Society launches 2025 Seafarers Support Week
The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society is proud to launch its annual Seafarers Support Week, which will run from Monday 7 July to Sunday 13 July.
The Society is committed to this annual campaign to promote and highlight the plight of serving and retired seafarers, as well as raising awareness of the dangers and sacrifices faced by those who work at sea. This includes recognising the vital contribution the maritime and fishing industries play in allowing us to preserve our standard of living.
Looking back at the Society’s distinguished history we recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day. During six years of conflict during WW2, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society made a significant contribution to the lives of thousands of survivors of shipwreck; not just sailors but soldiers, airmen, nurses and civilians who were landed at British ports after being rescued. In fact, the numbers of people the Charity assisted – including fishermen and their dependants – are quite remarkable: over 60,600 seamen and others following rescue; 6,600 widows; 8,000 orphans and 4,100 aged parents were helped.
Fast forward 80 years and the hardship and distress faced by so many in the seafaring community continues. Life at sea is demanding, but life at home can be challenging too. Following national research indicating that up to 4.8 million individuals in the UK are living without at least one essential household appliance, further investigation by the Society and our partner organisations has shown this to be a significant issue within the fishing and maritime communities. To address this issue, we have recently launched the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society Household Appliance Fund which reflects our continued dedication to enhance the living conditions of those who work at sea.
Initially the Fund will provide grants for up to 100 low-income fishers and mariners to receive essential household appliances, such as cookers, fridges, freezers and washing machines. The cost of providing this additional support, in addition to meeting the ever-increasing needs of our regular beneficiaries, means that during this year’s Seafarers Support Week, we have set ourselves the challenging target of raising an additional £35,000. This will allow us to continue to provide much needed support to individuals and families who in many cases have nowhere else to turn.
Across the past year we received nearly 900 new applications for assistance and distributed grants amounting to £1.4 million in over 2,000 cases of need. The funds raised through Seafarers Support Week will be used to finance medical equipment and support those suffering long-term illness and disability; to provide financial respite for young families whose main income has been lost or greatly reduced; to provide household repairs and meet the funeral costs for a seafarer whose family are unable to meet the expense, as well as to support the new Household Appliance Fund.
It is due to the loyalty and kind heartedness of our supporters that we are able to continue our important work.
To support the Society’s work please visit: www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk/donate