News

Monday 17 August 2009

Campaign to save crews' mission

A campaign is under way to save a threatened Tyneside charity base which supports ships' crews. The Mission to Seafarers charity said it planned to introduce a mobile ministry at South Shields as it confronts financial pressures. But campaigners say the base, at Mill Dam, is an important part of their work because it provides seamen with important time ashore. They have set up a petition and said they have received a lot of support. Bob Cleugh, from the Mission's committee, described the support for the campaign to keep the base as tremendous.

Mobile ministry
He said one of the priorities in keeping a base at South Shields was so the chapel would be retained, where services like burials and christenings are held. He said: "One of the major things is the chapel will be split up into various sections and transported elsewhere which we do not want. We want to keep the whole building intact. We want to keep the mission open." Mr Cleugh said while the use of the mission by active seafarers had dropped in the current financial climate, he was confident it would pick up again. He said it was used by former seafarers and they were supporting the campaign.

In a statement, the charity said: "In common with many charities, The Mission to Seafarers is having to confront serious financial realities during the current economic downturn. In light of this, the new mobile ministry model in South Shields will enable us to meet and help increased numbers of seafarers with significantly reduced costs. This new model of ministry has proved to be successful in delivering high quality services in many ports around the world."

More News

Navingo BV, Westerlaan 1, 3016CK, Rotterdam, T: +31 10 2092600, F: +31 10 4368134