SeaFit Programme

The SeaFit Programme is a joint initiative from the Seafarers Hospital Society and the Fishermen’s Mission, working in partnership to deliver sustainable improvements in the health and wellbeing of fishermen and their families around the UK. Funded by Seafarers UK, the SeaFit Programme started in July 2018 and will run until the end of 2020.

The Programme covers numerous aspects of mental and physical health and wellbeing and provides a range of services direct to the community completely free of charge. This includes:

• Health checks at the harbourside
• Healthy Lifestyle Advisors in the community
• Dental checks with some initial treatment
• Access to mental health and wellbeing support to complement Big White Wall
• Development of a network of physiotherapists trained to meet the specific needs of fishermen, initially in Cornwall and Devon

 To download a report of the first year, click here

Healthy Lifestyle Advisors

Our aim is to build a team of Healthy Lifestyle Advisors to work with fishermen and their families in various locations around the UK. Work has started in two key communities, East Riding and Newlyn.

Newlyn

A similar scheme is now up and running in Newlyn.  Our Healthy Lifestyle Advisor, Hazel Smith, is based at Harbourside Physiotherapy, and works with fishermen and their families in and around the harbour. She offers advice and support on a variety of health issues, including stopping smoking, healthy eating and weight management, physical activity, alcohol, drugs, sexual health and cancers. She also undertakes free NHS Health Checks and refers on to other specialist services.

To find out more about any aspect of the Healthy Lifestyle Advice service call Hazel on 07753 460 957 or email: hazel.smith@cornwall.gov.uk

Free dental checks and initial treatment

We are working with community dental providers Dentaid and Smile Together to deliver free dental checks and some initial treatment to fishermen and their families. A number of successful events have taken place around the country and more are planned for the coming year. Wherever possible, dental checks will also be included in the health checks events.

 Click here to find out more 

Mental health and wellbeing support

We are exploring a variety of ways of providing mental health and wellbeing support to fishermen and their families to complement the online service already available free to working fishermen and merchant seafarers through Big White Wall. The first service to get off the ground is in Newlyn, provided by Ceri Summers of Fairwinds, through the Harbourside Physiotherapy Clinic.

To find out more or to book an appointment to see Ceri call 01736 366 224 or email fairwinds781@outlook.com

Network of physiotherapists

Harbourside Physiotherapy Clinic has been providing free physiotherapy to fishermen with funding from the Society for many years. The knowledge and expertise they have built up about the impact of fishing on physical health is unprecedented. We are working with Harbourside to create a network of physiotherapists who have practices close to the harbour. They will be trained and supported to provide a holistic and preventative approach to physiotherapy services for local fishermen.

A number of physiotherapy clinics have signed up to the scheme. They are:

To find out more about the physio network, call Lysanne Wilson, SHS Health Development Manager on 020 8858 3898 or email: lysannewilson@seahospital.org.uk

For information about any other aspect of the SeaFit Programme call Carol Elliott, Project Delivery Manager on 07486 319 621 or email: PDMSeafit@fishermensmission.org.uk