The Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) and Trinity House have joined forces on behalf of the maritime charity sector to thank and congratulate hundreds of staff and volunteers for providing ‘exceptional’ support to UK Merchant Navy Seafarers during Covid-19.
In recognition of this selfless support, the staff and volunteers, who work in maritime charity care homes, sheltered accommodation and hostels, have each been given a £20 Amazon voucher. The organisations, including Broughton House, Erskine, Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society and Queen Victoria Seamen’s Rest, will also receive a Certificate of Appreciation and Marks and Spencer voucher to purchase lunch for their team.
Sharon Coveney, Deputy Chief Executive of the MNWB which is the umbrella charity for the UK Merchant Navy and fishing fleets supporting over 45 constituent organisations, said:
“MNWB recognises the stark impact Covid-19 has had on many diverse sectors of the workforce, particularly our constituent accommodation-based services. The pandemic impacted the wellbeing of many, so it is important to highlight the exceptional support that has been provided to MN seafarers by staff and volunteers up and down the country.
“This small and important jointly-funded initiative goes someway to say a heartfelt thank you in recognising the dedication and selfless hard work of the accommodation providers during these challenging times.”
Captain Ian McNaught CVO MNM, Deputy Master of Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales and the Channel Isles, said:
“Among other things, the Trinity House Maritime Charity works to relieve the need of mariners and former mariners of all ranks and their families and dependants ‘in necessitous circumstances’; the pandemic certainly gave rise to dire and necessitous circumstances and so it is only fitting that we find some way to thank the accommodation providers on the front line.
“The support provided to seafarers by workers and volunteers has been exemplary; this reward is our small way of both recognising and thanking those people up and down the UK who worked hard to give something back to the seafarers who work so hard for us.”
For more information about the project, email enquiries@mnwb.org.uk
