Liverpool Seafarers Centre offers a safe and secure place to rest and also receive practical and emotional support for seafarers far away from home. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool Seafarers Centre (LSC) is appealing for people to donate their unwanted Christmas presents for seafarers from across the world.

Based at the Port of Liverpool, LSC is a partnership between the Catholic Apostleship of the Sea (Liverpool) and the Anglican Mersey Mission to Seafarers. The ecumenical charity offers a safe and secure place to rest and also receive practical and emotional support for those who find themselves very far away from home.

In September, it was crowned the world’s best seafarer centre at an awards ceremony held as part of London International Shipping Week.

LSC chief executive John Wilson said the festive period is an especially challenging time for seafarers being far from home and loved ones, working long hours in cold winter sea conditions.

“We have been handing out gifts and on Christmas Eve held a mass for visiting seafarers, many of whom are religious and value greatly the opportunity to worship and receive communion at Christmas,” he said.

“This is a special time for the seafarers centre and we are grateful to all our staff and volunteers for extending a big warm Merseyside welcome to the many seafarers who pass through the port at this time delivering goods coming into the UK including many Christmas gifts on our high streets.”

Mr Wilson added LSC, whose roots date back to the 19th century, welcomed donations of gifts through-out the Christmas period including unwanted Christmas gifts. He explained: “We are aiming to collect more than 500 gifts and appeal for items such as woolly hats, gloves, confectionary, toiletries, puzzles and board games.

“Warm clothing is especially welcome.They can be dropped into our centre in Crosby through-out the Christmas period and beyond.”

LSC has received a number of messages of thanks from seafarers passing through Liverpool after handing out Christmas gifts.

Captain Igor Razbitnov Master of the MV REDHEAD wrote to the centre and said: “Let me on behalf of my crew and myself express our gratitude for a warm reception, kind attention and care and friendly relation to all of us, while we being visiting your seafarers mission and contacting with you and your staff.

“We are really felt like ourselves at home , and it was a great pleasure to talk with your staff, who were very friendly and helpful during all time. We think it was a really Christmas present for us, which will be remained in our souls forever.

“Thanks a lot for your efforts to make seafarers life easier and better, while we are at sea. On behalf of my crew and myself I wish to congratulate all of you with  a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

For further information on LSC’s work and to donate gifts from Christmas call 0300 800 8085 visit: 20 Crosby Road South, Liverpool, Merseyside L22 1RQ or email: admin@Liverpoolseafarerscentre.org