miles on his 34ft boat, Good Dog, and met 175 Harbour Masters.

Although the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown directly impacted the challenge, Mark has continued to support our Charity and raised an incredible £16,000 to-date.

In March, we held a drinks reception on the pontoon at St Katharine Docks

Paul Butterworth, Chair of The Seafarers’ Charity’s General Council, was in attendance to welcome everyone to the event and was delighted to thank Mark for his extraordinary challenge and fundraising to support our work.

From left to right: Chair of The Seafarers’ Charity’s General Council, Paul Butterworth with Mark Ashley Miller and The Seafarers’ Charity’s Chief Executive Officer, Catherine Spencer.

Keep up to date with the challenge on Instagram by following @HarbourMasterSailingChallenge or to make a donation to support Mark, visit: https://donate.giveasyoulive. com/donate?eid=17078

24 Peaks Challenge teams are set to take on the hills After a two-year break caused by the coronavirus pandemic, our flagship 24 Peaks Challenge is back for 2022.

Teams from across the maritime industry, including walkers from Maersk, Carisbrooke Shipping, Solent Stevedores and Scandia to name a few, will make their way to the Lake District to take part in this demanding challenge of walking 24 peaks on 2–3 July.

Good luck to everyone taking on the challenge and we look forward to welcoming you to the event’s basecamp in Ambleside next month!

Fancy getting a team together to take part in the challenge next year? Get in touch with our Events Team at events@theseafarerscharity.org

We have places!

A limited number of places is available for upcoming events. Join #TeamSeafarersKGFS for an unforgettable experience whilst raising vital funds to help us support seafarers in need and their families.

London Marathon 2 October 2022 Royal Parks Half Marathon 9 October 2022 Bath Half Marathon 16 October 2022 For more information about our events, or how to organise your own fundraising activities at home or at work, please contact Charlotte Brennan, Events and Partnerships Manager, by emailing events@theseafarerscharity.org

The magazine of The Seafarers’ Charity • theseafarerscharity.org

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Merchant Navy Fund Welcome

Fund for Merchant Navy seafarers reaches ten-year milestone The Merchant Navy Fund, which supports charities caring for UK Merchant Navy seafarers and their families, is celebrating its ten-year anniversary this year.

The Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) and The Seafarers’ Charity launched the Merchant Navy Fund in 2012 following an idea from MNWB’s then Chief Executive, Captain David Parsons, who felt ‘there should be a benevolent fund for the Merchant Navy to give our people a chance to support those from our own background’.

Since its inception, the Fund’s grant awards supported a diverse range of projects, such as:

• £12,000 awarded to Sir Gabriel Wood’s Mariners Home to modernise 14 rooms

• £13,000 awarded to Nautilus Welfare Fund to

develop a ‘dementia friendly’ garden for residents

• £12,161 awarded to Age UK Wirral to support their Dementia Life History and Reminiscence project

• £10,000 awarded to Care Ashore to support a

Health & Wellbeing programme for residents

• £4,341 awarded to Cobhair Bharraigh SCIO to combat loneliness of 16 ex-seafarers

• £1,300 awarded to Falklands Veterans Foundation

The Fund recognised that some of our older seafarers faced retirement with few savings and little or no pension and younger individuals and families may need support for varied reasons, including the loss of a partner, serious illness and mental health issues.

Since its inception, the Merchant Navy Fund has received donations, legacies and corporate support totalling £720,000, with over £700k awarded in grants to support UK serving or retired MN seafarers in need and their families. All monies raised go directly to support those in most need.

The Fund also supported vulnerable Merchant Navy seafarers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with grants such as:

• £7,000 awarded to The Not Forgotten Association to help prevent loneliness and isolation for 300 former Merchant Navy personnel by providing a programme of events and activities • £15,000 awarded to Shipwrecked Mariners’

Society to provide financial help to Merchant Navy seafarers and their dependants in real poverty

• £15,000 awarded to Sailors’ Children’s Society to

support children and young people from Merchant Navy families on low incomes with essentials, such as school uniforms, winter clothing and educational equipment.

to enable a daughter of a Merchant Seaman killed during the Falkland’s Conflict to visit the islands.

For more information about the Fund, visit: www.merchantnavyfund.org or sign up to our e-newsletter by scanning the QR code on the left-hand side.

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‘The maritime sector is among those who have been hit hard by the pandemic, particularly frontline workers from the Merchant Navy and their families. So being able to support those in a time of need is imperative, and this Fund offers a lifeline for many. Over a decade, the Fund has raised nearly three quarters of a million pounds, which has been used in a variety of ways to boost the health and wellbeing of both serving and retired seafarers.’

Stuart Rivers, Chief Executive of the MNWB

Merchant Navy Fund

Will you Fly the Red Ensign for Merchant Navy Day? The Seafarers’ Charity is inviting you to take part in our annual commemoration and fundraising day on 3 September to honour the brave men and women who kept the UK afloat during both World Wars and celebrate our dependence on modern-day merchant seafarers who are responsible for more than 90% of the UK’s imports.

Do you have a connection to the Merchant Navy?

If you have a story you’d like to tell or celebrate a memory of a loved one who bravely served in the Merchant Navy, we would love to hear from you.

Email Rory Warwick at rory.warwick@ theseafarerscharity.org to tell us about your connection to the Merchant Navy.

All funds raised will go towards the Merchant Navy Fund, a dedicated Fund to support UK merchant seafarers, administered by The Seafarers’ Charity and supported by the Merchant Navy Welfare Board.

For up-to-date information on the campaign, and how to get involved, visit: www.merchantnavyfund.org

In Memoriam We’d like to thank the families and friends of those recently deceased, who have chosen to support The Seafarers’ Charity in their memory and for thinking of our Charity in such a special way.

Bill Akhurst

Mick Rowley

Norma Bennet

John Sharpe

Elizabeth Anne Crocker

Robert Stone

Anthony Charles Gee

Joan E Welsh

Read Seaview online

If you’re reading a printed magazine, did you know that you could be receiving your copy of Seaview straight into your inbox, as soon as it becomes available?

If you would like to receive your copy of future editions of Seaview by email only, please contact Dolly Wartemberg at dolly.wartemberg@ theseafarerscharity.org

Your supporter magazine from The Seafarers’ Charity Summer 2022

Comm Julian Lee

If you would like to find out how to make a donation online, by post or by phone, or if you would like to set up an online tribute page, please contact Rory Warwick by emailing rory.warwick@theseafarerscharity.org

Platinum Jubilee

Special moments from our history celebrate our Patron’s and the Royal Family’s momentous milestones and support to our Charity.

Copyright Protected Image © www.royalimages.co.uk

Donating or fundraising in memory of a loved one is a very special way to celebrate and honour their life while supporting seafarers in need and their families.

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Humanitarian crisis in Ukraine

Cost of living crisis

Fly the Red Ensign 2022

Seafarers International Relief Fund supports those impacted by the conflict.

See how our latest appeal supports seafarers who are already struggling.

Your invitation to our annual campaign for Merchant Navy Day.

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Seaview • Summer 2022

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theseafarerscharity.org

The magazine of The Seafarers’ Charity • theseafarerscharity.org

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