Grants awarded

Continued provision of much-needed telephone friendship group 'Seafarers Link', aimed at helping to reduce loneliness and isolation, and enhancing relationships and social interaction with other seafarers and their communities.

to fund their work in Cochin, Chennai and the Philippines, as follows:

• A total of 13,120 people provided with food and other essentials;
• A new Oxygen Generator provided to serve the community hospital in Cochin;
• 3,943 people provided with rehabilitation and advice with long COVID-19,
• including provision of occupational therapy, physiotherapy and counselling;
• 586 children provided with counselling through ten volunteer child psychologists, as well as on-line classes while schools were closed.

to help fund:

• purchase and distribution of 5,000 COVID-19 Care Kits to meet the needs of seafarers and their families across twelve Indian ports reaching a total of 26,359 people.
• Ongoing support to local seafaring communities in India via a dedicated 24/7 paramedic-led helpline.
• Purchase and distribution of a further 4,800 COVID-19 Care Kits to benefit more than 20,000 seafarers and family members in the Philippines.

awarded to:

• Priority vaccinations for 5,000 Indian seafarers in approved private hospitals in 16 port areas throughout India.
• Financial assistance of up to £1,000 for 80 seafarers, or their immediate family members (approx. 320), who have been hospitalised by COVID-19.
• Emotional support for 3,000 seafarers and their families over a six-month period from ISWAN’s existing SeafarerHelp helpline.
• Financial hardship grants to Filipino seafarers and dependents, as well as next of kin of deceased seafarers, who are impacted by COVID-19, supporting immediate living costs as well as medical costs incurred during hospital treatment.

to provide support to 300 former Merchant Navy personnel through recreational and entertainment events and activities to help prevent loneliness and isolation.

to support emergency grants to Merchant Navy seafarers and their dependants who are in real poverty but who also do not fit within the organisations’ set criteria (e.g. 10 years’ sea service).