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Supporting UK Merchant Navy seafarers and their families

The Merchant Navy Fund is a much-needed collaborative initiative set up by two long-established charities, the Merchant Navy Welfare Board and The Seafarers' Charity, to exclusively support Merchant Navy seafarers.

In 2022, the Fund is celebrating its ten-year anniversary and thanking generous supporters for helping to raise £720,000 since its inception. To-date the Fund was able to support vital research and award grants to maritime welfare charities totalling more than £700,000. All the money raised is used to help finance those charities supporting UK Merchant Navy seafarers and their families at times of need.

Download our latest newsletter to see how your money helps those in need and please donate today to help our serving and retired Merchant Navy seafarers and their families.


This Merchant Navy Day, 3 September, please Fly the Red Ensign to honour and remember the sacrifices of the, often forgotten and invisible, but very hard-working, Merchant Navy seafarers.

Grant Funding

We work with organisations supporting UK Merchant Navy seafarers in need and their families.

Your organisation can apply to the Merchant Navy Fund’s Grants Programme, provided it meets our eligibility criteria. To take the eligibility test, please Apply for a Grant following the link below.

Apply for a Grant

Donate to the Merchant Navy Fund

Your support is vital to Merchant Navy seafarers and their families at times of need.

Thanks to our supporters, this year we were able to award more than £58,000 in funding to five organisations supporting UK Merchant Navy seafarers, but more help is needed.

Donate now

Our impact

Since its launch in 2012, the Merchant Navy Fund has awarded more than £700,000 in grants to organisations supporting UK Merchant Navy seafarers and their families in times of need.

Find out more

Latest News

Merchant Navy Fund Spring Appeal

The Merchant Navy Fund was created ten years ago to help UK Merchant Navy seafarers and their families in need of support. This year the need is critical. We are there to offer a helping hand to Merchant Navy seafarers and their families by funding the services needed to help people get back on their feet.

More details

Fund for Merchant Navy seafarers reaches 10-year milestone

A fund that supports charities caring for UK Merchant Navy seafarers and their families is celebrating its ten-year anniversary this year.

More details

The Merchant Navy Fund is administered by The Seafarers’ Charity (Seafarers UK, formerly King George’s Fund for Sailors), and supported by the Merchant Navy Welfare Board.

Merchant navy welfare board
Seafarers charity

Grant Funding

We work with organisations supporting UK Merchant Navy seafarers in need and their families.

Your organisation can apply to the Merchant Navy Fund’s Grants Programme, provided it meets our eligibility criteria. To take the eligibility test, please Apply for a Grant following the link below.

Donate to the Merchant Navy Fund

Your support is vital to Merchant Navy seafarers and their families at times of need.

Thanks to our supporters, this year we were able to award more than £58,000 in funding to five organisations supporting UK Merchant Navy seafarers, but more help is needed.

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