Sailors' Society is dedicated to caring for the 1.6 million seafarers who keep the worlds economy moving.

Seafarers and their families are facing greater risk than ever due to COVID-19. Crews around the world are on ships trapped in port, stranded thousands of miles from home and unable to return. We have not and will not abandon them and have diverted vast resources to supporting these men and women. We can't do this without you, so thank you for supporting seafarers when they need it most

For many of those who have been able to return home, or were on leave when the pandemic hit, there is huge anxiety about where the next contract will come from and how they will be able to continue to put food on their family table.

We rely on your voluntary donations and we are incredibly grateful for the energy, time and support you are giving.

Some people choose a career at sea for the thrill of seeing the world. Others feel they have no choice in order to put bread on the table. Whatever their background, seafarers can all face huge dangers in the course of doing their jobs. Sailors Society is here for them when disaster strikes.

The isolation, shift work, and anxiety about family back home can take a harsh toll on their mental health. And the dangers they face can be huge violent storms, accidents, even pirate attacks.

Our 24-7 Crisis Response Network of specially trained chaplains provides a rapid response trauma care and counselling service for survivors of piracy attacks, natural disasters and other crises at sea. Our chaplains and family support officers also care for seafarers families when crisis hits, offering emergency grants and helping them cope with the trauma of a loved ones injury, imprisonment or even death.

Many seafarers are from the worlds most deprived communities and see the job as a path out of poverty. Seafarers leave their homes and loved ones for up to a year at a time, missing births and Christmases, first steps and funerals.

To make matters worse, more than 80 per cent of them have no internet at sea, meaning they can go for days without even being able to speak to their loved ones back home all while transporting 90 per cent of the goods we rely on every day.

Our chaplains operate in more than 90 ports around the world, reaching 1,000 seafarers every day. We give them free Wi-Fi to call home as well as lifts to the doctor or shops, welfare support and a listening ear when they need it.

Because of amazing people like you raising money for Sailors Society, communities around the world, providing grants and running projects to meet local needs: from healthcare for retired seafarers in India to water and sanitation projects in Bangladesh and Myanmar. In the Philippines, home to nearly one-third of the worlds seafarers, weve built homes, medical centres and other facilities for communities devastated by Typhoon Haiyan.

Because of amazing people like you raising money for Sailors Society, we have been able to give practical emotional and the spiritual support, rebuild communities after disasters and sponsor schools to be built.

For more information, please head over to - www.sailors-society.org or contact, Jonny Cowell jcowell@sailors-society.org