Seafarers Link - Hull yesterday remembered today

The Maritime Charities Funding Group works to tackle what they see as increasing hardship for those families who did or still are committed to making a living from the sea.

Seafarers Link was set up following research by the Maritime Charities Funding Group which found many men and women who have spent a lifetime at sea are more likely to find themselves isolated in old age. Last week, the scheme, which also operates in Merseyside and Wales, won a charity award and having been praised for its innovative use of technology, there are hopes to roll it out to areas like Portsmouth and Plymouth. In the meantime, a visit to their web site will reward the more technically savvy retired or senior members of the seafaring population with all the information and contact details they might need.

The Community Network provides tele-conferencing to bring together charitites and other organisations and individuals across the country.

Retired distant water trawlerman Dave O'Connor, now part of the local Hull group tells his story.