Stella Maris Org

We’re pleased to announce that we’re part-funding (50%) a transformational financial resilience training programme specially designed for Ukrainian seafarers and their families.   The course will cover the basics of personal finance, future financial planning, managing income, expenses and savings, and a guide to pensions, and has the potential to empower 150,000 #Ukrainian people working in the #maritime sector including their families.   The programme will be delivered by Stella Maris Ukraine in partnership with the Ukrainian Catholic University, the Business Incubator Group Ukraine, and others.    Ukrainian #seafarers and their families have suffered significant deterioration in their financial situation due to the war; the upheaval, additional living costs, and loss of income have all added significant #financial pressure and stress on them.   This is part of our proactive effort to help rebuild seafarers and their families’ lives, and ensure that they are equipped with the necessary skills to respond when peace returns. Focusing on post conflict skills is a powerful way to encourage them to engage in other training and activities by giving them hope for a brighter future. https://lnkd.in/eKt3GC46 Ukrainian Catholic University, Business Incubator Group. Ukraine, fr Oleksandr Smerechynskyy(Odesa Ukraine), Eugene Barsukov, Esteban Pacha Vicente, Tim Hill MBE, John Hood, Robert Ashdown, James Muir, Maita Crowe, Edward Donati, Anne McLaren, Nick O'Neill, Ann Donnelly, Joseph O'Donnell, Gregory Hogan, Steve Willows, Adrian Gannon, Jonathan Heard, Ian Stokes #seafarers #Ukraine #financialresilience 

Happy #WorldMaritimeDay As a leading global maritime ship visiting network and seafarer welfare support organisation, Stella Maris has always put safety at the forefront of our priorities. We strive to ensure that seafarers work and live in safe and secure environments on board and in ports, and it is our sincere belief that seafarers must be at the centre of any emerging changes taking place within the maritime industry. Ensuring seafarers’ safety is paramount. Against the backdrop of the ongoing Ukraine war and its impact on the Black Sea region, escalating tensions in the Red Sea region and other challenges such as piracy and hijackings at sea, there is no doubt that seafarers continue to work in risky and dangerous conditions. If seafarers voluntarily agree to work in dangerous regions, then everything must be done to ensure their safety, and additional welfare provided to support them and their families, which includes those crews on extended transit south of the Cape of Good Hope. As ever, we will continue our daily ship visits in ports worldwide, where our chaplains and volunteers provide friendship and support that help safeguard seafarers’ physical and mental health, wellbeing and safety. Stella Maris stands ready to continue to work with the IMO, shipping organisations and companies, welfare service providers and the wider maritime community, to ensure that every effort is made to improve safety and morale on board. This will assist in the recruitment and retention of the industry’s most prized asset: its people. #WorldMaritimeDay #SafetyFirst #seafarers #maritime #shipping International Maritime Organization, The Seafarers’ Charity, Merchant Navy Welfare Board, International Seafarers' Welfare & Assistance Network (ISWAN), The Mission to Seafarers, Sailors' Society, Esteban Pacha Vicente, Tim Hill MBE, John Hood, Robert Ashdown, James Muir, Maita Crowe, Edward Donati, Anne McLaren, Nick O'Neill, Ann Donnelly, Joseph O'Donnell, Gregory Hogan, Steve Willows, Adrian Gannon, Jonathan Heard, Ian Stokes

We had a fantastic afternoon at the Third Sector Awards ceremony today, where Russ Fairman was honoured as a finalist for Volunteer of the Year! It was a privilege to see Russ recognised for the hard work and dedication he put into his incredible Sailing Pilgrimage. Russ not only sailed an impressive 2,433 miles around the UK in just 70 days but also went above and beyond by welcoming and training 60 crew members, conducting live radio interviews under sail, sharing daily updates on social media, and inspiring hundreds of people to learn more about Stella Maris. We’re so proud of Russ’ achievement and grateful for the opportunity to celebrate it alongside so many inspiring individuals and organisations making a positive impact in their communities. Adrian Gannon #thirdsectorawards #VolunteerOfTheYear #SailingPilgrimage #Charity #VolunteerRecognition #MakingADifference

Meet Deacon Joseph O'Donnell, our Stella Maris Org Senior Area Port Chaplain for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Like many of our chaplains and volunteers, Joe likes to hide his light under a bushel, but there's no escaping this time Joe! Many congratulations to Joe for winning the Merchant Navy Welfare Board's Team Member of the Year award. Many congratulations to all the prize winners, and thanks to Chair Andrew Cassels and sponsor, John Perry from Atlantic Container Line. Massive shout out to the MNWB team for enabling these awards (no mean feat), and my huge gratitude and admiration to all chaplains, support staff and volunteers from across the maritime welfare charity sector, including those involved in funding our charities, who routinely go that extra mile above and beyond the call of duty, supporting seafarers, fishers and their families. The Seafarers’ Charity, The Mission to Seafarers, Sailors' Society, The Fishermen's Mission, Seafarers Hospital Society, Queen Victoria Seamen's Rest, Trinity House, Seafarers' Advice & Information Line (SAIL), TK Foundation and so many more. Samuel Cowan, DANIEL YARKER, Stuart Rivers, Sharon Coveney, Joel Holt, Deborah Layde, Tina Barnes, Vikki Muir, Esteban Pacha Vicente, John Hood, James Muir, Robert Ashdown, Anne McLaren, Nick O'Neill, Maita Crowe, Adrian Gannon, Ian Stokes, Jonathan Heard.

