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THE SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY

Registered charity 212034 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE SHIPWRECKED MARINERS' SOCIETY

The Shipwrecked Mariners' Society provides financial support to retired seafarers (Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleet) and their dependants and those unable to continue working at sea through accident, disability, illness or for compassionate reasons. The Charity operates through a nationwide network of volunteers.The Society makes annual awards for acts of skill and gallantry at sea.

Causes: The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£1.6m
Latest spending
£2.2m
Registered
1964
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported an operating deficit of £602,000 for the year, though overall net expenditure after investment gains was only £19,000. Per the trustees' report, the society maintains a robust financial position with unrestricted funds totaling £27 million, supported by an actuarial review confirming sufficient resources to meet future demands.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £90,001 - £100,000 — in the top quarter for charities its size (median £70k)
“One employee received emoluments within the £90,000 - £100,000 band and £11,902 was contributed to a defined contribution scheme on behalf of this employee.” — page 22
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Employees paid over £60,000: 1
“One employee received emoluments within the £90,000 - £100,000 band” — page 22
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: at least twelve months (held: £27.0m)
“General Fund o This holds sufficient resources in short term realizable investment assets and cash to support administrative overheads and regular grants for a period of at least twelve months.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Society owns 100% of the issued share capital of Shipwrecked Mariners Trading Limited, which is maintained as a dormant company following transfer of trading activity to the main charity in April 2020. At the year end the Charity owed Shipwrecked Mariners Trading Limited £4 in respect of share capital.
“The Society owns 100% of the issued share capital of Shipwrecked Mariners Trading Limited, which is maintained as a dormant company following transfer of trading activity to the main charity in April 2020. At the year end the Charity owed Shipwrecked Mariners Trading Limited £4 in respect of share capital.” — page 27
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Shipwrecked Mariners Trading Limited
“The Society has previously operated its own trading subsidiary (Shipwrecked Mariners Trading Limited) but decided to amalgamate this into the main charity with effect from 1 April 2020.” — page 19
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Lewis Brownlee (Chichester) Limited. Discloses 6 of 6 completeness components.

Corporate structure

SHIPWRECKED MARINERS TRADING LIMITED — per its own Companies House accounts
  • Donated/gift-aided to the charity: £10k
  • Intercompany debtor balance of £5,000 (2023: £5,000) and intercompany creditor balance of £1,000 (2023: £1,000).
“From | April 2020 the assets and operations of the company were transferred into Shipwrecked Mariners Society. The total value of this transfer amounted to £9,905,”

What the charity says about itself (2024-25)

From its own voluntary annual review / impact report — the charity’s account of its work, distinct from the statutory accounts analysed above.

The report states the Society made regular grant payments to 1,236 people at a cost of £1.1 million. The summary table lists 1,236 beneficiaries but £1.41m total grant expenditure. The Chair's report is more specific to the activity.
“Made regular grant payments to 1,236 people at a cost of £1.1 million.”
The Chair's report states 885 new applications were handled. The summary table shows 885 new applications.
“Handled 885 new applications for assistance.”
The Chair's report states one-off/crisis grants were made to 783 people at a cost of £327,000. The summary table shows £1.41m total grants, but the breakdown in the Chair's report is specific to one-off grants.
“Made one-off or crisis grants to 783 people, at a cost of £327,000.”

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Shipwrecked Mariners' Society (matched by registered charity number).

Leadership, per the charity’s website

Listed on the charity’s own website when we last crawled it; roles may have changed. Pay-band disclosures above are anonymous statutory disclosures and are not attributed to any named individual.

Property (HM Land Registry)

1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (1 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income
£1.6m
Total spending
£2.2m
Cost of raising funds
£271k
Reserves (reported)
£27.0m
Employees
5

Reported reserves equal ~145.4 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 16.7% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Ireland · Malta · Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/03/2025£1.6m£2.2m
31/03/2024£1.4m£2.2m
31/03/2023£1.5m£2.1m
31/03/2022£1.7m£2.0m
31/03/2021£1.6m£2.1m

Common questions

Is THE SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported an operating deficit of £602,000 for the year, though overall net expenditure after investment gains was only £19,000. Per the trustees' report, the society maintains a robust financial position with unrestricted funds totaling £27 million, supported by an actuarial review confirming sufficient resources to meet future demands. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Lewis Brownlee (Chichester) Limited.

What does the highest-paid employee of THE SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £90,001 - £100,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.

Who funds THE SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY as a grant recipient include THE CORPORATION OF TRINITY HOUSE OF DEPTFORD STROND, THE GEORGE CADBURY TRUST (GEORGE HENRY T AND LAURENCE J CADBURY SECTIONS), THE SIR EDWARD LEWIS FOUNDATION, THE DYERS' COMPANY CHARITABLE TRUST, THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF WROTHAM.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE CORPORATION OF TRINITY HOUSE OF DEPTFORD STRONDFY2025£115kWelfare
THE CORPORATION OF TRINITY HOUSE OF DEPTFORD STRONDFY2024£110kWelfare
THE CORPORATION OF TRINITY HOUSE OF DEPTFORD STRONDFY2022£101kWelfare
THE CORPORATION OF TRINITY HOUSE OF DEPTFORD STRONDFY2025£27kWelfare
THE GEORGE CADBURY TRUST (GEORGE HENRY T AND LAURENCE J CADBURY SECTIONS)FY2023£3k
THE GEORGE CADBURY TRUST (GEORGE HENRY T AND LAURENCE J CADBURY SECTIONS)FY2025£2k
THE SIR EDWARD LEWIS FOUNDATIONFY2022£2kSupport for retired seafarers
THE GEORGE CADBURY TRUST (GEORGE HENRY T AND LAURENCE J CADBURY SECTIONS)FY2024£1k
THE DYERS' COMPANY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£1kHealth and Welfare
THE GEORGE CADBURY TRUST (GEORGE HENRY T AND LAURENCE J CADBURY SECTIONS)FY2022£1k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF WROTHAMFY2022£150Mission giving and donations
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF WROTHAMFY2023£0Mission giving and donations

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
MERCHANT NAVY WELFARE BOARD6£162k
THE I T F SEAFARERS TRUST3£214k
THE ROYAL NAVY AND ROYAL MARINES CHARITY2£230k
BALTIC EXCHANGE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION2£30k
THE BARBOUR FOUNDATION2£27k
THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED2£8k
The Caledonia Investments Charitable Foundation2£6k
THE SYLVIA AND COLIN SHEPHERD CHARITABLE TRUST2£4k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with SEAFARERS HOSPITAL SOCIETY.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
THE SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY£1.6m£90,001 - £100,0001above—no doubt
SEAFARERS HOSPITAL SOCIETY FY2025£544k£90,001 - £100,0001above—no doubt
SAILORS' SOCIETY FY2024£1.6m——below—no doubt
The Seafarers' Charity (King George's Fund for Sailors) FY2025£3.9m——unclear—no doubt
SAILORS' CHILDREN'S SOCIETY FY2025£896k——unclear—no doubt
THE ROYAL NAVAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY FOR OFFICERS FY2025£1.7m£90,001 - £100,0001unclear—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.