Seafarers Seaview January 2020

Winter 2019/2020

Seafarers UK in the limelight at Maritime UK awards Seafarers UK’s ‘Marine Engineering Pathway’ project, delivered in partnership with Sea Cadets, wins Maritime UK Award.

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Also in this issue: Merchant Navy Day Record

Successful 'Rowing Dangerously'

On 3 September more than one thousand Red Ensigns were flown ashore across the UK.

Former soldier Jordan Wylie has become the first person in history to successfully row solo, unsupported and unarmed across the most dangerous body of water on the planet, raising funds for Seafarers UK.

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www.seafarers.uk

Your chance to win up to £25,000 with our weekly lottery

Find out more

www.seafarers.uk/our-lottery

How far has your lunch travelled?

Seafarers play a vital role in our economy, transporting 95% of all UK imports, including many foods that go into our lunch.

With your support, we can help seafarers and their families when they fall on hard times.

Help us make sure that your lunch is here tomorrow

Donate through your pay to help seafarers today www.seafarers.uk/payroll-giving

2 • SEAVIEW | WINTER 2019/2020 • HELPING SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1917

A warm welcome

from Catherine Spencer, Chief Executive Officer, Seafarers UK

It was a great privilege to take the helm at Seafarers UK in July 2019. Commodore Barry Bryant, Director General for the past 17 years, handed over an extremely well-run organisation which has repeatedly achieved far more than seems possible for our small workforce.

I am very lucky to work with such a dedicated team of people who all have the welfare and safety of our seafarers at the heart of what they do. We are excited about our next voyage – as we plan the future for Seafarers UK – so that we can keep providing much-needed funds to support people who work at sea through every stage of their life journey.

We are able to support seafarers from cradle to grave by working in partnership with organisations that deliver quality services. I’ve been incredibly impressed by our Grants Team's process for assessing applications for funding to ensure that we are spending money in the best possible way to alleviate need through specialist delivery charity partners. Central to our role is also ensuring that the maritime charities we work with are run efficiently and effectively, providing the very best for the maritime population and guaranteeing that maritime charities are following good governance practice.

My first few months have been busy with visits to a wide range of organisations such as Sailors Children Society, which provides much-needed frontline help and funds to the most vulnerable seafarers’ families, and the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, seeing the important role it plays to ensure seafarers across the world have access to port-services, providing relief from months

at sea. I’ve also been impressed by the ‘Get Sea Fit’ programme, to which we gave our biggest non-capital grant ever, helping to encourage fishers to take their healthcare seriously. It’s providing muchneeded evidence that healthcare services need to be flexible to accommodate irregular working hours.

In the autumn, I attended London International Shipping Week, providing the chance to meet a wide variety of people who work in the maritime industry and to understand future challenges for shipping and the Merchant Navy. Our own event (which you can read more about on page 5) provided a fascinating insight into the benefits, risks and complexities of changing technology where crew welfare is concerned. We’ve been campaigning for safety at sea since our inception in 1917 – so it was hugely satisfying to hear industry representatives talk of zero safety incidents being more than just an aspiration, and potentially a reality. But whilst modern technology will deliver ever-improving safety standards for the larger operators and their ships – there is still much to do to increase the welfare conditions for many seafarers working on smaller vessels and often out of reach of regular compliance checks.

UK has been doing to increase awareness of Maritime. Last year's Seafarers Awareness Week campaign achieved fantastic media coverage – combating ‘sea blindness’ through a combination of TV, radio and social media coverage. Our pioneering ‘Fly the Red Ensign’ campaign - part of Merchant Navy Day on 3 September - resulted in over one thousand locations across the country raising the Red Ensign to show appreciation for seafarers. The unveiling of the impressive ‘Watchkeeper’ monument by HRH The Princess Royal, a long overdue memorial to the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets, positioned proudly on Plymouth Hoe, also took place on 3 September on a beautiful bright, end of summer day. It is a fitting memorial to those that have served and will continue to serve at sea.

Seafarers UK is superbly positioned to provide help through our grants and through the advice and advocacy work we do. A great indication of this was the recent government announcement of £250,000 for the Maritime Careers Taskforce, a cross-sector forum which Seafarers UK chairs, and which is making it easier for young people to access and understand the possibilities of a career working at sea.

So, as we work on our next steps at Seafarers UK, thank you for your continued help and support which allows us to keep providing essential care to our seafarers, whether it’s at the start of their career, during difficulty or assisting with postretirement help. I’m really proud to have joined an organisation which works so hard to help a population, often hidden from view, who are such a crucial part of the UK workforce and economy.

Since joining, it’s been extremely rewarding to see the work that Seafarers

THE NEWSLETTER OF SEAFARERS UK • www.seafarers.uk • 3

Seafarers UK in the limelight at inaugural

Maritime UK National Awards Evening

Catherine Spencer, Chief Executive Officer, Seafarers UK at the Maritime UK awards ceremony.

The Maritime Minister, Nusrat Ghani, with students and teachers at a MEP workshop.

Seafarers UK won the STEM Award at the first national Maritime UK Awards event, held in Southampton on Thursday 19 September.

The STEM category was sponsored

by DFDS and the award was for Seafarers UK’s ‘Marine Engineering Pathway’ project, delivered in partnership with Sea Cadets.

concepts such as buoyancy and propulsion, helping students and schools to understand more about their GCSE options when pursuing a STEM-linked career.

