The Seafarers' Charity operates three main grant programmes to provide funding to organisations supporting the safety and welfare needs of seafarers and their families.
Main Grant Programme: This is open to applications from not-for-profit organisations that support people currently working, or who have worked as merchant seafarers or fishers and their dependents
The Merchant Navy Fund: This funding programme is provided in partnership with the Merchant Navy Welfare Board. It is aimed specifically at not-for-profit organisations that support UK merchant seafarers and their dependents.
The International Fund for Fishing Safety: This funding programme has been kickstarted by a significant grant from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation with the aim of growing the funding available over time. Awards will help improve the health, safety, and welfare of fishers and support the work of the FISH Platform which continues to support safety improvements, and represents the safety and welfare of 36 million global fishers
at the IMO.
There are no hard deadlines for applications as they grant throughout the year, but their Impact Committee meets formally in March, July and November. If you are aiming for one of these grant rounds, please make sure your application has been received by the middle of the month prior to the meeting eg applications for the March round need to be with them by mid-February.
Grant applications of £10,000 and under can take a minimum of six weeks before you hear of a decision. Grant applications in excess of £10,000 can take a minimum of three to four months to assess and be considered by Trustees.
An organisation may apply for a grant if the following funding criteria is met:
- Addresses at least one of their 5 long-term strategic outcomes for seafarers: Better Working Lives at Sea; Enhanced Financial Resilience; Improved Health & Wellbeing; Increased Social Justice; Safer Working Lives at Sea
- Is a registered charity or a not for profit organisation with charitable aims
- Delivers welfare services to support or help current or former merchant seafarers and/or commercial fishers operating in the UK and/or the dependents of people who have worked at sea
- Has submitted most recent Annual Accounts within the 10-month period required by the Charity Commission, or within the requirements of another relevant authority if not a registered charity
- Meet the due diligence requirements of The Seafarers’ Charity
Grant applications will be considered for core funding; project costs; some capital costs (rare) and capacity building.