Shipwrecked Mariners' Society MINE CHALLENGE 2005

There are many ways you can help us to provide a lifeline to seafarers and their families in need:

By Making A Donation
Donations, however large or small, may be sent to 1 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TL at any time.

By Making Your Gifts Tax Effective
Under the Government's "Getting Britain Giving" measures, providing you pay income tax or capital gains tax, all your donations can be treated as Gift Aid. This means for every £1 that you donate, the Society can claim an additional 28 pence from the tax man. It is only necessary to sign one form to cover all donations, until you notify us otherwise. Full instructions and the appropriate forms are available from Central Office.

Regular Giving By Bankers Order
If you would like to make a regular donation by banker's order, please let us know and we will send you the necessary form. The Society very much appreciates such regular support, which provides a steady source of income and helps us plan for the future.

By Remembering The Society In Your Will
If you are making, or renewing, your will, please remember the needs of our seafarers and their widows in financial distress. Your legacy could make a real difference to them for years to come.

You may wish to consider either:

A residuary legacy - which means you leave the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society all or part of your estate once other gifts to family and friends have been distributed or
A pecuniary legacy - which is a fixed sum of money.

To receive a legacy fact sheet please click here.

By Purchasing Christmas Cards and Notelets
We offer a range of quality Christmas Cards and other associated items. Click here to learn more.

If you would like to apply for assistance click here, or if you would like further information about the Society's work click here.

Last year, the Society paid out over £1.6M.

Here are some examples of the assistance that we have provided:


	*“...our Honorary Agent and his local peers were impressed with his working record”* With over fifty years at sea a retired Norfolk fisherman in his late seventies had never sought any help from the Society before. He had used all his savings to have essential repair work carried out in his home and, after assessing the case, the Society was pleased to take him into the regular higher level grant system at a time in his life when he needed support.


	*“...she does suffer from the cold, especially at night, which keeps her awake”* Over forty years ago the Society paid a Death Benefit Grant to the widow of a Life Member of the Society and then provided on-going support for her in the late 1970s. Now, at ninety years of age and severely disabled with arthritis, as the result of a review of her circumstances the Society was able to offer a little extra comfort to this elderly lady by funding the purchase of an electric blanket.


	*“...whilst helping with the half-yearly grant payments I met a lovely elderly lady, very proud but in need”* Both our visiting Trustee and local Honorary Agent supported the request from a beneficiary in her sixties, in poor health, who only had a kitchen chair to sit on. The Grants Committee reviewed the case and approved funding for a new sofa.


	*“...I really don't understand what happened..he knew the boat well and had fished in the same area for three years...why did the boat go down?”* The Shipwrecked Mariners' Society and The Fishermen's Mission are only too aware of the dangers that face those that work at sea -nine fishermen are killed or seriously injured every month. A young fisherman was lost, presumed drowned, off the Scottish coast leaving a young family. Our Honorary Agent at the Fishermen's Mission has comforted and supported them in their loss and the Society paid two Relief Grants to provide immediate financial support when it was most needed.