Seafarers UK was also privileged to be chosen as the official charity partner for the inaugural Maritime UK Awards gala event and dinner.

Hosted by Maritime UK member, Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, the gala evening took place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel with more than three hundred guests in attendance.

Catherine Spencer, Chief Executive Officer at Seafarers UK, said: ‘It was an honour to see this joint Seafarers UK and Sea Cadets partnership project up in lights in front of such a fantastic industry audience at the Maritime UK Awards. Winning the DFDS STEM Award is a great boost for this collaborative effort as our project seeks to engage with a further 40,000 school children over the next two and a half years, opening their eyes to maritime opportunities and careers in general, but in particular to the world of marine engineering.

Seafarers UK and Sea Cadets were jointly recognised for their threeand-a-half year partnership project that has so far engaged with 25,000 school students across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with tailored, practical workshops and lessons in marine engineering

‘We were also grateful to Maritime UK for choosing Seafarers UK as its first

The Maritime Minister, Nusrat Ghani, with Sea Cadets staff receiving the Maritime UK award.

Maritime UK Awards charity partner, and to all those who dug deep into their pockets on the night in order to help support our on-going work as we strive to make as much impact as we can. Our grant funding, working with expert delivery partners, ensures that the seafarer is supported at all stages of their life journey, including those who aspire to work at sea and are in training or education.’

For more information on the ‘Marine Engineering Pathway’ project, please visit:

www.seafarers.uk/marine engineering-pathway

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The Annual National Service for Seafarers

Successful Seafarers’ Welfare Conference

at London International Shipping Week

How do we help the seafarer of the future? This was the question at the centre of discussions at a successful conference on 11 September about ‘The Impact of Technology on Crew Wellbeing’.

The event – co-organised as part of London International Shipping Week (LISW) by Seafarers UK, The Mission to Seafarers, Apostleship of the Sea and Sailors Society, and generously hosted by satellite communications firm, Inmarsat – was attended by over 240 delegates from across the maritime sector with representatives from ship management and technology companies, trade bodies, welfare-based organisations, maritime services firms and trade unions.

health and safety issues, to how other industries are tackling issues like fatigue, isolation and long contracts and how the maritime sector might learn from them, as well as how charities should prepare for the welfare needs of future generations of seafarers. Overall, one key message from the conference seemed to be that charities are key frontline sources of information and support in the maritime space and that they should be better listened to.

Keynote speaker Dr Grahaeme Henderson, VP at Shell, highlighted the importance of the work being carried out by the four LISW-nominated charities. He said: ‘As an industry, we can do much more about caring for our own and other people’s wellbeing. We can become a leading industry in the challenging area of mental health’. He also spoke of his aspiration for a zeroincident-based industry, which resulted in a good discussion amongst fellow panellists and from the floor as to whether this was an achievable aim, or not.

The day concluded with the International Seafarers’ Welfare Assistance Network Awards, which allowed seafarers to nominate their welfare heroes across four categories. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore won ‘Port of the Year’, ‘Shipping Company of the Year’ went to Teekay Corporation, Liverpool Seafarers Centre was recognised as ‘Seafarer Centre of the Year’ and Garry South from The Mission to Seafarers in Australia won ‘The Dr Dierk Lindemann Welfare Personality of the Year’.

There were four key panel debates during the afternoon, looking at everything from how technology could improve or may impact on physical and mental

9 -13 SEPTEMBER 2019

took place in St Paul’s Cathedral on 9 October 2019.

Since 1905, this event has paid tribute to all members of the seafaring profession, past and present, and given encouragement to young people who are the seafarers of tomorrow.

Hit facid mini doluptat.

The service recognised the 425th anniversary of The Hospital of Sir John Hawkins, Knight, in Chatham and the 325th anniversary of Greenwich Hospital.

We were also pleased to once again award five Gosling Music Bursaries to support musical education and the 1st Sea Lord, Admiral Radakin, presented the awards to the young recipients.

We acknowledge the sad death of Sir Donald Gosling a few weeks prior to the Annual National Service for Seafarers and will always remember him as a valued supporter. It is with his generosity that the bursaries were able to occur.

In 2020 the Annual National Service for Seafarers will take place on 14 October.

THE NEWSLETTER OF SEAFARERS UK • www.seafarers.uk • 5

Campaigning update

Seafarers Awareness Week to focus on ‘Seafarers Safety’

Government invests in maritime careers promotion

This exciting new theme for 2020 reflects Seafarers UK’s Royal Charter Object ‘The Promotion of Safety at Sea’.

The Department for Transport has given a £250,000 grant to support the promotion of employment opportunities across the UK’s whole maritime sector, including seafaring jobs.

It has been well received by a wide range of potential participants, including the Department for Transport that has agreed to shift its annual ‘Maritime Safety Week’ to coincide with Seafarers Awareness Week.

Seafarers UK intends to secure funding to commission research that will reveal the causes of accidents and fatalities, affecting seafarers of all nationalities, with an emphasis on the men and women who work onboard merchant vessels: Cruise ships Passenger ferries Freight ferries Cargo ships Container ships Tankers Workboats Commercial yachts (aka ‘superyachts’).

The charity will then raise awareness – within and beyond the maritime industry – of steps that employers and seafarers should take to highlight hazards, reduce risks and improve safety at work, including enhanced training.

The change Seafarers UK is seeking is a significant reduction in the number of life-changing injuries and deaths.

