The Seafarers' Charity (King George's Fund for Sailors)
Seafarers UK is a charity that helps people in the maritime community, by providing vital funding to support seafarers in need and their families and to those in education or training who are preparing to work or serve at Sea. We do this by giving money to organisations and projects that make a real difference to people's lives.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity has a very strong financial base with total net assets of £35.7m, comprising unrestricted funds of £31.8m and restricted/endowment funds of £3.9m. The trustees report that the charity is mid-way through a planned run-off of 50% of its reserves' real value from 2015 to 2035, with designated funds totaling £30.4m and a general reserve of £1.4m equivalent to approximately three months of operating costs.
What the accounts disclose
“£30,000 was awarded to the FISH Platform, an organisation for which Robert Greenwood acts as secretary.” — page 40
“£288,876 was awarded to The Nautilus Welfare Fund. Martyn Gray is employed as a Director at Nautilus International which manages some projects funded from the grant to The Nautilus Welfare Fund.” — page 40
“£30,000 was awarded to the FISH Platform, an organisation for which Robert Greenwood acts as secretary.” — page 40
“£288,876 was awarded to The Nautilus Welfare Fund. Martyn Gray is employed as a Director at Nautilus International which manages some projects funded from the grant to The Nautilus Welfare Fund.” — page 40
“£30,000 was awarded to the FISH Platform, an organisation for which Robert Greenwood acts as secretary.” — page 40
“£288,876 was awarded to The Nautilus Welfare Fund. Martyn Gray is employed as a Director at Nautilus International which manages some projects funded from the grant to The Nautilus Welfare Fund.” — page 40
“£30,000 was awarded to the FISH Platform, an organisation for which Robert Greenwood acts as secretary.” — page 40
“£288,876 was awarded to The Nautilus Welfare Fund. Martyn Gray is employed as a Director at Nautilus International which manages some projects funded from the grant to The Nautilus Welfare Fund.” — page 40
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (11/09/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (11/09/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (30/09/2021)
- Received assets from another charity (16/10/2020)
Trustees
- Paul Gerard Butterworthchair
- Captain Lee Clarke
- Deborah Cavaldoro
- Fleur Bassett
- GERALD EDWARD KIDD
- Julie Tankard
- Martyn Gray
- Monica Kohli
- Nigel Blazeby
- Peter French
- Petra Wilkinson CBE
- Robert John Greenwood
- Simon Gillespie OBE
- William Andrew REID
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £3.9m | £5.4m |
| 31/12/2024 | £1.8m | £4.7m |
| 31/12/2023 | £2.8m | £4.3m |
| 31/12/2022 | £2.3m | £5.1m |
| 31/12/2021 | £2.9m | £5.4m |
Common questions
Is The Seafarers' Charity (King George's Fund for Sailors) financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity has a very strong financial base with total net assets of £35.7m, comprising unrestricted funds of £31.8m and restricted/endowment funds of £3.9m. The trustees report that the charity is mid-way through a planned run-off of 50% of its reserves' real value from 2015 to 2035, with designated funds totaling £30.4m and a general reserve of £1.4m equivalent to approximately three months of operating costs. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
Who funds The Seafarers' Charity (King George's Fund for Sailors)?
Funders whose own accounts filings name The Seafarers' Charity (King George's Fund for Sailors) as a grant recipient include LLOYD'S REGISTER FOUNDATION, THE CORPORATION OF TRINITY HOUSE OF DEPTFORD STROND, FISHMONGERS' COMPANY'S CHARITABLE TRUST, THE ELIZABETH AND PRINCE ZAIGER TRUST, BALTIC EXCHANGE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK government | 01/06/2019 | £10k | Grant Contribution to Financial inclusion of fishermen research project |
| UK government | 01/04/2018 | £109k | Supporting delivery of a public service |
| UK government | 01/04/2018 | £44k | Supporting delivery of a public service |
| UK government | — | £20k | Local Grants 2017/18 |
| UK government | — | £21k | Supporting delivery of a public service |
| UK government | — | £50k | Covenant Fund |
| UK government | — | £112k | Financial Assistance/Support |
| UK government | — | £156k | Supporting delivery of a public service |
| UK government | — | £163k | Supporting delivery of a public service |
| UK government | — | £266k | Supporting delivery of a public service |
Funders of similar charities
Charities like this
- SEAFARERS HOSPITAL SOCIETY
- Seafarers' Christian Friend Society
- THE SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY
- MERCHANT NAVY WELFARE BOARD
- SAILORS' CHILDREN'S SOCIETY
- THE I T F SEAFARERS TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Seafarers' Charity (King George's Fund for Sailors) | £3.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SEAFARERS HOSPITAL SOCIETY | £544k | £90,001 - £100,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |
| Seafarers' Christian Friend Society | £245k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY | £1.6m | £90,001 - £100,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |
| MERCHANT NAVY WELFARE BOARD | £808k | £80,001 - £90,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SAILORS' CHILDREN'S SOCIETY | £896k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |