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The Fishermen’s Charity
The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen (the Fishermen’s Mission) provides care, compassion and support to working, retired and disabled fishermen and their families. Deep-sea fishing is dangerous and unpredictable. Hardship and tragedy are facts of everyday life in the UK’s fishing communities. It is to the Fishermen’s Mission that fishermen and their families turn when they need financial, practical and emotional support. We are the only national charity specifically providing this care; we are THE Fishermen’s Charity.
“Working as a fisherman is a dangerous and lonely job that very few people comprehend. The Fishermen’s Mission makes sure it knows the hardship fishermen and their families face and therefore exactly how to help them”. Rick Stein, Mission Vice-Patron and restaurateur
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Compassion
When Tragedy Strikes
Deep sea fishing is an incredibly dangerous occupation, in the UK almost ten times more risky then coal mining, the most dangerous peacetime job on land. Every year an average of 28 boats are lost and 100 men are killed or seriously injured.
Read a Mission Man's account of one young wife's tragic loss
Care
Deep sea fishing is as unpredictable as it is dangerous. A family’s income can vary dramatically from one month to the next with employment rarely an option in remote communities. Since fishermen are paid by the catch the financial strains on family life can be hard to bear. Saving for a family crisis or retirement may be virtually impossible with poverty and despair for the disabled, elderly and widowed.
Find out more
Support
The Mission aims to provide financial, emotional and pastoral support to fishermen and their families in over 70 ports and harbours throughout the UK. Our dedicated team of Superintendents and volunteers are on hand 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: trusted and universally respected members of our proud and self-reliant fishing communities.
Find out more
Compassion
When Tragedy Strikes
Within our fishing communities the Fishermen’s Mission has a unique role to play supporting the families of men killed at sea. The Mission man or woman is on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year ready to deal with emergencies as they occur.
Superintendent Jim Ralph recalls an incident still vivid in his mind: “It was a Saturday afternoon, a skipper phoned me to say that one of his young men had been washed overboard. Other fishing boats in the area searched but he was lost. Could you inform his wife?
When I got to the house, I’ll never forget what I saw; a young wife in her early twenties with a baby daughter of three weeks in her arms and eleven month old son lying in his cot. Within the space of twelve months she had given birth to two children and lost her husband. For her, that day life was shattered. The Mission was able to look after them, not only financially but also providing sound advice and guidance regarding her family’s future. We were able to pray with her and give her spiritual help that continues to this day. The Fishermen’s Mission has a unique role to play in the lives of our fishermen and their families”.
The charity’s Accident and Emergency Fund provides families with a financial safety net in the traumatic weeks following the death or serious injury of partner or parent and helps survivors, often in shock and far from home, find accommodation, new clothes and their way back home.
North Sea Tragedy
Our care for widows, children and survivors can go on for years following a disaster.
Paul Shone, Mission Superintendent in North Shields, lives and works in the Mission Centre just a stone’s throw from the dock, putting him in daily contact with local fishermen. Fishing communities are notoriously proud and self-reliant; the Mission Man is one of the few people they trust.
Paul recalls the tragic November day when the Jann Denise II crewed by local brothers, Rob Temple (34) and Brian Allison (27) went missing. The search, which had begun as soon as the alarm was raised had been called off at 21.00 hrs; at 06.30 hrs the following morning Paul watched as the fleet set out again.
“It was a privilege to be allowed to slip the ropes as the boats went out. The fishermen were determined if the men were alive they were going to find them. It was very emotional standing here on the quayside watching as the convoy sailed out into the North Sea; a string of lights disappearing into the darkness”.
Care
In times of hardship, the Mission steps in, providing immediate material, emotional and pastoral support as well as offering expert guidance through the Benefits’ system and sourcing long-term grants.
A small kindness makes a big difference
“In the Mission we care for the whole person. People are never numbers, never just names on a piece of paper”. Superintendent Ray King
A retired fisherman, Jim* who was living in sheltered accommodation had little to call his own. One thing he was allowed to do was provide his own bed linen, which would mean he would no longer have to use “communal” issue. The problem was he had to provide three sets of linen. The money left from his small pension once he had paid for his board and lodgings barely covered essentials, it certainly would not stretch to the “luxury” of even the cheapest sheets and pillowcases. He had no family but had known the local Mission Superintendent who visited him regularly for years.
Jim swallowed his pride and broached the subject of bed linen. It wasn’t long before the money had been found and the two men were shopping in a local store. Jim was delighted with his purchases and could not thank his friend, the Superintendent enough.
Our hardship fund helps make one off purchases, small kindnesses – such as bed linen, clothes, school uniforms of shoes for the children, orthopaedic beds, sofas and cookers, disability scooters and nebulisers much more affordable for people on reduced incomes. A small kindness made a big difference to Jim who represents the tip of an iceberg of disabled, unemployed and retired fishermen and their dependants who could benefit from the Mission’s financial and practical aid.
* name changed to protect identity
Support
How many people we help
Every year on average, we could:
* give assistance to 3,000 fishermen and their families in desperate financial circumstances enabling them to receive grants worth £650,000
* make hospital visits to 2,500 fishermen and their family members, travelling over 25,000 miles
* care for 200 children whose fathers were lost at sea or seriously injured
* make 12,000 home visits to the elderly, infirm and socially isolated
* give emergency assistance to 240 shipwrecked or injured fishermen
* make visits to 7,000 crews on their boats
* serve 170,000 meals and snacks to members of fishing communities on low incomes
* facilitate 36,000 community meetings and activities in Mission Centres and Welfare Offices
Find out more about our Mission Centres
How cutbacks in the fishing industry have affected the Mission's work
Where we can be found
In busy ports from Newlyn in the south to Scrabster in the north fishermen can find a home from home in our Mission Centres. Life on board a fishing boat can be harsh, facilities meagre. A Mission Centre provides stark contrast, providing warmth, comfort and a chance to unwind.
Showers A necessity after days at sea
Laundry Machines are constantly in use meeting a huge demand for clean clothes
Accommodation Emergency beds can always be found
Food A hot meal or a drink is always welcome
Companionship A chance for retired fishermen to meet and catch up
Recreation From internet access to snooker
“The Mission in Newlyn is a hive of activity. Everyone knows one another; greetings are exchanged as men in their yellow rubber boots and oilskins sit down for a bite to eat and a hot drink.
There is something timeless about this, the voices, the tad of the cue hitting the snooker ball, the shuffling of cards, cigarette smoke and fried chips, ongoing conversation and the sea outside. As one of the old fishermen notes: ‘it’s here to stay’”. Gabriella Nonino
Fishermen are a unique socio-economic group within the maritime community and wider society. Their working patterns and lifestyle are different from those of other seafarers and as such fall outside the scope of help given by other maritime or welfare charities. Fishing communities are thus a distinct grouping within our society whose needs are not being met and the Fishermen’s Mission is the only national maritime charity that provides welfare services specifically for fishermen and fishing communities. We are the only national maritime charity caring specifically for the needs of fishing communities throughout the UK. The Fishermen's Mission supports fishermen and their families in times of hardship, need, accident, illness or disaster at sea.
The Mission in a changing world
For generations the UK’s fishing communities depended upon the bounty of the sea for their existence. As recently as the 1970s Grimsby a once proud North Sea fishing port boasted 6,000 sea-going fishermen and 40,000 industry related jobs on shore. The quay that was previously home to wall-to-wall trawlers now houses the few remaining boats. With the decline of the industry thousands of fishermen were left high and dry. Many, in their forties and fifties, largely unskilled knowing nothing other than fishing and the sea suddenly found themselves without a livelihood. With no job, no money and no future they frequently faced family breakdown, depression, alcoholism and poverty. This dismal scene was re-enacted from Aberdeen to Lowestoft leaving in its wake desperation and despair.
As the crisis in the industry continues due to tauter quotas, spiralling fuel costs and questions of fish stock sustainability, case loads in the fishing ports have grown apace.
The Hull Superintendent, Ray King tells Pete’s story.
I presently deal with a caseload of over 500 fishermen and their dependants. Let me tell you about just one ex-fisherman we’ve helped, Pete.
Pete was one of the more fortunate, he had a home and a wife and family who cared for him. But Pete had a problem; he was an alcoholic.
One day he went too far and his wife who had stoically stood by him for years could no longer cope and threw him out. He had nowhere to go. He began sleeping rough and living from hand to mouth. Every penny he had went on his addiction - drink. He was literally down and out.
Fishermen are notoriously proud and self-reliant but eventually Pete swallowed his pride and turned to the Mission for help. Finding him a bed wasn’t easy but eventually we found him overnight accommodation in the local Salvation Army hostel. That isn’t the end of the story. Pete became a regular visitor to the Mission. We’d sit and talk over a cup of tea or two as he fought his illness. We became and remain good friends.
In the Mission we care for the whole person. Pete was never a number, never just a name on a piece of paper. He has told me many times it was the Mission that turned his life around, that brought him peace of mind. He no longer drinks, lives in a Council bungalow, which he keeps neat and tidy and potters about town on his Motability scooter. His previous way of life had badly damaged his health.
Pete’s story had a happy ending.
But without our help it’s unlikely he would be alive today.
Click here to find out how many people we help
Find out more about our Mission Centres
Welfare Services
Our ports welfare team (Superintendents) provide a range of services for fishing communities in response to local needs.
* Arrange hardship payments to those in desperate straits.
* Visit the sick, elderly and infirm in hospital.
* Visit socially isolated fisher folk at home and those in prison.
* Visit crews in their boats.
* Care for children of men lost, or seriously injured at sea.
* Bereavement counselling for families of men lost at sea.
* Facilitate community meetings and activities in Mission welfare centres and offices.
* Conduct funerals.
Find out about our achievements.
Seafarers Benefits Advice Line www.seabal.org.uk
Caring for fishing communities since 1881
The Fishermen's Mission continues to care for fishing communities and has done so since 1881. We have a presence in 70 fishing ports around the coast, offering material and financial support.
Fishing is the UK’s most distressful industry
Although the fishing industry is contracting under the Common Fisheries Policy and depletion of fish stocks, the amount of work for our port staff has increased and is set to increase further - due to severe social problems left in its wake. As the fishing industry contracts, it leaves behind a plethora of social and economic problems, similar to those experienced by coalfield communities since the demise of mining.
The fishing community
Fishermen are a unique socio-economic group within the maritime community and wider society. Their working patterns and lifestyle are different from those of other seafarers and as such fall outside the scope of help given by other maritime or welfare charities. Fishing communities are thus a distinct grouping within our society whose needs are not being met and the Fishermen’s Mission is the only national maritime charity that provides welfare services specifically for fishermen and fishing communities. We are the only national maritime charity caring specifically for the needs of fishing communities throughout the UK. The Fishermen's Mission supports fishermen and their families in times of hardship, need, accident, illness or disaster at sea.
At a local level the Mission works with Local Advisory Committees (LACs) in the ports. The LACs are vital in providing support and guidance to the ports welfare team (also known as Superintendents and Port Missioners). We greatly value their advice and support.
The Mission values our good working relationships with other maritime charities and agencies with whom we co-operate closely – to better serve the UK fishing and seafaring communities.
At a national strategic level the Fishermen’s Mission works in close co-operation with the Merchant Navy Welfare Board and Seafarers UK (King Georges Fund for Sailors). Our common goal being to care for those who risk their lives at sea and their dependents on land – also out of work and retired fishermen.
We also work with the Mission to Seafarers, Marine Society, British International Sailors Society, British Sailors Families society, Seamen’s Hospital Society and the Shipwrecked Mariners Society.
In Northern Ireland, the Mission continues to be very much involved in cross-community and cross-border work with fishing communities in the Republic, where we work with bodies such as Mna na Mara (Women of the Sea).
Our partners, other maritime charities and agencies
Billingsgate Seafood Training School www.seafoodtraining.org/
Merchant Navy welfare Board www.mnwb.org/
Seafarers Benefits Advice Line www.seabal.org.uk
Seamen’s Hospital Society www.seahospital.org.uk/
Shipwrecked Mariners www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk/
Seafarers UK www.kgfs.org.uk
The Seafish Authority www.seafish.org
Trinity House London www.trinityhouse.co.uk
Related sites of maritime interest
Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology www.imarest.org
Marine Society www.marine-society.org.uk
Maritime Coastguard Agency: www.mcga.gov.uk
The Billingsgate Seafood Training School
The Billingsgate Seafood Training School is located on the first floor of Billingsgate Fish Market next to Canary Wharf, London, UK. The school has been established as a charitable company with the aim of promoting awareness of fish in young people and to increase by way of professional courses, the knowledge of those already working in the industry in such areas as Fish mongering, Supermarkets, Restaurants, Hotels and general public demonstration courses. Free training courses are offered to schools as part of the Schools Education Programme.
For further information click on the link below.
www.seafoodtraining.org/
At the Fishermen’s Mission, everything we do - whether with individuals or community groups - is influenced by our principles - principles rooted in the Christian faith, which are as important to us today as they were when the organisation was founded in 1881. At the heart of the Mission’s work is a strong Christian ethos, which is reflected in a genuine motivation to serve others and to share the love and care shown by Jesus in His life here on earth.
This ethos is enshrined in the work of the Fishermen’s Mission, which commits us to work with people in the fishing ports in body, mind and spirit.
And whilst many people who work or volunteer for the Mission share a strong Christian faith, our ethos also warmly welcomes people of other faiths (or of no faith) to participate in Mission activities, to volunteer for the Mission, or to seek employment with the Mission.
The Mission and the church
The Fishermen’s Mission is not a church, nor is it affiliated to any particular denominational expression of Christianity. However, many local Mission centres across the country have developed close working relationships with local churches and church groups, as well as with other voluntary organisations that share our ethos and aims. Mission centres also provide a place to meet and pray where those of other faiths (and none) are made welcome.
Download Fishermen's Mission pdf files:
Family Worship, Fishermen's Mission Hymn, Prayers and Readings, Our Ministry
Giving to the Mission
Please make a donation NOW. Thankyou.
Donating is easy. Just fill in a simple form.
The Fishermen’s Mission is the only charity caring specifically for the UK’s fishermen, their families and communities. We receive no government funding and without the generous help of supporters like you, our vital work could not continue. You can donate to The Fishermen’s Mission in a number of ways. Thank you.
Volunteering and fundraising for the Mission
However much time you've got, whatever your interests, there's always something you can do that will make a real difference to fishermen and their families who need the Mission's support.
Click here for more information on our fundraising and volunteering opportunities.
Organise your own event
Our small team of community fundraisers can offer advice and support or you can go it alone. But whatever you enjoy doing why not do it for the Mission! Organise a quiz in the pub, coffee morning in the church hall, sponsored walk round the country park, swim in the leisure centre, BBQ in the back yard. Call 0800 6341020 and we’ll give you as much help as we can.
You can also sample one of the many Mission events from challenges to strawberry teas. And if you have a place in the London Marathon and the Great North Run or any other running event, why not run for the Mission? Email fundraising@rnmdsf.org.uk for a sponsorship pack.
A little time to spare?
You can always help us collect. Mission collectors do a brilliant job collecting house-to-house, in supermarkets and on the street. And if you’d like to help but prefer not to collect, we offer a range of volunteering opportunities from admin support to event marshal. Even if you have only a few hours to spare, you can make a difference.
Download and complete our volunteer enquiry form.
Volunteer Enquiry Form
If you are interested in volunteering for the Mission, please complete the form below.
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Legacy
Our work with fishing communities - relies entirely upon the generosity of kind individual supporters like you.
Much of our work is only made possible because of legacy gifts, so this is a vital source of income to the Fishermen’s Mission.
If you have already made a Will, but would like to leave a gift to the Mission you can do so by making a simple addition to your existing Will. This is called a codicil.
If you have not already made a Will at the moment, you may need to see a solicitor. Although you have to pay a fee, you will receive sound professional advice but can be sure that your wishes are carried out.
Two ways to give to the Mission in your Will:
Pecuniary gift - you can choose to give a gift of a fixed amount of money.
Residuary gift - you can choose to leave a share, or the whole, of what is left in your estate once you have provided for your loved ones.
Where can I find out more?
If you think you could help with a gift in your Will, please contact the Fishermen’s Mission for further information about how to make or update your Will, as well as how to leave a gift to the Fishermen’s Mission. Please contact John Field on 01489-566-926.
For general information about making a charitable donation in your will go to www.rememberacharity.org.uk
With limited resources the Mission does what it can to provide emotional, practical, financial and spiritual support to working, retired and disabled fishermen, their wives, widows and children when hardship and tragedy strike.
We receive no government or lottery funding and depend solely on voluntary contributions to our vital work.
There are many ways you can give:
* Consider leaving us a legacy in your will.
* Donate in memory.
* Make a regular donation – a small amount given monthly can make a BIG difference.
* And please Gift Aid your donations if you can.
* Give through the payroll.
* And did you know donating shares is easy.
However you choose to help, THANK YOU.
An in-memoriam donation to the Fishermen’s Mission is an enduring tribute to the memory of a loved one that will help secure the welfare of the UK’s fishing communities.
To download our In-Memoriam Form, please click here.