For more information about Seafarers Awareness Week, visit www.seafarersweek.uk or contact Seafarers UK’s Campaigns Manager, Nick Harvey, email nick.harvey@seafarers.uk or phone 020 7932 5969.

5969.

Administered by the pan-industry umbrella organisation Maritime UK, the funds will be used to recruit a full-time Programme Manager (Careers & Outreach); to produce new promotional materials, including for school children; and to coordinate participation in popular skills and careers shows around the UK. The new post will also serve as secretariat for a Maritime Careers Taskforce of 30 people, chaired by Catherine Spencer, Seafarers UK’s Chief Executive Officer.

Paving the way for ‘professionalising’ maritime careers promotion, new resources have been added to the Maritime UK (MUK) website.

In 2020, Seafarers Awareness Week will be 6-12 July, culminating on Sea Sunday.

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MUK states: ‘As an island nation, the UK is proud to have one of the most vibrant and competitive maritime sectors in the world - and our strength is largely due to our workforce. With a truly diverse range of both sea and shore-based careers, the maritime industries; shipping, ports, services, engineering and leisure marine, offer a unique range of rewarding careers for all.’

For more information, visit www.maritimeuk. org/careers

Campaigning update

Celebrating 100 years of the Merchant Navy Red Ensigns flown at 1,000+ locations around the UK on Merchant Navy Day Seafarers UK called on local councils, government offices and business headquarters to celebrate Merchant Navy Day on 3 September by hoisting a Red Ensign on buildings and flagpoles.

Even the Prime Minister got involved! Boris Johnson wrote: ‘2019 marks the centenary of King George V’s grant of the title ‘Merchant Navy’. I am delighted that, in honour of this milestone, the Red Ensign flag will fly above 10 Downing Street on this Merchant Navy Day.’

Tower Bridge, London

All registered participants are listed on a prestigious ‘Roll of Honour’ at www.merchantnavyday.uk If your local council is not listed, please ask them to get involved in 2020!

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Buckinghamshire County Council

Atlow Parish Council

Scottish Borders Council

For more information about the campaign and how to get involved, visit: www.merchantnavyday.uk

Gibraltar

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Merchant Navy Association, Liverpool

THE NEWSLETTER OF SEAFARERS UK • www.seafarers.uk • 7

'Rowing Dangerously' makes history I am proud to be flying the flag for Seafarers UK and helping raise awareness for the incredible charity.'

Jordan Wylie successfully completes his 'Rowing Dangerously' challenge.

Seafarers UK was pleased to be one of Jordan Wylie's chosen charities for the 'Rowing Dangerously' challenge, which saw him row unsupported across the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

Former soldier Jordan Wylie has become the first person in history to successfully row solo, unsupported and unarmed across the most dangerous body of water on the planet.

The gruelling voyage that took 13 hours and 42 minutes saw Jordan row across the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait on 4 October, from Djibouti to Yemen and back.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a strategic waterway passage located between Djibouti on the Horn of Africa and Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, that links the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Aden. It is perhaps the most important, most dangerous and most geo-politically contested strait of water on the planet.

One of Jordan’s main motivations was to raise

money for three charities – Frontline Children, Epilepsy Action and Seafarers UK. Jordan said: 'The maritime industry is full of hard-working, humble and inspirational people that often go about their business in the shadows of society on the high seas.

I am proud to be flying the flag for Seafarers UK and helping to raise awareness for the incredible charity.' In 2019, Jordan raised over £5,000 for Seafarers UK and we are hugely grateful for his commitment and determination to raise awareness of our charity.

The funds raised through this incredible world-first attempt will allow us to provide support to children whose parents have been injured, traumatised or even killed whilst working at sea.

Find out more about the challenge and help Jordan reach his fundraising target: www.givepenny.com/rowingdangerously

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Financial Resilience or a

Fragile Reality A new research project from Seafarers UK is highlighting the financial problems faced by UK fishers and their families.

A funding partnership between Seafarers UK, the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, Defra and the Maritime Charities Group is behind a new research report on the Financial Resilience of Fishers.

Typically, these were debts related to housing, where a person could lose their home or face a prison sentence if the debt remains unpaid. Urgent vessel repairs or illness often cause further disruption and exacerbate the debts.

The research explores real-life experiences of over 400 fishers and their families who have received help from maritime welfare charities such as the Seafarers Advice & Information Line (SAIL), Seafarers’ Hospital Society, Fishermen’s Mission and Shipwrecked Mariners Society, with a specific focus on the inshore fleet that operate within six nautical miles of the UK’s coast. This includes a number of share fishermen who do not have a contract of employment with a regular income, but receive a share of the profits earned from fishing.

Many share fishermen are self-employed and are therefore responsible for their own taxation and national insurance contributions, as well as planning for sickness, accidents and pensions – all of which requires a higher degree of financial capability than is required from contracted employees.

Thanks to a grant from Defra, the researchers also visited and met fishers in Newlyn and Whitehaven areas.

The research uncovered a high incidence of debt problems arising from living on a low income, vulnerability to changes in fish stocks, market access and prices, fuel prices and unpredictable weather.

The research uncovered a high incidence of debt problems.'

Seafarers UK has already funded an additional Fishing Specialist Caseworker post at SAIL to raise awareness of the help available within the fishing industry and we will be working with our funded maritime welfare charities to determine what more can be done to help our fishers.

