23 March 2011
Seafarers' Trust announces £1.47m of grants
The Seafarers’ Trust, the charity arm of the ITF, has announced the award of £1.47 million to seven different projects
dealing with the welfare of seafarers, and one regional welfare development programme in South East Asia. A decision on
the possible giving of a further half a million pounds to smaller projects is likely in April, as part of an overall
total of £4.1 million in grants under consideration by the Trust for 2011.
The recipients of the current £1.47 tranche include Seafarerhelp, the Royal Bombay Seamen’s Society, the Queen Victoria
Seamen’s Rest, and the International Committee for Seafarers’ Welfare (ICSW). The regional programme in South East Asia
– which is run the ICSW and funded by the Trust – will receive £511,000 for distribution to welfare agencies including
the Mission to Seafarers, Apostleship of the Sea and Seamen’s Christian Friend Society, to improve the welfare services
for seafarers in the region.
Tom Holmer, administrative officer of the Seafarers’ Trust, commented: “We’re pleased to be able to dedicate this slice
of funding to these worthy bodies, which are doing so much to address the needs of seafarers, often in places where they
would otherwise be out of reach of the basic necessities and comforts of life, and any lifeline to home.” “Along with
these grants, the Seafarers’ Trust’s trustees have also agreed to provide additional funds in 2011 for vehicles and
communications equipment. We remain very interested in projects and proposals which can improve visiting seafarers’
access to transport and communication, and actively encourage those formulating them to apply to us for funding."
ENDS