On Wednesday, 4 June 2025, The Seafarers’ Charity held its Annual Meeting aboard HMS Wellington in London. Chaired by Paul Butterworth, Chair of the Trustees, the meeting brought together members, stakeholders, and supporters from across the maritime welfare sector to reflect on the charity’s work over the past year. As well as formal governance matters, this was also an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding contributions of our partners.
Nusrat Ghani MP, Vice President of The Seafarers’ Charity and Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, was pleased to join the Annual Meeting as keynote speaker. In her address titled “Seafarers’ Mental Health Maintenance,” Ms Ghani highlighted the critical importance of mental health support for those working at sea. Drawing on her long experience advocating for improved wellbeing in the sector, she called on everyone across the maritime space — from the IMO and ILO to trade unions, shipowners, and charities — to go further and faster in ensuring that seafarers’ needs are truly met.
A key moment of the afternoon was the presentation of The President’s Awards, conferred by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, President of The Seafarers’ Charity.
Further information about the meeting is available here.