Research on the Financial Resilience of Fishers was undertaken by Dr Paul Jones, a leading researcher on financial inclusion at Liverpool John Moores University. The emerging findings were shared at the Maritime Charities Group conference on 28-29 October 2019 and the research report is due to be launched in early 2020.

A positive finding from the research is how well the variety of maritime welfare charities work together to provide fishers and their families with an holistic wraparound response providing advice, grants and access to other services. However, Seafarers UK believes more can be done!

We are at the early stages of considering the implications of the research findings and working out how we can influence and inform the financial environment to offer greater financial resilience and support for fishers and their families.

Fishing Specialist Caseworker, Natasha Taylor, on-board a fishing boat in Fraserburgh.

THE NEWSLETTER OF SEAFARERS UK • www.seafarers.uk • 9

Essential helplines supporting seafarers Hospitality Action Hospitality Action, established in 1837, offers advice and support when times get tough to all who work, or have worked within the hospitality sector in the UK, including cruise ships.

If you work, or have worked, on a cruise ship, and are experiencing physical illness, mental health issues caused by financial difficulty, family problems or legal concerns, Hospitality Action may be able to help you get back on your feet again.

For more information, visit www. www.hospitalityaction.org.uk hospitalityaction.org.uk or ring their 24/7 helpline on 0808 802 0282.

Seafarers Link

Free Group Friendship Calls Seafarers UK has teamed up with The Silver Line to provide regular, free group telephone friendship calls for former seafarers, including those with a Merchant Navy or fishing background.

The telephone calls take place for an hour each fortnight and are incredibly easy to join. They are completely free and a great way to build connections with fellow ex-seafarers across the country from the comfort of your own home.

If you were a seafarer yourself and are interested in connecting with others to talk about shared experiences, please phone 020 7224 2072 or visit www.thesilverline. org.uk/seafarers-link-group-calls/ for more information.

Maritime Charities Group Conference 2019 The Maritime Charities Group conference took place on 28-29 October 2019 at Trinity House in London, attended by over 120 maritime organisations.

Two years on from the publication of Navigating Change: A Review of the UK Maritime Charity Welfare Sector, the conference provided an opportunity to reflect on changes in our sector and in wider society.

Delegates heard presentations on social care, Merchant Navy Veterans, the need for diverse trustee boards and social entrepreneurship skills in maritime charities. A wide range of workshops were facilitated by Relate, SAIL, The Silver Line and Getting on Board. Narativ UK led three sessions on storytelling best practice.

To learn more about the Maritime Charities Group and the conference, visit www.seafarers.uk/maritimecharities-group or phone 020 7932 0000.

0000.

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Our Grant-Making in 2019 In 2019 Seafarers UK awarded 53 grants worth £2,212,966 to 43 organisations to fund the frontline delivery of services to seafarers.

43

£2.2 million In funding to beneficiaries

53

Organisations supported

Grants awarded

% of grants awarded by sector: 10%

New organisations supported with grant funding for the first time

People assisted thanks to our funding in 2019

2.5% of grants are 6 UK-wide (£1,382,510)

0.5% 5%

12.8% England: • 6.5% North West (£143,176) • 0.5% North East (£12,000) • 2.4% South West (£53,215) • 3.4% South East (£75,000)

48.8% 35.7%

1 0% (£222,111) Maritime Youth

Over

209,000

% of grants awarded by geographical location:

8.8% (£1,079,238) 4 Merchant Navy 5.7% (£790,617) 3 Fishing Fleet

7

% (£110,500) 5 Royal Navy

13%

1 1.5% Scotland (£255,000) 0.2% Wales (£5,000) 13% Commonwealth (£287,065) 11.5%

.5% (£10,500) 0 Cross-sector

Grants awarded by categories:

Accommodation and Supported Housing Advice and Information Services

0.5%

Hardship and Poverty

6.5%

Health Care Services

£209,000

Maritime Training and Safety

£307,233

Port-Based Welfare Services

£377,746

Welfare Support and Services

£39,676

62.5% 0.2%

£355,511 £844,400

2.4%

£79,400 0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

3.4%

900

THE NEWSLETTER OF SEAFARERS UK • www.seafarers.uk • 11

Examples of how we make a difference…

Port-Based Welfare Services 9 grants to 6 organisations helping 176,081 people £70,000 in funding was awarded to Stella Maris (formerly Apostleship of the Sea) to support the ship-visiting teams providing spiritual and welfare support in Scotland, North East England and East Anglia.

With turnaround times for cargo vessels in UK ports one third of the duration in 2006, seafarers no longer have the opportunity for respite away from their vessels.

Stella Maris’ network of chaplains and volunteers carry out 10,000 ship visits each year, creating meaningful relationships with seafarers, offering transport away from the ship, helping to reduce seafarers’ sense of isolation, whilst offering spiritual support or addressing any welfare needs.

Stella Maris’ Teesport and Hartlepool team.

In September 2019, Stella Maris’ team from Tees and Hartlepool, led by port chaplain Deacon Peter Barrigan, won the Shoreside Team of the Year Award at the Safety at Sea awards, held during the London International Shipping Week. The win is a great testimony to the good work that Peter and his team do, and you can read how volunteers Hugh and Mary helped one particular seafarer and his family, below.

Seafarers UK’s Marketing Team was pleased to have the opportunity to visit the team in October 2019, learn more about their work and join volunteers on ships to visit seafarers arriving into these busy ports.

Stella Maris’ Teesport team wins Safety at Sea award.

