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The SeaFit Programme

SeaFit

SeaFit is a long-term programme designed to improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of fishermen throughout the UK, delivered in partnership with The Fishermen’s Mission. It links with NHS and Public Health services to facilitate access to local health promotion and prevention initiatives and, where services are limited, works with local teams to support outreach into fishing communities.

SeaFit provides a range of free services direct to the community:

The SeaFit brand is now established and recognised in many fishing ports around the UK. Evidence from the Programme shows that fishers are more likely to seek help to improve their health and wellbeing when services are taken directly to them at the quayside.

Using a holistic approach, we have been able to initiate individual health improvements in a relatively short time. More fishers are being empowered to change their behaviour by making positive lifestyle choices.

 

The SeaFit Programme 2023 impact

225

Interactions with fishermen and their families

276

people received dental checks & treatment

188

Mental Health counselling sessions

2,608

People engaged with by our Healthy Lifestyle Advisors

Health events

We have planned our Seafit health events for 2023. Below is a list of the location and date for each event. We will also post information about the events via our Social Media channels.

Poole11 May
Newhaven18 May
Troon16 June
Tilbury Centre16 June
Portsmouth  marc5 July
Whitby12 September
Scarbourgh13 September
Grimsby14 September
  Jersey28 and 29 September
Liverpool Seafarers Centre10 and 11 October
Shoreham17 Nov
Newlyn14 and 15 September
Padstow12 October
Brixham19 and 20 October
Hayle9 November
Newquay23 November
Looe7 December
Plymouth14 December

Healthy Lifestyle Advisors

Our team of Healthy Lifestyle Advisors work with fishermen and their families in various locations around the UK to improve their overall health and wellbeing.

Activities include:

  • help to stop smoking
  • healthy eating and weight management
  • physical activity
  • help to stop alcohol and drug abuse

We currently offer healthy lifestyle advice in the following locations:

Cornwall

Healthy Lifestyle Advisors in Cornwall can be contacted via Healthy Cornwall on 01209 615600 or [email protected]  offering fishermen and their families  advice and support on health issues.

Yorkshire

Our Healthy Trainer in Bridlington can be contacted by email [email protected] or phone Rich Beecroft on 0800 917 7752

Aberdeenshire

The Health Lifestyle Advisor Peterhead can be contacted by email: [email protected] or phone Catriona Arthur on 07436 020 165

Free dental checks and initial treatment

We deliver free dental health checks and some initial treatment to fishermen and their families through Dentaid.

Dental health is just as important as physical and mental health but when you’re out at sea it’s often not a priority. And if you can’t get to see a dentist or you neglect your teeth it can lead to significant problems later on.

That’s why the Seafarers Hospital Society has partnered with the Fishermen’s Mission and community dental provider Dentaid, to take dental health services into the fishing community. We’re providing free dental checks and immediate treatment for fishers and their families at a variety of harbourside locations as part of SeaFit health events. We’re using state of the art mobile dental units, to provide high quality dental care where it’s needed.

To find out more about SeaFit’s work on dental health, call Carol Elliott on 07486 319 621 or email: [email protected]

In addition to this, we are funding an Emergency Dental Grant Scheme for working fishermen and MN seafarers who need urgent dental treatment which they cannot access on the NHS. For more information contact [email protected].

Mental health and wellbeing support

Given the unique pressures faced by fishermen, they are often have problems accessing health services due to the irregular and transient nature of their work. Tides, weather, and fish locations mean that fishermen can’t plan time off. This makes it difficult to pre-book and keep appointments, and they often suffer a loss of earnings if having to attend appointments during favourable fishing conditions.

It is not just physical health problems; mental health issues, anxieties and low mood are often not addressed, or spoken about for fear of being seen as weak. Financial worries, the cost-of-living crisis, increased regulations, restaurants closing, environmental pressures and market demand, all undoubtedly lead to an increase in anxiety, stress, and greater strain on relationships for fishermen and their families.

As part of our ongoing efforts to support fishermen, we provide mental health and wellbeing support to fishers and their families through Togetherall to complement the service available through Fairwinds and Fishwell below. In addition to this Seafit offers fishermen additional mental health support through Shout.

Shout is a free 24 text service for anyone struggling with anxiety, stress or depression. When you first text you will receive 4 automated messages before being connected to a trained volunteer. For Help text FISH to 85258

The idea is to reduce stress to a manageable level and come away with an action plan of where to get further help if needed.

Shout is powered by Mental Health Innovations, a charity using pioneering technology to improve the mental health of the UK population, with the support of the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.