If you can spare just £2 a month, you will make a real difference to the lives of fishermen and their families when tragedy and hardship strike. You can help us bring hope and joy to more families like Liz’s who are alone or in need at Christmas.
Direct Debit is perhaps the easiest way to donate on a regular basis. Your bank will do all the work. You simply choose how much you would like to give. Regular gifts are particularly helpful as they allow us to plan for the medium to long-term and put in place projects we might otherwise not envisage.
To download our Direct Debit form, please click here.
Using the Government’s Gift Aid scheme it means that for every pound you give to the Fishermen’s Mission, we will receive an extra 28 pence from the taxman – at NO cost to you whatsoever.
So if you donate £100, the taxman adds £28 and we receive £128. How good is that!
All UK taxpayers are eligible to make donations under the scheme. You can Gift Aid any donations to the Fishermen’s Mission as long as you pay an amount of UK income or capital gains tax at least equal to the amount we reclaim for the Inland Revenue.
And please always remember to tick the Gift Aid box.
The Payroll Giving scheme or Give As You Earn is a very easy, tax-efficient way of giving to the Fishermen’s Mission, allowing you to make a tax free donation through your salary.
When you receive your regular salary, the Payroll Department take out the amount you’ve agreed to give us before they deduct tax. e.g. if a basic rate taxpayer agrees to give £10, it will only cost £7.80, or £6 for a higher rate tax payer. Many employers will even match your donation!
NB It is your company and not you who administer the donation and who deal with the Payroll Giving agency. And if your employer isn’t a member of the scheme, encourage them to join so we can help even more people to a better quality of life.
To download our Payroll Giving Form click here.
Giving shares is a highly tax-efficient way of donating to the Fishermen’s Mission. If you decide to give the Mission shares, you are entitled to claim back full tax relief against the value of those shares.
So a gift of shares worth £1,000 will only cost you £600, if you’re a higher rate taxpayer and £780 for lower rate taxpayers and no capital gains tax will apply.
We are grateful for any amount that you are able to give. If you would like to donate listed shares to the Mission, you will need to complete a stock transfer form which is available from the company whose shares you wish to donate. Where you are asked to provide details of the person to whom the stock is being transferred, please write RNMDSF, Mather House, 4400 Parkway, Solent Business Park, Whiteley, PO15 7FJ. Send the completed form to the Chief Executive, Fishermen’s Mission at the above address together with the share certificate.
Further information on donating shares to charity can be obtained from www.cafonline.org and www.sharegift.org.
A gift of £15 could cover the cost of a hospital visit to a shipwrecked fisherman;
£35 could provide an outing for a fatherless child;
£60 could pay for four sessions of post-traumatic stress counselling.
If you would like to make a donation, and we would be very grateful for whatever you can afford, please send a donations form and your gift to:
For credit card donations call: 01489 566 910. Please quote Ref: 1M05-Internet-Web.
We regret that it is not yet possible to make direct online donations via this site, but you can do so by printing off the donations form on this page, or by clicking on the Give Now link.
The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen (The Fishermen's Mission) is a long established registered charity, No. 232822.
Our sincere thanks to all our individual, trusts, foundations and company donors. Thank you.
Great News! – How the Mission can receive more money without you giving a single extra penny! Since April 2000 the Government has abolished the £250 minimum of Gift Aid donations! This means that if you are a UK taxpayer, the Mission can reclaim the tax you have already paid on All Donations over £1. All you need to do is complete the details.
Donations form to email or print off.
Fishermen's Mission Head Office
Mather House, 4400 Parkway,
Solent Business Park,
Whiteley,
Hampshire PO15 7FJ
Telephone: 01489 566 910
e-mail: enquiries@rnmdsf.org.uk
If you would like to contact your local RNMDSF, please see our map here.
Patron
Her Majesty The Queen
Chief Executive
Captain Dan Conley, OBE MBA RN
Director of Fundraising
Lady Campbell
Mission Secretary
Paul Jarrett, MBE JP
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From time to time the Fishermen’s Mission organises some exciting and fun events.
Some of our events can offer adventure and greater fulfilment in life in aid of a good cause.
If you would like further information about forthcoming events contact Ben Fry on: 020-7382-2651 or email: ben@rnmdsf.org.uk
Watch this space!
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Christmas Cards with a Mission
If you haven’t bought your Christmas cards yet (and who has!) why not this year buy cards that will help the Fishermen’s Mission bring Christmas cheer to fishermen and their families facing hardship during the festive season?