Hugh and Mary Ward, husband and wife ship visitors from Tees, have been volunteering with Stella Maris for six and four years respectively.

They have gotten to know the seafarers on-board ships that come into the port regularly and were overjoyed to learn that Ron Day, a crew member from the Philippines, had just become a father to triplets.

The next time they saw Ron, he seemed worried and they knew that something was not right. Hugh and Mary made sure they visited the ship each time it arrived, but it took a while for Ron to open up about problems at home.

The babies were born prematurely and needed urgent medical care. The family were unable to access free healthcare and hospital bills were increasing on a daily basis, reaching a total of over £8,000. Even after taking out loans and selling their house, they still didn’t have enough money to pay the bill.

Hugh and Mary’s intervention led to Stella Maris raising funds to pay off the family’s outstanding debt.

‘Ron just cried when he found out the news. We all cried.

Now they could enjoy their new family’, says Mary.

‘Every time we speak to them, they can’t thank us and Stella Maris enough for being there in their time of desperate need.’

Stella Maris has a very special place in the hearts of the seafarer and his family, and Hugh and Mary have become the triplets’ godparents.

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Health Care Services 3 grants to 3 organisations helping 433 people £27,176 in funding was awarded to Age UK Wirral to provide activities and events aimed at targeting social isolation amongst older ex-seafarers. The project is bringing Merchant Navy and Forces seafarers and their families together, allowing them to share their experiences and enjoy a wide range of sociable activities including coffee mornings, art classes and nautical-related visits.

One of the beneficiaries of this service is Tony, who joined the Canadian Royal Navy at 15 years old. He had worked on all types of vessels and concluded his career by dismantling submarines at Cammell Laird's in

Birkenhead. He is highly decorated for his services and his awards include the Canadian equivalent of the MBE. Tony suffered from depression and his illness was making it hard for him to carry on. The Activities Co-ordinator at Age UK Wirral took the time to learn more about him and encouraged Tony to attend activities in the company of other comrades, such as commemoration services. Although he tired easily, Tony willingly committed himself to attending various events.

Over a period of three months, he reduced his medication and said he was much happier as a result: ‘I was given the will to live. I now enjoy going to outings and talking to others’.

Hardship and Poverty

Advice and Information Services

9 grants to 9 organisations helping 985 people

7 grants to 6 organisations helping 6,110 people

£50,000 in funding was awarded to Scottish Nautical Welfare Society to support regular grants to 68 older Merchant Navy seafarers and welfare services in Scotland.

In addition to the financial support that all beneficiaries are assessed for in terms of need, the Society maintains regular personal contact, providing social interaction. Home Visitors visit all beneficiaries regularly on request, and those who are housebound are visited more frequently. All visits are recorded and reviewed so that additional support can be provided if needed, and the visits are much appreciated, especially by those who are infirm, and housebound.

The Society’s Home Visitors also assist with hospital admissions and releases and visit people during their stay in hospital. A hamper of fresh produce and store-cupboard food is provided on discharge from hospital, to ensure that there is no gap between care services provided.

For those who are more able, the Society provides a range of social events throughout the year, including theatre and summer outings, Christmas lunch and a weekly Lunch Club, offering an invaluable service for seafarers and their families who are able to meet and share common memories and experiences.

£120,000 in funding was awarded to support the Seafarers Advice and Information Line (SAIL), delivered by Greenwich Citizens Advice Bureau, to support a free advice and information telephone service exclusively for seafarers and their dependants. SAIL provides advice on a range of specialist subjects including welfare benefits, debt, employment, housing, relationship and family issues, tax and National Insurance.

Louie, a seafarer who has been fishing for all of his adult life, was supported by SAIL when the unpredictable income left devastating effects and Louie found he was unable to manage by himself.

Louie told us: ‘SAIL was such a lifeline. We sorted out all my debts and I don’t get any unexpected bills. Now everything’s organised, the change in my life has just been brilliant. I just cannot thank you enough.’

SAIL was such a lifeline.

I just cannot thank you enough.'

Maritime Training and Safety 9 grants to 10 organisations helping 21,941 people £20,000 in funding was awarded to CHIRP Maritime for their Confidential Hazardous Incident Reporting Programme, aimed at improving the safety of the industry for seafarers.

In the last year, CHIRP Maritime received 98 maritime incident reports concerning poorly positioned pilot ladders, mooring ropes and poor communications with tugs while berthing. The safety lessons learned from the confidential reports are circulated to seafarers and a variety of organisations through a quarterly publication in English, Chinese, Portuguese and Filipino and its estimated reach is over 300,000 readers worldwide.

Thanks to the grant from Seafarers UK, CHIRP Maritime can contribute to the enhancement of maritime safety through their confidential reporting system for all individuals in the industry.

THE NEWSLETTER OF SEAFARERS UK • www.seafarers.uk • 13

Accommodation and Supported Housing 5 grants to 5 organisations helping 3,265 people

Case Studies – Maritime Youth How your support transforms the lives of young people

UK Sailing Academy (UKSA) UKSA is a charity that widens access to maritime training, improving life-skills and launching careers by providing bursaries to financially disadvantaged young people from deprived inner city or rural areas; young people not in education, employment or training; and those with disabilities and additional needs.

£10,000 in funding was awarded to Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society, a charity which provides housing and nursing care to former seafarers, their widows and dependants at the Belvedere House nursing home in Surrey.

Belvedere House is a 68 place nursing home with a specialist dementia care unit. The annual cost of providing care for one resident is £48,000.

