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May 2023
Dear Supporter,
Welcome to the May edition of Seapost, The Seafarers' Charity's e-newsletter. We have some exciting updates and important initiatives to share with you!
Firstly, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to all those who have already donated to our Spring Appeal. If you haven't contributed yet, we kindly ask for your support as every donation makes a significant impact.
We are also immensely grateful to all our London Marathon runners for their unwavering dedication and commitment to supporting our cause. Explore our London Marathon 2023 Facebook album to see amazing moments from one of the most iconic challenge events in the world and show your support by helping our runners' to reach their fundraising targets. Paul Sanders, one of our runners, is now taking on a new challenge, pushing his limits further to keep raising funds to help seafarers in need and their families. Read on to find out more…
We also have an important update on our ongoing efforts to address sexual violence at sea. Watch our webinar on 'Supporting Women Working at Sea' where we explore how maritime welfare charities can better support the safety and welfare needs of women in the industry.
Excitingly, we are announcing a new collaboration with The Nautical Institute to develop a new range of training courses aimed at improving the leadership and management skills of seafarers and those working ashore.
Lastly, we are delighted to share that our Impact Team recently visited ISWAN's UK HQ. It was a productive and insightful visit, further strengthening our partnership.
To stay informed and access additional resources, please visit our website. We appreciate your continued support and hope you enjoy reading this edition of Seapost.
Best wishes,
Luca Selvaggio
Editor
Donate to our Spring Appeal and make a difference
This year, our focus is on providing crucial support and resources to seafarers and their families, ensuring their wellbeing and welfare. By contributing to our Spring Appeal, you will directly assist us in funding organisations that deliver vital programmes and initiatives, creating tangible differences in the maritime community.
Every donation, no matter the size, has the power to create positive change. Join us in making a lasting impact by supporting our Spring Appeal today. Together, we can continue to provide essential assistance to those who keep our global trade moving.
If you have already contributed to our Spring Appeal, we extend our heartfelt thanks to you.
Huge congratulations to our London Marathon runners!
A thunderous round of applause to our amazing #TeamSeafarersKGFS runners who conquered the iconic London Marathon this year!
We are immensely grateful for their unwavering dedication and commitment to supporting seafarers in need and their families. While the London Marathon may be over, our runners' fundraising efforts continue to make a profound difference in the lives of seafarers. Show your support by donating to their fundraising pages. Every contribution, big or small, goes a long way in providing vital assistance to seafarers in need.
Visit our Facebook album to view photos from the event and watch our YouTube video to hear inspiring stories from some of our amazing runners.
Support Paul Saunders as he takes on another challenge
Following their successful completion of the London Marathon, Paul Saunders and his other half, Karen Doak, are already gearing up for their next challenge - running Land's End to John O'Groats (LEJOG).
The LEJOG journey, spanning from the southern-most point of England to the northern-most point of Scotland, is set to commence on 3 June 2023 and will take approximately five weeks to complete. Join us in supporting Paul as he embarks on this incredible journey, pushing his limits further to raise funds for The Seafarers' Charity.
Mike Lee's heartwarming story of support and determination
Mike Lee, a retired Merchant Navy Captain, has been taking part in the Great South Run (GSR) for the last nine years. Last October, his friends from The Lymington Armed Services Veterans Breakfast Club surprised him by raising £200 to support his challenge. The club strongly commits to charitable causes and will be supporting Mike’s fundraising efforts again this year. He is now preparing for his 10th GSR, aiming to surpass his 1-hour and 15-minute record whilst raising funds for The Seafarers' Charity. We sincerely appreciate Mike’s efforts and are very grateful to The Lymington Armed Services Veterans Breakfast Club for their ongoing support and dedication too.
Webinar on supporting women working at sea
The Seafarers' Charity, in collaboration with the International Christian Maritime Association, held a webinar on 20 April 2023 to explore how maritime welfare charities can better support the safety and welfare needs of women working at sea. We believe it's crucial to address the unique challenges faced by women in the maritime industry and ensure their wellbeing at every stage of their journey. By engaging in these discussions and learning from experts in the field, we can collectively work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive maritime environment.
Addressing sexual violence at sea
At The Seafarers' Charity, we have funded various initiatives to shed light on and tackle the issue of sexual violence at sea. We believe in creating safe and supportive environments for all seafarers. Through our funding, we not only explore this pressing issue but also provide essential services to support the recovery of those affected.
We stand by survivors and work towards preventing such incidents from happening in the maritime industry. Learn more about our efforts and the services we fund to support survivors of sexual violence at sea.
New collaboration to improve leadership at sea
We are delighted to announce a new collaboration with The Nautical Institute to develop a new range of training courses aimed at improving the leadership and management skills of seafarers and those working ashore.
Driven by increasing reports of bullying, harassment and abuse onboard and their detrimental impact on seafarers' work experience and mental health, this collaboration brings together two maritime charities dedicated to improving working life at sea.
Our shared goal is to not only enhance leadership and management skills but also foster a cultural shift in onboard expectations regarding acceptable workplace behaviours.
Impact Team's visit to ISWAN UK HQ
On 11 May, our Impact Team visited ISWAN's UK HQ in Croydon. We met with Simon Grainge, Chief Executive, and his team to explore collaborative opportunities and discuss grant-making support for their strategic objectives. We were impressed by ISWAN's range of services for international seafarers, including multilingual helplines and emergency funding.
As proud funders of ISWAN's SeafarerHelp line through our 'Better Working Lives at Sea' stream, we appreciate their ambitious leadership, strategic approach to seafarers' welfare and emphasis on collaboration. It was encouraging to hear that they consider us one of their easiest partners to work with, providing valuable feedback on how we can improve. We are grateful for their time, especially given the rising demand for their services.