The Mission has developed a whole new range of fantastic Christmas cards, including one really special one produced from the winning entry to the May Fishing News photography competition. The photograph was taken by young photographer Ryan Douglas.
There are cards for everyone so please support us. For a brochure, telephone freephone 0800 634 1020.
Best of British fish
Featuring recipes from: Richard Corrigan, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Sue Lawrence, Claire Macdonald, Nick Nairn, Mark Prescott, Gary Rhodes, Franco and Ann Taruschio, Mitchell Tonks, Brian Turner, Marco Pierre White & Aldo Zilli
Foreword by Rick Stein
Published: 16th June 2005
Price: £20.00
A royalty from this book goes to The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen.
Belonging to a small island such as the British Isles we are never far from the sea. Many of us feel drawn to life at the water’s edge and beyond, to the boats that brave all weathers to catch our food. Fish remains the single, healthiest natural commodity at our disposal but the process of catching it involves the most dangerous job left in the world.
Best of British Fish is a compelling tribute to our fishermen and our fishing heritage, and the lifestyles involved in bringing fish to our table. This highly visual fish cookery book features delicious recipes from some of Britain’s most acclaimed chefs and food writers, including Gary Rhodes, Richard Corrigan and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. The recipes are accompanied by fascinating stories of the men and women who have dedicated their lives and livelihoods to fishing.
Food writer Hattie Ellis has travelled around the British coast to meet some of fishing’s most striking figures, from trawlermen to fish-and-chip sellers, discovering the pains and the pleasures experienced by the people who work at the sharp end of British fishing, including inshore fishermen, cocklers, fishmongers and more. The stunning reportage photography captures portraits of these figures and their unique way of life.
Easy and more elaborate dishes from fish restaurateurs, fishmongers and fishermen complete the diverse collection of recipes, which represents the wealth of fish caught in British waters including how to use many undervalued and sustainably-caught species. The result is a unique combination of dishes: bringing the pleasures of British fish to your table, alongside an account of the harsh realities of life at sea.
A selection of Britain’s best-loved chefs and food writers have joined forces with fishermen and fishmongers to create a collection of recipes that follow British fish from sea to plate. The recipes are collated and edited and the stories of the sea are told by Hattie Ellis and Camilla Sacchi. With reportage photography by Simon Impey (and Camilla Sacchi). Hattie Ellis is the author of several books, including Sweetness and Light: the mysterious history of the honey bee and Eating England.
For further information, a review copy or to organise an interview with Hattie Ellis or Camilla Sacchi, please contact: Fiona Smith on Tel: 0207 531 8489 or email: fiona.smith@mitchell-beazley.co.uk
Best of British Fish £20.00, Mitchell Beazley, telephone: 01903-828-800, ISBN 1 84000 999 3
or the:
RNMDSF Auxiliary Company Ltd, Overgang Road, Brixham, Devon TQ5 8AR, telephone: 01803-850-118, email: auxco@rnmdsf.org.uk
A catalogue of Fishermen’s Mission gift ideas and Christmas cards can also be obtained from the RNMDSF Auxiliary Co. Ltd.
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You can show you care and display solidarity with our fishing communities by sending an e-greeting to a fisherman and his family.
First fill out the form below to register with us, then you will be taken to the e-greetings page where you can choose a greeting card and send a message of support.
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* These details are essential to enable us to process your greeting.
Thank you.
We would like to hear if you have any stories of the sea. Please send in any marine-related tales that you might have using our share your stories page.
Share your photos of the sea
We would also like to receive any fishing or sea-related photographs that you may have. Please upload your images using the share your photos page.
Share your
stories of the sea
We want to hear about your experiences of being a fisherman, or a family member of a fisherman. If you have an interesting story to tell, please fill out the form below and tell us your story. Read our privacy statement.
* Required fields
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Share your
photos of the sea
We want to see your photographs of fishing boats, harbours and other marine-related images. If you have any interesting photographs to share, please fill out the form below and upload your images. Read our privacy statement.
Please save all images in JPEG format before uploading.
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The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen (RNMDSF, Fishermen’s Mission) takes the privacy of its supporters very seriously and is committed to protecting your privacy online. This Policy explains the privacy and the data protection practices that apply to the official website operated by the Fishermen’s Mission Head Office.