Costs for specialist dementia care are much higher.

Approximately one third of residents require subsidy as they are unable to afford the cost of care. Local authority funding covers 50-66% of the costs for these residents.

The grant from Seafarers UK will support the organisation's core costs and the provision of accommodation and care to 45 Merchant Navy seafarers.

One of the beneficiaries supported by the bursary was Melissa, who said: ‘I would like to thank you for the sponsorship you provided me with. I am on track for passing my Yachtmaster which is closely approaching! My time at UKSA has been incredible and I have learnt many valuable skills, both maritime and personally. My time on the water with my crew has been a great experience, as it has prepared me for work. I have been applying for jobs and have a few prospects for the future.

'I would like to underline that without this funding it would not have been possible for me to follow what has always been an ambition and career goal for my future. I have really embraced my time here at UKSA, learning all that I can and preparing myself for the future. Thank you so much for this opportunity.'

In 2018, 20% of UKSA’s students received financial support, thanks to partners including Seafarers UK, who enabled them to provide bursaries to young people, who otherwise would have not been able to access this opportunity. With fee-paying customers training alongside those receiving financial help, all of the young people are on a level playing field regardless of their background or financial circumstances.

Smallpeice Trust Thanks to Seafarer’s UK support, the Smallpeice Trust delivered a week-long Future Marine Engineering residential course at the University of Southampton and awarded 40 sponsored places to students living in deprived coastal regions of the UK. The project aimed to improve understanding of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), and during the course, students were given a unique glimpse into what it takes to design ships and renewable energy technologies which harness the power of the ocean. Working alongside engineers and researchers from across the maritime frontier, the students built on their time management and presentation skills and gained first-hand experience of university life.

Seafarers UK spent a busy day alongside the students, including 14-year-olds Rukhsar (pictured below right) and Bailey. Rukhsar said: ‘I am enjoying everything about the course but the thing I liked the most was building a boat with my group. Even though we met very recently, we managed to comfortably get our ideas across and work as a team.’

Bailey felt the course had impacted on his future options, saying, ‘I now have a better idea of engineering and what it’s all about and what studying for it at university is like. I would encourage younger students to get involved as it’s a very good insight into the world of engineering.’

The Smallpeice Trust told us, ‘This project has successfully achieved its goals of raising awareness of maritime

Students at the Future Marine Engineering residential course.

engineering and its related careers. The project would not have been possible without the generous support from Seafarers UK. Thank you.’

14 • SEAVIEW | WINTER 2019/2020 • HELPING SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES OF SINCE 1917 THE NEWSLETTER SEAFARERS UK • www.seafarers.uk • 14

Community News

England & Wales

by Alex Sard MBE, Community Support Manager

Scotland & Northern Ireland

by John Hood, Scotland & Northern Ireland Representative

This is my last report of Seafarers UK’s fundraising activities in England and Wales, as after 13 years, having driven thousands of miles, sold hundreds of programmes, raffle tickets and flags at Royal Marines Band concerts, I am finally hanging up my hat and retiring from what has been the most enjoyable and fulfilling time as Community Support Manager.

Since joining the charity in 2006, following the end of my naval career, I have not only met many people and made a host of new friends, but I have also renewed friendships with past acquaintances. It has been a pleasure to work with and get to know our delightful committees and volunteers over the years and I am grateful for the friendship and hospitality so many of you have shown me and my husband, Robin, throughout this time.

Seafarers UK is always hugely grateful for the work of its volunteers and last autumn has been no exception. Bath Committee organised their Annual Reeling Ball, Lincoln and the Isle of Man held Trafalgar Night Dinners, East Yorkshire did a presentation on Seafarers UK during Hull Heritage Open Day and held their Chinese Banquet, and the Isle of Wight presented a sell-out Royal Marines Band Concert in September. The Annual Seafarers UK Golf Day took place in July and as ever, it was a great success. On a personal note, I must mention that without the support of the Royal Marines Band golfers, this would not have taken place as I had recently lost my husband.

Their help was invaluable and very much appreciated.

Whilst I will miss everyone, I look forward to hearing how Seafarers UK progresses and wish our new Chief Executive Officer, Catherine Spencer, and my colleagues, as fulfilling a time as I have had at Seafarers UK.

The diverse maritime tapestry across Scotland and Northern Ireland continues to give the opportunity to engage with our supporters as well as beneficiary John Hood visiting the organisations.

Fishermen's Mission in Troon.

Our membership of the Merchant Navy Port Welfare Committees in the West & Central Scotland, North & East Scotland and Northern Ireland provide the catalyst for much of this collaboration.

Merchant Navy Day has gone from strength to strength and in addition to the many civic ceremonies, we took part in a special public event onboard The Tall Ship Glenlee on the Clyde in Glasgow to raise awareness of our work alongside our maritime charity colleagues. Arthur Murphy and his team at the Merchant Navy Association in Dumfries & Galloway almost doubled the number of Red Ensigns flying across the region this year, a magnificent effort.

I met up with Seafarers UK fundraiser, Mark Ashley-Miller, onboard the 'Good Dog' when he stopped in Troon on his voyage to visit every Harbour Master around our coasts, and again in Glasgow, where he was interviewed by BBC Radio Scotland. You can read more about his voyage overleaf.

We also had a successful fundraising event at the Belfast Tattoo in September where Seafarers UK was the supported charity, alongside Sea Cadets, who kindly took up the bucket collection on our behalf.

