June 10, 2025
The Seafarers' Charity's Chief Executive Recognised by The Fishmongers’ Company
Deborah Layde, chief executive of The Seafarers’ Charity, has been sworn in as a member of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, in recognition of her ongoing commitment to improving fisher safety.
She has led a team that has been at the forefront of support for the UK fishing fleet, beginning in 2017 by commissioning seminal research into the welfare needs of UK fishers. 'Fishing for a Future' identified health, literacy, financial and safety needs amongst the fishing community and informed The Seafarers' Charity's grant funding support for the sector.
Layde was appointed chief executive in 2022 after successfully leading The Seafarers’ Charity’s grant-making programme for 9 years. She previously held senior roles at The Industrial Society, Childbase, and the Small Charities Coalition. She was admitted as a member at a ceremony at Fishmongers’ Hall in central London on 22 May.
Under her leadership, The Seafarers' Charity has awarded innovative grants supporting several fishing welfare initiatives, including:
- The Fishing Animateur project - which offers grant writing support to enable fishers to access government grants to make improvements to their vessel and their business. In 2024, the Animateurs work supported almost £5m in new projects.
- The Fathom Podcast- delivered by the Cornwall Fish Producers Organisation, to support fishers' engagement and understanding of legislative and regulatory policy changes.
- Seafit fishers’ health initiative - a £739k grant over a two-year period, which supported the delivery of a new partnership project between Seafarers Hospital Society and Fishermen's Mission.
The Seafarers’ Charity has also collaborated with The Fishmongers’ Company's Fisheries Charitable Trust, which works with universities, government and third sector organisations to support, through charitable giving, a sustainable fishing industry, healthy rivers and oceans and thriving coastal communities.
“Deborah Layde brings a wealth of relevant experience to the Livery of the Fishmongers' Company which prides itself as being a modern Company with a long history of involvement in its namesake trade. The Seafarers’ Charity and the Fishmongers' Fisheries Charity have many overlapping interests and have, in recent years, developed an extremely productive partnership, working on fisheries projects throughout the UK. I am delighted that Deborah is joining the Fishmongers' Company in recognition of all that she has achieved in the area of welfare at sea.” - Andrew Sutcliffe KC, Prime Warden of the Fishmongers’ Company.
“
“This is an immense privilege, and one that I’m deeply grateful for. Our charity has had a long and fruitful relationship with Fishmongers’ Company, working together to alleviate need and disadvantage for seafarers. I look forward to deepening our ties further, and of course, contributing to the Company as a member.”
