The I T F Seafarers Trust

Charity Number: 281936

Annual Expenditure: £5.0M
Geographic Focus: Isle Of Man, Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan, Ajman, Aland Islands, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra ... [260 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Total Assets: £44.3 million (2021)
  • Annual Giving: £5.0 million (2021)
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months (small grants under £75,000)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £100,000+
  • Geographic Focus: International (no restrictions)

Contact Details

Website: www.seafarerstrust.org

Email: info@seafarerstrust.org

Phone: 020 7403 2733

Address: 49-60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS, United Kingdom

For pre-application advice and guidance, applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust directly before submitting formal applications.

Overview

Established in 1981 by the Executive Board of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), the ITF Seafarers' Trust is a UK charity that has provided over US$200 million to support seafarer welfare worldwide. With total assets of £44.3 million (2021) and annual grant expenditure of approximately £5 million, the Trust's mission is to assist with “the moral, spiritual and physical welfare of seafarers regardless of nationality, race or creed.” The Trust is funded through its own capital funds, including a £25.2 million expendable endowment, and investment income from the ITF Welfare Fund. Their vision is to be the leader in promoting and improving the wellbeing of seafarers worldwide, acting as a catalyst for positive change in the maritime community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates three main grant categories:

  • Large Grants: Over £75,000 - Require full Board of Trustees approval for significant projects
  • Small Grants: Under £75,000 - Decided by committee every 2-3 months with streamlined approval process
  • Seafarers' Trust Emergency Fund (STEF): £500 - £5,000 - For immediate emergency needs of individual seafarers

Specific grant streams include:

  • General Grants: Supporting organizational welfare programs and capacity building
  • Vehicle Grants: Funding transport for seafarer centres (vehicles typically need replacement every 5-6 years)
  • Port-Based Welfare Grants: Supporting port-based services and facilities
  • Research Grants: Funding studies on seafarer wellbeing and welfare issues
  • Scholarship Programs: Partnerships with World Maritime University and International Maritime Law Institute

Applications accepted on a rolling basis through online portal at www.seafarerstrust.org.

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses on six core objectives:

  1. Port-Based and Onboard Services: Resourcing welfare organizations to provide communication facilities, shore leave, and recreation support services
  2. Union Capacity Building: Building seafarers' unions' capacity to deliver member services around welfare and wellbeing
  3. Occupational Safety and Health: Supporting initiatives for safety and health on board and in ports
  4. Medical Services: Funding medical services for seafarers, including mental health and wellbeing programs
  5. Regulatory Improvements: Supporting improvements to regulation and practice, building capacity to implement maritime regulation
  6. Emergency Support: Providing support to seafarers and their families in emergency situations

Recent funded projects include mental health training for Indian maritime cadets, urgent dental care for Ukrainian seafarers and families, new seafarers' welfare centres, occupational health and safety programs, and mobile hotspot communication programs.

What They Don't Fund

The Trust is limited to supporting projects which directly benefit individual seafarers' spiritual, moral, or physical welfare. This means:

  • Projects must have a direct connection to seafarer welfare
  • Indirect or tangential maritime projects that don't directly benefit seafarers are not eligible
  • Non-maritime worker welfare projects are excluded
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Trust is governed by 5-9 trustees responsible for setting strategy and ensuring good governance:

  1. Dave Heindel (Chair) - Chair of ITF Seafarers' Section and President of Seafarers International Union of North America, AFL-CIO
  2. Stephen Cotton - ITF General Secretary
  3. Paddy Crumlin - ITF President, Chair of ITF Dockers' Section
  4. Jacqueline Smith - ITF Maritime Coordinator
  5. Brian Orrell OBE - Former General Secretary of Nautilus UK
  6. Mark Dickinson - General Secretary of Nautilus International
  7. Sunil Nair - Assistant General Secretary, National Union of Seafarers of India

Staff Team

  • Katie Higginbottom - Head of the ITF Seafarers' Trust (former projects and campaigns leader in ITF maritime section)
  • Luca Tommasi - Grant Manager
  • Mary Bollan - Office and Communications Manager
  • Rumana Akther - Trust Administrator
  • Meike Erichsen - Project Manager
  • Abdulgani Serang - Programme Development Manager

Key Quotes

Katie Higginbottom on supporting applicants: “We do everything we can to steer applicants in the right direction, so that their proposals are sound and have the best chance of success.”