This statement is made in the light of the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 in order to alert valued contacts to the Fishermen’s Mission data processing practices which will govern the processing of your data. If you have any queries about this statement please contact the Director of Fundraising, The Fishermen’s Mission, Mather House, 4400 Parkway, Solent Business Park, Fareham, Hampshire PO15 7FJ, telephone 01489-566-913 or email: enquiries@rnmdsf.org.uk
In this Policy references to the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen (RNMDSF, Fishermen’s Mission) or to ‘we’ or ‘us’ are to the RNMDSF charity (registered charity no. 232822).
Our aim is to safeguard our supporters' privacy while providing a personalised and valuable service. Collecting personal information is necessary if we are to satisfy the expectations and requirements of our supporters, e.g. by communicating with them and providing an interactive service. We appreciate that you do not want the personal information you provide to us distributed indiscriminately and here we explain how we collect information, what we do with it and what controls you have.
What information do we collect?
We collect two kinds of information about our supporters:
1. non-personal information such as IP address (the location of the computer on the internet), pages accessed and files downloaded. This helps us to determine how many individuals use our sites, how many people visit on a regular basis, which pages are most popular and which pages are least popular. This information doesn't tell us anything about who you are or where you live, it simply allows us to monitor and improve our online service.
2. personal information such as name, postal address, telephone number, email address, date of birth (where appropriate), card or bank details, information about your interests and hobbies etc. We collect this information only in connection with specific activities, such as registration for events or special promotions, product purchases, feedback, donations, competition entries etc. The information is either needed to fulfil your request or to enable us to provide you with a more personalised service. You don't have to disclose any of this information to browse the sites. However, if you do choose to withhold requested information, we may not be able to provide you with certain services.
How do we collect information?
We will obtain personal information from you when you enquire about our activities, register with us, send or receive an email, make a donation or otherwise provide us with personal information. We may also receive information about you from third parties, for example from a friend who wants to tell you about the website, our projects, newsletter or an appeal etc.
What information do we collect?
The types of information collected might include names, date of birth, e-mail address, postal address, telephone number, fax number and credit/debit card details.
How do we use this information?
Any personal data relating to you will be used and recorded by us in accordance with current data protection legislation and this Privacy Policy. We will use the information you provide to us to:
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fulfil your requests, for example: applications to regisiter for events, donations, competition entries, participation in campaigns and provision of information
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process sales transactions, donations, or other payments and verify financial transactions
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handle orders, deliver products and communicate with you about orders
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identify visitors
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provide a personalised service to you when you visit our website eg by customising the content and/or layout of our pages for each individual user
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record any contact we have with you
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prevent or detect fraud or abuses of our websites and enable third parties to carry out technical, logistical or other functions on our behalf
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in aggregate (and therefore anonymously) to profile your use of the website and carry out research on our users' demographics, interests and behaviour to help us gain a better understanding of how our supporters navigate and use the website, and to enable us to improve our service to you
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provide you with information which we think may be of interest to you, as explained below:
As well as using personal information to fulfil requests, we also like to keep our supporters informed about the RNMDSF's activities, campaigns and promotions or about updates to our website. Although we don't sell or rent personal information, we do agree, from time to time with other like-minded organisations to contact each other's supporters for mutual benefit. In addition, we sometimes may want to contact our supporters with offers from companies that could benefit the RNMDSF and fishing communities and that may be of interest to you.
By entering an RNMDSF competition, promotion or campaign you will generally be agreeing to receive mailings, emails or text messages from the RNMDSF. In other situations, when submitting your personal information, you will be given the option not to be included in mailings or other contacts from the RNMDSF or other organisations (whether by post, email or other electronic messaging, telephone or fax). If you don't want to receive this information, simply follow the instructions shown.
If you do agree to receive this information (whether by entering a competition, signing up for an event or otherwise), and later decide that you no longer wish to be contacted, you can change your mind at any time by contacting Supporter Services, The Fishermen’s Mission, Mather House, 4400 Parkway, Solent Business Park, Fareham, Hampshire PO15 7FJ, telephone 01489-566-910 or email: enquiries@rnmdsf.org.uk
If we contact you by email or text message, each time you receive a message you will also have the option to decline to receive further information from us in that manner.
We may use other companies to provide services on our behalf, including packaging, mailing and delivering purchases, answering customer's questions about products or services, sending postal mail, emails and text messages, analysing data and processing credit card payments. We will only provide those companies with the information they need to deliver the service and they are prohibited from using that information for any other purpose. We require all such companies to treat your personal information as fully confidential and to fully comply with all applicable UK Data Protection and consumer legislation.
