[Brian Probetts (site admin)]

Launch of SEAFARERS LINK –the phone –a friend scheme for Seafarers.

Hundreds of former Merchant Navy & Royal Navy Service seafarers and fishermen could benefit from a new telephone friendship project designed to provide companionship and a listening ear.

‘Seafarers Link’, is the first of its kind designed especially for retired seafarers. The fortnightly telephone conference groups,which started in Hull in June, and which launched in Cardiff and Wallasey in August and which will be launching in Liverpool, Portsmouth ,and Plymouth over the next few months, will link up to eight callers in a phone group as an opportunity to meet new people, share stories and swap experiences.

‘Seafarers Link’,a new phone friendship group,is a joint project being launched by Community Network and CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteers Programme(RSVP)and has been funded by the Maritime Charities Funding Group in response to the growing support needs of seafarers across the UK, and is focused on increasing opportunities for social relationships, when seafarers have difficulty making the transition between life at sea and life ashore.

According to research commissioned by the Maritime Charities Funding Group the number of former merchant seafarers and fisherman is expected to increase by around 15% by 2015 and 46% by 2020. The number of older fishermen is expected to rise by around 15% by 2015, reflecting continuing loss of employment in the industry.

Seafarers Project Officer for CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme, Peter Castledine, says: “Seafarers Link is an exciting telephone scheme about the simple acts that can help grow friendship. We know that sharing experiences and enjoying each other’s company can make a valuable contribution to people’s lives – this is what our new telephone scheme is all about. It will cost you nothing, and we are urging older seafarers to give it a go!”

Community Network Social Inclusion Offer, Susan Robinson says: “It can be difficult for seafarers to adjust to retirement, and not always easy for their families, and carers to access services and resources - that is why Seafarers Link is so important.”

In 2006 CSV, the UK’s leading volunteering charity, published two reports calling on the health sector to improve the dignity of isolated older people by expanding volunteer involvement. In 2006 the charity said 17% over 65s go without weekly contact with friends.

CSV commissioned research, with Help the Aged and the British Red Cross, found 83% of older people receiving volunteer support, report improvements in their quality of life.

CSV’s Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme hopes the new telephone friendships scheme will provide opportunities for companionship and improve seafarer welfare.

The telephone befriending groups will each have a group organiser, trained by Community Network, to help seafarers make the most of the telephone link. The scheme plans to expand into seven additional areas throughout the UK by 2010.

To find out more about Seafarers Link, or register to take part, contact Peter Castledine on 020 7643 1379 or email pcastledine@csv.org.uk

Notes for editors
1) Funding for RSVP’s Seafarers Link has been provided by the Maritime Charities Funding Group whose members are: Seafarers UK, Merchant Navy Welfare Board, Seamen’s Hospital Society, Trinity House, Numast Welfare Funds, ITF Seafarers Trust and Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity

2) Community Network has been helping isolated people for over 20 years by providing low cost telephone conference facilities to communities. Community Network can be contacted on: 01373 451569 or sue@community-network.org

3) The Seafarers Link is completely free of charge and is a social phone group that will help seafarers talk to each other, as part of a wider communications group. Every two weeks, at a set time, everyone in the local group receives a call which networks them to others in their group.

4) The Maritime Charities Funding Group (MCFG) can be contacted via The Merchant Navy Welfare Board, 30 Palmerston Road, Southampton. For press enquiries relating to MCFG and Seafarers UK contact: Kirsty Aldis t. 020 7932 5986 or kirsty.aldis@seafarers-uk.org

5) RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme) developed as part Community Service Volunteers (CSV), with the aim of encouraging people over the age of 50 to volunteer in their communities.

6) Over the past twenty years RSVP has recruited around 20,000
volunteers who have helped more than 150,000 children to read, knitted more than 250,000 teddies for traumatised children and 70,000 garments for premature babies as well as befriending 1,000 isolated older people.

7) ‘Healthy options – enhancing health services for older people’ 2006
‘Pillars of support – the impact of older volunteering’ 2006

8) Making a Difference through Volunteering (2006) – Commissioned by CSV, Help the Aged and the British Red Cross - canvassed the views of more than 160 care service users in addition to 160 volunteers and 6 projects providing volunteer services. The research found the social role of volunteers as an essential element in breaking isolation and improving independence and well being among older people.


CSV website (see link on right of Senior Volunteers page) -

http://www.csv.org.uk/Volunteer/Senior+Volunteers

RSVP website (see bottom right link on home page) -
http://www.csv-rsvp.org.uk/site/home.htm

[Castleman]

Hi Brian,
Thanks for that Link looks very interesting indeed!
Wonder how amny will partake in it!?
Cheers