No images? Click here June 2025 Dear Supporter, Welcome to the June edition of Seapost, The Seafarers' Charity's e-newsletter. We’re so grateful for your continued support and we’ve packed this edition with exciting updates and ways you can make a real difference. We hope you enjoy reading it! Best wishes, Editor The Seafarers' Charity Annual MeetingOn 4 June, we held our 108th Annual Meeting aboard HMS Wellington, the only surviving 'Battle of the Atlantic' ship on the east side of the Atlantic and an iconic River Thames landmark since 1948. It was an honour to have His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, our President, on board to present The President’s Awards. These recognise outstanding contributions to maritime welfare; many congratulations to 2025's
recipients UK P&I Club, UK Sailing Academy and Lloyd's Register Foundation. ![]() Maritime UK Awards FinalistsWe’re thrilled to announce that The Seafarers’ Charity is a finalist for the Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award at this year’s Maritime UK Awards - as well as being 2025's chosen charity! My Harassment-Free Ship: Raising Awareness Ahead of Day of the SeafarerOn 25 June, the global maritime community comes together to celebrate the Day of the Seafarer. Led by the IMO, this year's theme is 'My Harassment-Free Ship'. This aims to promote a culture of respect and zero tolerance for bullying and harassment at sea. At The Seafarers' Charity, we are proud to fund several partners and services focused on tackling harassment or providing support to survivors. The following are just some of the services available to those seeking more information: And in the run-up to ‘DotS’, we'll be sharing more materials including case studies, research, and resources. The Seafarers' Charity on BBC News: Supporting Hull's Maritime HeritageOn 3 June, we were featured on BBC News for our support of the Arctic Corsair trawler in Hull, which is being restored as part of celebrating the city’s proud maritime history. Through a £20,000 grant to the Hull Maritime Foundation, we’re helping to recruit volunteers with seafaring experience to bring this iconic vessel’s story to life for visitors. Built in 1960, the Arctic Corsair is Hull’s last surviving sidewinder trawler. Once active in the Cod Wars, it’s now being restored to become the star exhibit at the new North End Shipyard maritime attraction in 2026. As our Chief Executive, Deborah Layde, said: "The maritime sector has a rich heritage in the UK and beyond, and there is no one better placed to educate the next generation than someone with lived experience." Deborah Layde Recognised by The Fishmongers’ CompanyCongratulations to our Chief Executive, Deborah Layde, who was formally sworn in and admitted as a Member of the Freedom of The Fishmongers' Company on 22 May. This well-deserved honour recognises Deborah’s unwavering commitment to improving the welfare and safety of those working in the UK’s fishing industry. Her leadership has been central to The Seafarers’ Charity’s progress in supporting UK fishers. We’re so proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition! Sea Views Podcast EP. 17 - Safety in Offshore EnergyIn this episode of the Sea Views podcast, Graham Skinner of Offshore Energies UK and Pete Lowson from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency discuss safety practices in the offshore oil, gas, and wind industries. They delve into the industry’s safety records, the importance of cross-sector collaboration, and the impact of new technologies such as AI and autonomous vessels. Sea Views is funded by The Seafarers’ Charity and supported by CHIRP Maritime. Founded in 1839, SMS has a long history of supporting retired and active seafarers, fishers and their families through life’s most difficult moments. This includes financial hardship, disability, and crisis situations like homelessness or urgent household repairs. A Celebration of Waves of influence: Women Leading MaritimeOn 9 July, we are celebrating the achievements of women across the maritime sector. Organised by The Seafarers’ Charity and Sailors' Children’s Society, and supported by The Fishmongers’ Company, Trinity House, and associate sponsors UK P&I Club, this special fundraising lunch at Fishmongers’ Hall will spotlight leadership, resilience, and the ongoing challenges faced by women in maritime. The event’s headline speakers are Sarah Kenny OBE, CEO of BMT, and Nusrat Ghani MP, Vice President at The Seafarers’ Charity and Deputy Speaker at the House of Commons. The event will be hosted by broadcaster Jenni Falconer, with a charity auction led by BBC’s Caroline Hawley. A limited number of tables and sponsorship packages remain available for the event, and to book a place, potential attendees should contact: events@theseafarerscharity.org. Happy Pride Month 2025!Pride Month is a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and reflect on progress toward equity and inclusion. At The Seafarers' Charity, we're committed to embracing diversity daily, creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Our 'Coming Out Toolkit' is a key resource shared with new staff during induction. We understand that joining a new organisation can be daunting for LGBTQ+ individuals, and there can be pressure around disclosing their identity. This toolkit empowers staff to make that choice for themselves and encourages allies to support a safe, respectful workplace. |