Finally, I am pleased to share that the Scotland Marine Engineering Pod made the trip across the North Channel and visited a number of cadet units in Northern Ireland.

Seafarers UK is always seeking volunteers and if you would like to come and help us run an event or have ideas of your own on local fundraising, please do not hesitate to get in touch via e-mail at seafarers@seafarers.uk or phone 020 7932 0000.

THE NEWSLETTER OF SEAFARERS UK • www.seafarers.uk • 15

Fundraising

Circumnavigating Great Britain in aid of Seafarers UK Mark Ashley-Miller is now ten months into his Harbour Master Sailing Challenge, a voyage he set out on from Dartmouth last March, circumnavigating Great Britain in a clockwise direction.

Harbour Master Sailing Challenge is in support of Seafarers UK, raising funds and awareness of men’s mental health in the maritime industry. Mark says: ‘I have been lucky enough to witness first-hand the work supported by Seafarers UK - Seafarers’ Missions, health programmes for fishing crews and funding of safety equipment’.

ou r

Mark is sailing his 34ft ketch ‘Good Dog’ from harbour to harbour, aiming to meet as many Harbour Masters as possible in order to gather a unique record of them, their harbours and their work. So far he has sailed over 2,000 miles, visited 90 harbours and met with 78 Harbour Masters.

b ar nH Troo

To sponsor Mark Ashley-Miller, please visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/ HarbourMasterSailingChallenge

The challenge will continue in 2020, starting from Oban.

Prudential RideLondon

Swim Serpentine 2019

We had a very successful year at the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 with nine cyclists taking on the 100-mile ride through London and Surrey, fundraising a total of over £12,000 to support our grant-funding programme.

For the first time last year, Seafarers UK offered places for Swim Serpentine - a one or two-mile open-water swimming challenge across the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London.

We wanted to say a huge thank you to David Cardno from the Scottish Fisherman’s Federation for raising a whopping £8,873 for Seafarers UK and to Nigel Blazeby (pictured above) from Waterdance Ltd who raised £1,200 and is already planning to get a bigger team together to take on the challenge in 2020!

We would like to congratulate all of our swimmers, and in particular, Daniel Grant, Joshua Jelley and Isobel Larken from London University Royal Naval Unit, who, upon successful completion of the swim, were awarded with the ‘London Classics’ medals for completing the three biggest sporting challenges in London, including the Virgin Money London Marathon and the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100. What an achievement!

16 • SEAVIEW | WINTER 2019/2020 • HELPING SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1917

24 Peaks Challenge Teams took to hiking 24 peaks across the Lake District over the weekend of 6-7 July 2019, raising £50,000 for Seafarers UK. The weather favoured the walkers with cool early morning starts and clear skies to enjoy the amazing views of the Lake District. With each peak standing over 2,400 feet, this 30+ mile challenge tested and pushed every walker to their personal limits.

The teams trained for several months and held various fundraising events in support of seafarers in need and their families. Corporate clients, suppliers as well as friends and family members contributed to the funds raised through raffles and bake sales to help the teams reach, and in some cases, exceed their fundraising targets.

Teekay Shipping Glasgow completed the challenge in an impressive 19 hours 13 minutes and 42 seconds - the fastest time of the weekend. A new team to our 24 Peaks Challenge, Fletcher Group, were presented with the Top Fundraiser Award. On receipt of the award, Managing Director Keith Fletcher, announced there would be a further company donation to almost match what the team raised. Maersk entered the challenge with three teams and received the Top Ambassador Award for encouraging the biggest participation.

We really appreciate the support from these great friends of Seafarers UK.

The challenge raised a total of £50,000 (including Gift Aid) and we thank everyone involved!

Thank you to all teams for their commitment to the event - from months of training and preparation,

Fletcher Group at 24 Peaks Challenge.

to fundraising and for the great atmosphere and camaraderie throughout the weekend.

24 Peaks Challenge 2020 will take place on 4-5 July and registration is now open.

If you are interested in participating, please get in touch by emailing events@seafarers.uk

Events Calendar 2020 19 April Hull 10K & Half Marathon 26 April Virgin Money London Marathon 24 May Edinburgh Half & Full Marathon 4-5 July 24 Peaks Challenge 16 August Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 4 October Bournemouth Half Marathon 26 September Swim Serpentine 18 October Great South Run

To find out more or to sign up to an event, please email events@seafarers.uk or phone 020 7932 5960 THE NEWSLETTER OF SEAFARERS UK • www.seafarers.uk • 17

THE NEWSLETTER OF SEAFARERS UK • www.seafarers.uk • 17

In Memoriam

We’d like to thank the families and friends of those recently deceased, who have chosen to support Seafarers UK in their memory.

We would also like to thank those people who have chosen to make a quiet personal remembrance of a friend or relative anonymously. We may not have their names, but we acknowledge them all with honour and respect.