We may disclose aggregate statistics about our site visitors, customers and sales in order to describe our services to prospective partners, advertisers and other reputable third parties and for other lawful purposes, but these statistics will include no personally identifying information.
We may disclose personal information if required to do so by law or if we believe that such action is necessary to protect and defend the rights, property or personal safety of the RNMDSF, the website or its visitors.
Except as indicated above we will not use or transfer this data to any third parties without your prior permission.
Links to other websites
Our official website contains links to other sites. We cannot be responsible for the privacy policies and practices of other websites, even if you access them using links from our websites. We recommend that you check the privacy policy of each site you visit.
In addition, if you linked to our websites from a third party website, we cannot be responsible for the privacy policies and practices of the owners or operators of that third party site and recommend that you check the policy of that third party site and contact its owner or operator if you have any concerns or questions.
Do we use 'Cookies'?
'Cookies' are small pieces of information stored on the hard drive of a user's computer that contain information about the user.
The Fishermen’s Mission uses session cookies to ensure that you can interact with our web sites successfully. These will record data entered by you so that it is available from one screen to the next, but it is not recorded or held by us after you leave our web site. These session cookies exist only as long as the browser remains open. Once the browser is closed, the cookie is deactivated.
If you want to prevent our cookies being stored on your computer in future, you may do so by referring to your Internet browser's instructions. You can do this by clicking on the "Help" menu there-in. Please note however that if you disable our cookies you may not be able to access certain areas of our site. Further information on deleting or controlling cookies is available at www.AboutCookies.org.
How do we protect personal information?
We take appropriate measures to ensure that the information disclosed to us is kept secure, accurate and up to date and kept only for so long as is necessary for the purposes for which it is used.
Will we disclose the information we collect to outside parties?
As indicated above, we may pass your information to our service providers, agents and associated organisations, and, if you have consented, to other organisations who may share our objectives.
We may also need to disclose your information if required to do so by law.
Your consent
By providing us with your personal data you consent to the collection and use of any information you provide in accordance with the above purposes and this privacy statement.
You also consent to our transferring your information to countries or jurisdictions, which do not provide the same level of data protection as the UK, if necessary for the above purposes. If we do make such a transfer, we will, if appropriate, put a contract in place to ensure your information is protected.
Right of access
You have the right to ask for a copy of the information we hold about you (for which we may charge a small fee) and to have any inaccuracies in your information corrected.
Changes
If your personal details change, please help us to keep your information up to date by notifying us at the above address.
We reserve the right to amend this privacy statement. If we do so, we will post notice of the change on our website and you will be deemed to have accepted such changes.
Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen Head Office, Mather house, 4400 Parkway, Solent Business Park, Hampshire PO15 7FJ
Telephone: 01489-566-910, e-mail: enquiries@rnmdsf.org.uk
Copyright
Copyright Applies
The contents of this web site may be reproduced freely for personal, educational or in-house purposes. Any other reproduction, e.g., for commercial purposes or private gain is subject to copyright licensing from RNMDSF. All rights reserved. If in doubt, please contact the Web Editor at our Head Office for clarification.
© Copyright (2004) (2006).
Copyright Disclaimer
By sending photos/images and/or written material you are transferring copyrights for use in future RNMDSF publications or website.
We will not sell on your photo/images, but reserve the right to use for any other purpose.
If we have unwittingly used your material without prior permission please accept our sincere apologies.
Disclaimer
The Fishermen's Mission is not responsible for the content of external web sites and does not endorse their content. External websites may also contain viruses for which we are not responsible.
Although great care has been taken in the preparation of information on this site, the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen does not and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy thereof. Anyone using the information contained in this web site does so at their own risk.
We are aware of a number of web sites purporting to be those of the Fishermen's Mission. Visitors should please note that we are not in any way responsible for, nor have control over, any other sites using our name. Likewise, we are not responsible for any unofficial web sites created by friends of, or RNMDSF support groups, volunteers, business interests or well meaning enthusiasts that you may visit. We do not endorse, nor in any way approve the content of said sites.
Images
Although every attempt has been made to make sure all the images and pictures shown on this website are accurate, they should be considered to be for illustrative purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the subject they represent. In order to protect the identities of people we help, images of models may have been substituted for illustrative purposes.