We also offer mental health and wellbeing support in the following locations:

Cornwall

Ceri Summers of Fairwinds, is based in Newlyn. Ceri is an experienced mental health practitioner offering advice, support and counselling to fishers and their families.

To find out more or to book an appointment to see Ceri call 01734 720429  or email [email protected] of [email protected]

Norfolk and Suffolk

We offer mental health and wellbeing advice, support and signposting in Norfolk and Suffolk through a project called Fishwell which is delivered by MTICC, a social enterprise working in mental health and wellbeing in East Anglia. Fishwell engages with fishers on the quayside at a variety of locations including Lowestoft, Southwold, Dunwich, Sizewell, Thorpeness, Alderburgh, Felixstowe, Orford, Cromer, Wells-next-the-sea and King’s Lynn.

To find out more call Fishwell on 01284 765854, email [email protected] or visit their website www.fishwell.org.ukto find out about future events.

Physiotherapy network

In conjunction with Harbourside Physiotherapy Clinic, Seafarers Hospital Society has backed free physiotherapy to fishers for many years. The knowledge and expertise they have built up about the impact of fishing on physical health is unprecedented. See the Fast Track Physiotherapy page for additional information on how to access treatment.

Channel Islands

Jersey

The Wellness Centre (Castle Quay) 07797 832449 [email protected] Beniamin Kasprzyk

Cornwall & Devon

Plymouth

Fay Pedler Physiotherapy 01752 664519 [email protected] Ricky McKee

Newlyn

Harbourside Physiotherapy 01736 366224 [email protected] Lesley Harry

Mevagissey, St Austell

Sandy Hill Physical Therapy Centre 01726 676567 [email protected] Ged Gilchrest

Looe, Seaton

The Beachside Clinic 07843 249664 [email protected] Jen Bowden

Falmouth

Falmouth Physiotherapy 01326 312 156 [email protected] Phillipa Tindle

Brixham

Tidal Physiotherapy 07983 313 344 [email protected] Stephanie Murray

Isle of Wight

RMA Sports Injury Clinic 07512 224495 [email protected] Jake Brougham

Midlands

Hull, Brough

Rehab and Recover 07743 782307 [email protected] Chris John

Hull

Flex Health 07815 699415 [email protected] Alex Chester

Manchester

Matrix Physiotherapy 07851134973 [email protected]

N Ireland

Kilkeel

Mourne Physiotherapy 02843 767336 [email protected] Christine Burns

Scotland

Online / Dundee

Breathing Pattern Disorder Clinic. Inspire Balance 07851 699820 [email protected] Gail Patel

Callander

Callander Physiotherapy 07899952216 [email protected] Mairi Menzies

Ullapool

Bodyworks Bodywise 07758976388 [email protected] Alex Bairstow

Dundee

Angus Physiotherapy 07710557210 [email protected] Ruth Madill

Aberdeen

Wallace Practice 07703184035 [email protected] Jeff Wallace

Shetland

Yasp 01595 747074 [email protected] Margaret Gear

Greenock

McFarlane Physiotherapy  07597 379143 [email protected] Rachel McFarlane

Glasgow

Physio Effect Ltd 0141 230 4766 [email protected] Danny Wray

Skye and Lochalsh

Skye and Lochalsh Physiotherapy +44 (0) 7398 181535 [email protected] Lisa Bevan

Oban

Ruth Sunderland Physiotherapy 07806 569859 [email protected] Ruth Sunderland

Lochaber

Lochaber Complimentary Health Clinic (Weds only) 01397 702 257 Ruth Sunderland

Sunderland

The Performance Clinic 0191 435 0560 [email protected] Penny Shelley

Tyneside

Swissphysio 01912 960567 [email protected] Angela Petrochi

Also in this section

Fast-track physiotherapy

Working as a seafarer is one of the UK's most challenging jobs and the number of work-related injuries is high. Time spent at sea means it can be difficult to get treatment, so the Seafarers Hospital Society supports free, fast-track physiotherapy for working seafarers.

Read more

Dreadnought Medical Service

The Dreadnought Medical service is based at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. The Dreadnought Medical service offers NHS treatment for working seafarers who due to the nature of their work are unable to make routine appointments, and are not permitted to work if they have certain medical conditions, in case of an emergency whilst at sea.

Read more

Mental health and wellbeing

Working at sea can be challenging to your mental health too. We fund Togetherall to offer a free, confidential online service to seafarers who need help with mental health and wellbeing issues. It includes access to trained counsellors, a support network, self-help materials and one-to-one therapy.

Read more

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