Jackie Macadam examines the second set of new projects adopted by the Church of Scotland Guild in a three-year partnership.

FEATURE

LAST month Life and Work featured some of the Church of Scotland Guild projects with an emphasis on the overseas projects adopted as part of a three-year partnership.

This month the focus moves to the three home-based projects selected for partnership with the Guild over the next three years.

Guild National Convener, Patricia Robertson, said: “Choosing the Guild’s Projects for a three-year strategy is one of the most interesting, exciting and challenging decisions we need to make.

“It means choosing six from around 30-40 applicants, all of whom are doing great work.

“We get enquiries and proposals from large organisations and from small ones.

“From famous names to new charities working in new areas.

“For the period 2018-21, we have chosen what we think are very exciting projects, covering people of different ages, dealing with a wide range of concerns and offering us the chance to, once again, support people who are often working in difficult places with huge challenges.”

The three ‘home’ projects are: CrossReach’s ‘Joining up the Dots’; the Boys’ Brigade’s ‘Faith in Young People’ and Sailors’ Society, ‘A Chaplain for our Ports’ Patricia explains: “We think these reflect a real diversity of content… We shall be working with people with mental health issues arising from many different situations.

“We shall be working with young people in an organisation facing many challenges similar to those of the Guild itself in terms of leadership, witness and learning.

“We shall be working with port chaplains as they seek to support merchant sailors far from home who find themselves in our country, one which depends so much on the sea.

“We look forward to seeing these projects work out over the coming years and hope that they will become our friends and colleagues in the way that so many have over the years.”

‘A Chaplain For Our Ports’ was put forward for support by the Sailors’ Society.

“This project allows our chaplains to continue providing vital practical, emotional and spiritual support to seafarers in ports across Scotland,” says Alice Todd, Project Co-ordinator.

“The world’s 1.6 million seafarers, who spend an average of nine to twelve months of the year at sea, are a hidden workforce undergoing considerable challenges in order to transport 90% of the world’s goods. Very few people are aware of seafarers and the instrumental role that they play in all of our lives, which means that their needs are often overlooked.

“Seafaring is not the glamorous profession that some may envisage. The reality is that life on board a merchant vessel is a unique, often stressful existence. Seafarers can be away for up to a year at a time, living as part of a multi-cultural crew, where communication issues and conflict are prevalent. Conditions on board can be uncomfortable, emotionally difficult and dangerous. In addition to this, seafarers are faced with the threat of piracy attacks; the danger of treacherous storms; the loneliness and isolation of being separated from loved ones and often without the means to contact home. Prolonged working hours can lead to fatigue, with no option to go home at the end of a long day’s work. What’s more, separation from families and loved ones can be painful. Important family milestones such as births, celebrations and birthdays are frequently missed. Whilst a seafarer is away at sea, family at home can face difficult situations alone and the struggle to communicate can lead to relationship breakdown.

“These are just some of the issues, which many seafarers’ face today.”

Sailors’ Society is an international Christian charity working in ports across the world. Their chaplains help seafarers and their families, from all faiths and none, with welfare and practical support. They visit ships in ports and talk with seafarers away from home for up to a year at a time; helping them get in touch with much missed loved ones and access medical treatment; act as a liaison with frightened families when seafarers are kidnapped by terrorists or imprisoned, mostly through no fault of their own; and build homes and schools and provide grants to bring hope and security to seafaring communities around the world.

Pauline Robertson meeting with a seafarer visting Leith

Chaplains at work

“Sailors’ Society’s chaplains seek to give a voice to these forgotten people living in often arduous conditions by providing them with the support and respect that they deserve. A friendly welcome and the feeling of a warm and genuine connection with a chaplain can make a huge difference to a seafarer’s well-being, helping them to feel loved and valued,” says Alice.

“The Guild’s support will provide much needed awareness of the work of seafarers and the instrumental role that they play in our lives. The reality is that very few people are aware of the sheer scale of seafaring and the world’s reliance on it. For instance, you may not believe that a single ship can carry enough grain to feed nearly four million people for a month; another, enough oil to heat an entire city for a year. People all over the world rely upon shipping to transport the commodities, fuel, foodstuffs, goods and products that are so vital in their everyday lives.

“If seafarers are to receive the appreciation and support that they deserve, it is vital that the general public is made aware of the work that they do. This project is an excellent way of doing this as it is close to home, which makes the project much easier to envisage.

We would appreciate the Guild’s prayers for our chaplains as they continue to support seafarers. Listening to seafarers’ problems and administering pastoral care can take its toll on chaplains and prayers for their resilience, strength and sustenance are always appreciated.

“Any financial support that the guilds are able to offer will provide much needed monetary support that will allow our chaplains’ ministry to seafarers to continue. Practically, our work cannot continue if there is no funding.”

Sailors’ Society’s chaplains seek to give a voice to these forgotten people living in often arduous conditions by providing them the support and respect that they deserve.