Mrs M W Ballantyne Mrs Heather Barthelmas Mr Louis Edwin Regis (Reg) Belcourt Ms Irene Bishop Mr Arthur Douglas Coxon Mr William John Donaldson Mr Keith Eustace-Pedlar Mr David Evans Mr Peter Edmund Guest Bartlett Captain Gordon John Hartshorne MN Mr Paul Henshaw

Mr Bernard Ireland Lt Cdr L K Lindsay Surgeon Captain Donald Eric Mackay RN (Ret) Mr William Ritchie Mrs Renee H Seftor Mrs Pauline Snellgrove Mr Ronald Richard Taylor Lt Cdr David Alun Tink RN (Ret) Mr Francis Gilbert Turner (Bert) Mr R J Yeomans

For more information on In Memoriam Giving, please phone Carole Hunt on 020 7932 5986 or email carole.hunt@seafarers.uk

Captain Robin Sard RD* RNR

Sir Donald Gosling

Robin Sard died on 30 May 2019 having suffered a catastrophic stroke at home on 21 May. Robin was born in Oxford, moving as a seven-year-old to Tonbridge, where he was educated, and then to Uckfield. He started his naval career as a dockyard apprentice at Chatham before becoming a Marine Engineering Officer in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). He then joined the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) at HMS Sussex having left the RFA after eight years’ service. On promotion to Commander RNR in January 1984, Robin was appointed as the Division’s Senior Engineering Officer, ultimately becoming Head of the Engineering Branch for the entire RNR and being promoted to the rank of Captain in 1994.

Seafarers UK was saddened to hear that Vice Admiral Sir Frederick Donald Gosling KCVO died on 16 September 2019. Sir Donald was a Vice-President of Seafarers UK and gave generously to the charity over many years. His most recent donation supported Seafarers UK’s award-winning Marine Engineering Pathway project with Sea Cadets.

Robin and his wife Alex moved to Portsmouth in 2000. When Alex retired from the Royal Navy in 2006 and joined Seafarers UK, Robin was more than happy to engage with her community fundraising activities, almost becoming an honorary member of the Fundraising Team. His contribution to Seafarers UK was duly recognised by the charity at the Annual Meeting in 2013 when he received a President’s Award. Robin will be remembered by many for his wide smile, charm and gentle manner, always having time for each individual to whom he spoke.

Sir Donald joined the Royal Navy in 1944 and subsequently served in the cruiser HMS Leander. Following his departure from the Navy after the war, he teamed up with fellow ex-serviceman Ronald Hobson to buy a bombsite in London and turn it into a car park. Over the next 50 years, this venture grew into the highly successful business, National Car Parks. Sir Donald was also a long-time advocate, supporter and benefactor of the Royal Navy, including four years as chairman of the White Ensign Association. The foundation he established has supported and rewarded the maritime family from Sea Cadets and veterans to museums and heritage.

Robin’s funeral was at Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral on 27 June 2019, attended by 270, many of whom were Seafarers UK staff and volunteers. The donations collected in his memory for Seafarers UK amounted to over £1,000.

Our thoughts and wishes are very much with his family at this time, and Seafarers UK is thankful to Sir Donald Gosling, the Gosling Family and the Gosling Foundation for their commitment and support to the charity over the years.

Robin’s civilian employment was with the Shell Oil Company (London) in commercial sales. He latterly took on a personnel role looking after the welfare of Shell pensioners. In his spare time, Robin was a keen golfer and spent many happy hours sailing in the Solent.

18 • SEAVIEW | WINTER 2019/2020 • HELPING SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1917

In partnership with

Make Your Will For Free Book an appointment today with Seafarers UK’s partners, McClure Solicitors, and help to support seafarers in need.

www.seafarers.uk/free-will-offer In 2019 Seafarers UK gave £2.2m in funding to 43 maritime charities and organisations. Seafarers UK receives no government funding and is heavily dependent on public donations and legacies to maintain its grant-making programme. a free Will preparation service. All you need to do is consider making a donation to Seafarers UK, but there is no obligation to do so. It doesn’t matter how much you donate - each donation

Find out more

To find out more about the free service

an appointment, please call 0800 852 1999 or email contactus@mcclure-solicitors.co.uk and quote ‘Seafarers UK’.

our support.

Seafarers UK was originally set up in 1917 as King George’s Fund for Sailors, with the aim of helping people in the maritime community by providing vital funding to support seafarers in need and their families.

Now operating under the name Seafarers UK, the charity continues this work by giving money to organisations and projects that make a real difference to people’s lives, across the Merchant Navy, Fishing Fleets, Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Seafarers UK 8 Hatherley Street London SW1P 2QT

Editor Laura Gineitaite Editorial enquiries/submissions seaview@seafarers.uk

Telephone 020 7932 0000 Website www.seafarers.uk Our website has up-to-date information on fundraising events, campaigns, ways to donate, how to apply for grants or get help for seafarers in need. @Seafarers_UK

SeafarersUK

President His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex, KG, GCVO, CD, ADC(P)

Change of address notification paola.martin@seafarers.uk

Chairman Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson, CB, CVO, BA

Patron Her Majesty The Queen

Chief Executive Officer Catherine Spencer

Seafarers_UK

To keep up-to-date with all our fundraising activities and to find out how to get involved, sign up to our regular email newsletter Seapost.

Simply email seafarers@seafarers.uk or visit www.seafarers.uk. If you’re already receiving our email newsletter and would like to unsubscribe, please just click on the ‘unsubscribe’ link in the footer of the latest issue received.

seaview magazine is published by Seafarers UK. Please recycle it once you have finished with it. Online copies are available at www.seafarers.uk/what-we-do/publications/

Seafarers UK (King George’s Fund for Sailors) is a Registered Charity in England and Wales, No. 226446, incorporated under Royal Charter. Registered in Scotland SC038191.

THE NEWSLETTER OF SEAFARERS UK • www.seafarers.uk • 19

Trinity House is proud to support Seafarers UK