The Mission to Seafarers announces crew welfare campaign
The Mission to Seafarers has launched a new fundraising campaign to help sustain the crew welfare support it currently provides. The mission says it will unveil a rolling programme of initiatives which will have significant benefits for the welfare of the entire industry from welfare training for seafarers and frontline staff to new family support network offerings, reassurance and practical help.
The programme has already received a generous donation from MSC to start the sustaining crew welfare campaign which will ensure the mission is providing the best care possible, encouraging innovation in adapting and maintaining services to meet seafarers’ needs, and providing mental wellbeing support.
Following the success of the flying angel campaign, which provided immediate welfare relief where it was most needed, the Mission to Seafarers is now focusing on a sustainability programme to ensure the support continues for seafarers. In response to a possible mental health crisis, the lack of crew changes and the families impacted by extended or cancelled contracts, the mission will be focusing initially on three main strands to offer support: justice & welfare, innovation & regional support and family support.
“During the pandemic, seafarers’ health has become even more fragile, with some working in excess of a year without a break,” says the Andrew Wright, secretary general. “With limited crew changes, and in some countries no sign of the pandemic easing, our help is vital to those on the front line of international trade. Our flying angel campaign was crucial to providing rapid relief and support to seafarers facing the most challenging circumstances.
“Now we need to be able to sustain this network of welfare support. We are calling on the industry to recognise that this crisis has not abated and we need to unite to support our international key workers. Without the generosity of donations, our work is not possible. We give our sincere thanks to MSC for providing the first donation of our new campaign and look forward to being able to continue our support for seafarers.”