Last week we hosted a reception aboard the Glenlee Tall Ship in Glasgow, which provided an excellent opportunity to reflect on the tremendous work and sacrifices of seafarers, fishers and their families, and to celebrate the work of Stella Maris chaplains, volunteers and support staff. We were joined by Graham Westgarth (Chairman, V. Group) who emphasised the need for stronger partnerships between maritime charities, ship owners, and managers. “I'm unbelievably grateful to Stella Maris for all they do. As ship owners we need to engage with charities in a much more strategic way,” he said. “Without breaking confidences, we need to understand the trends that are taking place on board the ships and then discuss possible solutions to help us better protect our seafarers.” At a time when seafarers are facing immense risks in regions such as the Black Sea and Red Sea, the work of Stella Maris and our sister maritime charities is absolutely vital. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our chaplains and volunteers, both in the UK and around the world, and for the generosity of our many supporters who enable this work to continue. And finally, the very best of luck to Cadets Nicole and Danny - week one into training at the start of their fantastic careers. SOHTIS, The Mission to Seafarers, The Seafarers’ Charity,Ataris, V.Ships Leisure Recruitment, Nova Innovation, Clyde Marine Recruitment Graham Westgarth, Esteban Pacha Vicente, John Hood, Maita Crowe, Tim Hill MBE, Joseph O'Donnell, Dr Jeanette Forbes OBE, MUniv, Hon DBA, FRSA, Louise Robson, Allan Falkenberg, Shubpreet Singh, James Muir, Samuel Lee, Simon Forrest, Ian Livingstone, Andrew Armstrong, Angela Brady, Adrian Gannon, Jonathan Heard, Ian Stokes

We are urging the UK Home Office and law enforcement agencies to do more to protect #fishers following a BBC News expose of historic cases of modern-day #slavery aboard fishing vessels operating in UK waters from Scotland. Stella Maris has reported several cases to the police over the years, but found prosecutions ‘painfully slow’, with fishers left in limbo in the UK while their cases are assessed. Stella Maris is providing continued support to mistreated fishers in a small number of ports across the UK. https://lnkd.in/ekgUFcxM Marc Evans MSc MBA FCILT AFNI, Joy Gillespie, Alan McCulla OBE, Georgia Worrall, David Hammond, Esteban Pacha Vicente, Tim Hill MBE, John Hood, Robert Ashdown, James Muir, Maita Crowe, Edward Donati, Anne McLaren, Nick O'Neill, Ann Donnelly, Joseph O'Donnell, Gregory Hogan, Steve Willows, Adrian Gannon, Jonathan Heard, Ian Stokes, The Fishermen's Mission, SOHTIS

Have you seen the BBC News article highlighting the plight of foreign fishermen treated like slaves on Scottish fishing boats?  Whilst the majority of the fishing industry provides a safe workplace for fishers, we condemn all exploitative labour in the sector and across the labour market in the UK. We believe no fisher should be mistreated or exploited for commercial gain.  Join us in standing with fishers to end slavery at sea. Working alongside our fellow charities, in particular the The Fishermen's Mission and SOHTIS (Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland), and other government and non-government organisations, including the Police and enforcement agencies, for the last dozen years or so Stella Maris Org chaplains have supported the tragic case of the fishermen highlighted in the BBC's article and the Disclosure programme. Our support has included humanitarian assistance for clothing, refuge and food. Our CEO, Tim Hill MBE said “this is a tragic case of abuse and exploitation for which there is no place in this world. Our commitment is never ending, and we continue to support these fishermen and other more recent cases, with friendship, pastoral care and financial support. It is our goal to ensure that all fishers are treated equally with respect and dignity, so that people can live happy and prosperous lives, free from exploitation and abuse.” Over the last 16 months, Stella Maris has been working to strengthen the UK maritime response to modern slavery through awareness and identification workshops, and steering groups to discuss and begin to resolve gaps in the current environment. To address these issues, Stella Maris are facilitating the establishment of a UK Maritime Anti-Slavery Network, the purpose of which will be to foster better communication and collaboration by exchanging knowledge, expertise, and ideas across the maritime, public and human rights sectors in relation to modern slavery.  It will promote, develop and share best practices, create awareness of the challenges, and collaborate with key stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions. Send your message of support #endslaveryatsea.  Fishers may spend their working lives out of sight, but they are NOT out of mind. Help us raise awareness of slavery at sea and make this issue visible. Don’t forget to watch the  BBC documentary Disclosure: Slavery at Sea either on BBC iPlayer or on BBC Scotland at 21:00 hours on Monday 19 August. https://lnkd.in/eJK7ZNFW The Seafarers’ Charity, Merchant Navy Welfare Board, Trinity House, International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) Marc Evans MSc MBA FCILT AFNI, Joy Gillespie, Alan McCulla OBE, Georgia Worrall, David Hammond, Chris Williams, Esteban Pacha Vicente, Tim Hill MBE, John Hood, Robert Ashdown, James Muir, Maita Crowe, Edward Donati, Anne McLaren, Nick O'Neill, Ann Donnelly, Joseph O'Donnell, Gregory Hogan, Adrian Gannon, Jonathan Heard, Ian Stokes

Delighted to be part of this fantastic collaborative effort to ensure that seafarers have the most up-to-date access to support when crisis strikes. #shipping #seafarers #maritimewelfare

Thanks very much to our summer volunteer interns Tybie Brown and Joseph Park for their great work in our London office over the last few weeks. We are sorry to see them go but we wish them all the best in their future careers.