About our charity

Conceived by far-sighted ship owners and officers, and championed by King George V, the KGFS is a key strand of our DNA and something of which we’re very proud. Today, The Seafarers’ Charity is an evolving, forward-looking charity – building on past successes but expanding our capabilities to make a genuine difference.

Putting funding where it matters

Our grant giving to maritime charities brings truly life-changing impact for many who work – or have worked – at sea, and their families. We reduce hardships experienced by seafarers by enabling environments where, instead, they can thrive, supporting their practical and welfare needs at home, in port and at sea, often far from home. We also enable them to connect with loved ones – and to find comfort and companionship in retirement.

We assess every grant and our activity against these goals, continually asking: how can we best deliver a positive impact? What will most effectively help seafarers to thrive and live independent lives? And how can we safeguard their future in a fast-changing world?

While we’ll continue to provide support for many of our existing delivery partners who provide vital frontline services, we’ll also be working in new ways. We’re moving towards identifying and targeting the systemic problems that lead to adversity in the first place. We’re aiming to get to the heart of issues earlier to achieve longer-term success through outcomes-focused funding collaboration, research and advocacy – which in turn will amplify the impact of our grant awards.