Displaying items by tag: Liverpool Seafarers Centre
World's Best: Liverpool Seafarers Centre Wins Awards Ceremony At LISW19
A UK ecumenical charity, Liverpool Seafarers Centre (LSC) has been crowned the world’s best seafarer centre at an awards ceremony held as part of London International Shipping Week (LISW19).
The charity, based in Crosby and Eastham on the Wirral, was singled out by the International Seafarer Welfare Awards due to the exceptional care it offers visiting seafarers and their families. LSC finished top ahead of seafarer centres in America in Houston and Philadelphia as well as Sydney Australia and Tauranga, New Zealand.
Feedback from judges and those who use the centre described it as a “home from home” staffed by the friendliest volunteers who go above and beyond and expect nothing in return. The Seafarer Centre of the Year is voted for by seafarers, 50,000 of whom use the centre’s services in Liverpool and along the River Mersey every year. This includes providing emotional support, including offering a clinical psychologist, for those where life has become too difficult to handle in normal talks. It also offers practical assistance such as access to WIFI, money exchange and a physical base on land for crew members whose vessels have docked in the city.
LSC chief executive John Wilson collected the award during a ceremony at the Inmarsat Building on September 11 attended by representatives of seafarer centres from around the world. The charity has been shortlisted for the award on previous occasions but never been named the winner, which comes during the year of its tenth anniversary.
Mr Wilson said: “Liverpool Seafarers Centre is delighted to collect the award of Seafarer Centre of the Year, made all the more special as it is voted by seafarers themselves. We have performed consistently in this category for a number of years so to be named the winner after ten years of services to the Liverpool area is a fitting achievement and a testament to the hard work of all our volunteers. It is their caring approach, the support they offer more than 50,000 seafarers every year and the calibre of our facilities that have assisted in our success so far. Our volunteers always go the extra mile to ensure seafarers who need our support are given the proper care and follow-up action, including liaising with seafarer centres in other ports, should they require it.”
The nominations from seafarers noted the centre’s early opening and late finish and their “fantastic and friendly” staff who always extend a warm welcome. One seafarer said: “We really need seafarers centres like Liverpool Seafarers Centre all around the world." Another said: “Our ships regularly visit Liverpool. The seafarers centre is the best I have come across and the volunteers are some of the friendliest I have met. Having seen many centres around the world, very few match the warmth and welcome of Liverpool’s.”
Mr Wilson said the award would now enable the charity to build on its success and help even more seafarers.
He said: “Seafarers centres are a vital part of the maritime world supporting the men and women who supply 95pc of all UK imports and exports. We now intend to grow our network across the North West, building on our Crosby site and the centre we opened in 2017 at Queen Elizabeth II Dock, Eastham, which works in partnership with our headquarters. We are also opening a centre at Garston to enable us to offer our practical, emotional and spiritual services to an extra 10-20 per cent of seafarers every year.”
Liverpool Seafarers Centre is a partnership between the Catholic Apostleship of the Sea (Liverpool) and the Anglican Mersey Mission to Seafarers. Its history dates back to the 19th century. The charity provides ‘a lifeline’ to seafarers both active and retired. It offers a safe and secure place to rest and receive practical and emotional support. It garners the support of many cross denominational faiths and organisations.
For further information on LSC's work, to donate or become a volunteer contact John Wilson Tel: 0300 800 8085 visit Email: [email protected] or visit their website here.
#ports - An ecumenical maritime charity on Merseyside in the UK, Liverpool Seafarers Centre (LSC) is celebrating a landmark 10th anniversary.
The charity offers practical and emotional support to more than 50,000 seafarers passing through North West of England ports each year with bases in Liverpool Cruise Terminal, Crosby and Eastham.
Formed as a joint initiative between the Catholic and Anglican Mission’s in Liverpool, it now garners the support of many other cross denominational faiths and organisations.
LSC CEO John Wilson said it was a proud moment for the charity which is driven by one central mission - to deliver 'world-class care' to the 'silent army' of seafarers living very challenging lives. He said a big touchstone for the 10th anniversary celebrations will be Sea Sunday which falls on July 14. He said LSC will be working with parishes across the North West to raise awareness of seafarers tireless work transporting 95pc of everything the UK imports and exports. He said there will be a specific call on Sea Sunday for more volunteers to help at ports in Liverpool, Garston, Eastham, Silloth, Barrow and Workington.
“We are thrilled to have reached this landmark anniversary,” he said. “A pivotal moment involved the setting up of one central headquarters at Colonsay House in Crosby to direct our seafarer welfare support programme. Since then our work has been centred around on-board visits focusing on direct interaction with seafarers.
“In addition we recently launched a second facility in Eastham to increase our presence in the Manchester Ship Canal with further plans in the pipeline to expand our service across Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria. While service delivery has evolved over the years, our mission has never changed. It remains firmly focused on providing ‘a lifeline’ to seafarers, both active and retired. The centre’s in Crosby and Eastham offer a safe and secure place to relax whilst also receiving wide-ranging support. Our work includes support for ‘major life events’ such as a family bereavement, trauma, marriage, divorce or birth of a child. We also act as a go-between and can talk to the ship management company if there are problems to ensure seafarers are being properly cared for. On a practical level we provide a variety of support including access to WIFI, money exchange and a physical base on land where crew can take a break from the vessel. Another key role involves ensuring the Port of Liverpool and the maritime industry on Merseyside maintains its reputation as a friendly caring port. It is one of the few port cities to have a seafarer welfare centre in a cruise terminal.”
Mr Wilson said the formation of LSC was sparked by the work of Liverpool Bishops’ John Worlock and David Sheppard who campaigned tirelessly to overcome divisions between the Catholic and Anglican communities during the 1970s and 1980s.
“Due to growing demand Liverpool’s first seafarer outreach work began in the mid 19th century with the Anglican Mersey Mission to Seafarers founded in 1856. This was followed by the Catholic Apostleship of the Sea (Liverpool), founded in 1937. Liverpool Seafarers Centre as we know it today is the result of a successful partnership between the two organisations. The Mersey Mission to Seafarers and Apostleship of the Sea (Liverpool) had previously worked in isolation of one another, running small satellite centres including operations in Runcorn, Birkenhead and Salford. The merger ultimately enabled the two organisations to dovetail and pool resources.
For further information on LSC's work visit their website: www.liverpoolseafarerscentre.org