Katie Higginbottom on responsiveness: “We try to be very responsive... we can quickly convene the committee to approve small grants.”

Luca Tommasi on application process: “The first step for any applicant is to contact us directly. We can provide valuable guidance to ensure the application aligns with our goals and requirements.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Template Downloads Available: Vehicle, Research, General, and Port-Based Welfare grant application question templates

Note: If you applied before March 2019, you'll need to set up a new login.

Decision Timeline

  • Small Grants (under £75,000): Committee meets approximately every 2-3 months, then endorsed by Trustees
  • Large Grants (over £75,000): Full Board of Trustees approval required (timeline varies)
  • Emergency Fund: Rapid response for urgent needs

The Trust emphasizes being responsive and can quickly convene committees when needed for time-sensitive applications.

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, in 2021:

  • 71 organizational grants were awarded totaling £4,888,602
  • 31 individual/emergency grants were approved totaling £157,657

The Trust takes a supportive approach, working with applicants to strengthen proposals before formal submission.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust directly for guidance on reapplication if initial applications are unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Trust

  1. Contact Early: “The first step for any applicant is to contact us directly” - reach out before formal application for guidance
  2. Secure ITF Endorsement: Obtain endorsement from an ITF-affiliated union in the country where the project is based
  3. Align with Goals: Ensure proposals align with the Trust's six core objectives
  4. Direct Benefit: Projects must directly benefit individual seafarers' spiritual, moral, or physical welfare
  5. Sound Proposals: Work with Trust staff to ensure proposals are sound and complete

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

  • Mental health and wellbeing training programs for maritime cadets (India)
  • Urgent dental care services for seafarers and families (Ukraine)
  • New seafarers' welfare centres and facilities (Sri Lanka)
  • Vehicle replacement programs for port-based welfare services
  • Mobile hotspot communication programs for seafarers
  • Occupational health and safety training initiatives
  • Emergency relief following natural disasters (Philippines)
  • Telemedicine services for seafarers

Key Terminology and Language

The Trust uses terminology focused on:

  • Seafarer welfare and wellbeing
  • Moral, spiritual, and physical welfare
  • Port-based and onboard services
  • Union capacity building
  • Decent work for seafarers
  • Direct benefit to seafarers

Standing Out

  • Demonstrate direct connection to seafarer welfare
  • Show collaboration with ITF-affiliated unions or recognized maritime welfare organizations
  • Include evidence of need and potential impact
  • Emphasize sustainability and long-term benefit
  • Address mental health, safety, or emergency response needs (current priorities)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Make Contact First: Don't submit blindly - the Trust actively helps applicants shape strong proposals. Contact them early at info@seafarerstrust.org for guidance.
  1. ITF Union Endorsement is Essential: Secure endorsement from an ITF-affiliated union in your project country - this appears to be a key requirement for organizational grants.
  1. International Scope: No geographic restrictions - the Trust funds seafarer welfare projects worldwide regardless of nationality, race, or creed.
  1. Choose the Right Grant Size: Understand the difference between small grants (under £75,000, faster 2-3 month timeline) and large grants (over £75,000, Board approval required).
  1. Direct Seafarer Benefit is Critical: Projects must directly benefit individual seafarers' spiritual, moral, or physical welfare - indirect maritime projects won't qualify.
  1. Emergency Funding Available: The STEF provides £500-£5,000 for immediate needs through unions, ITF inspectors, or recognized welfare organizations.
  1. Relationship-Driven Approach: The Trust values working with “partners who are providing frontline support to seafarers” and building long-term relationships with effective organizations.

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