Seafarer LinkTelephone Befriending Service

Maritime CharitiesMaritime Charities Funding Group Funding Group

2007

carried out national

research

Social isolation is

common amongst

retired seafarers

in the UK

11% 11% seafarersseafarers 7%7% generic older populationgeneric older population

20 years experienceproviding

telephone befriending

to socially isolated people

•Pilot funding •Programme development guidance

•Management and Development •Recruitment of seafarers•Setting up/supporting telephone groups•Publicity and project profiling across UK•Project Evaluation

•Senior Volunteer (RSVP)•Recruitment of seafarers•Publicity across UK

About Seafarer Link:

“It’s so important that we keep in touch.

Seafarers Link is like a helping hand saying

“Don’t worry Shipmate, you’re not the only one in the

boat.”

Phase 1 Evaluation Key Findings

Sample:

30 active seafarers of 40 recruited

Disability declared

26% disabled

(of which) 62% have reduced mobility

Maritime Occupations

• Merchant Navy: 60%

• Fishermen: 30%

• Royal Navy: 10% (including WRNS)

Worst things about retirement:

• 46%

loss of work colleagues

and camaraderie

• 36%

living alone

Would like more opportunity:

• 56%To talk to more people regularly

• 50%To talk to other seafarers

• 53%Keen interest in world affairs

Project progress:

5 Active telephones groups

30 retired seafarers, widows/wives

active in the project

5 members trained as group

facilitators

Approx. 150 maritime/seafarer

organisations consulted

Key Support

Organisations :

• Shipwrecked Fishermen & Mariners Society

• Federation of Naval Associations

• Merchant Navy Welfare board• Merchant Navy Association

Branches: Hull, Cardiff, Barry and National HQ

• Numast (Mariners Park)

• Fishermens Mission, Grimsby

• WRNS Association: London, Portsmouth, Glasgow

• Merchant Seamens War Memorial Society

• Royal Navy Association: SW Flotilla

Other organisations contacted:• Aged Merchant Seamen: Sunderland• Age Concern: Plymouth, Lowestoft• Apostleship of the Sea• Blesma• Blue Funnel• Courageous Society• HMS Nelson• HMS Drake• HMS Peacock• Liverpool Seafarers Centre• Merchant Navy Association: Newport• MNA Old Friends• P&O Ferries• PoppyScotland

• Plymouth Befriending Network• Royal Navy Association branches and HQ• SSAFA: London, Portsmouth, Plymouth• Royal Navy Benevolent Trust• Royal Navy Charities Co-ordinator• Royal Navy Patrol Service• Royal Marines Association• Royal National Lifeboat Institution• Sailors Society• Scottish Nautical Welfare• Sir Gabriel Woods Mariners Homes• Service Personnel and Veterans Agency• Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation• Star and Garter• South West Company of Mariners• The Forces Church• Veterans Outreach Support Drop In Centre (Portsmouth)

Community Network Community Network 2020thth Anniversary Anniversary

Pavillion Terrace Pavillion Terrace House of CommonsHouse of Commons

March 2010March 2010

Seafarer Link beneficiaries came to the celebration

The Way Forward

• Pilot Evaluation Findings - evidence of success

• Attracting financial resources to maintain project

• Continued consultation with seafarers & maritime organisations

• Implement development strategies