The Mission to Seafarers

Analysis

The Mission to Seafarers is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in April 2008, 18 years ago. Its declared purposes cover religious activities, human rights/religious or racial harmony/equality or diversity and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under religion. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 06220240). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Mission to Seafarers reported income of £6.8m and spending of £7.5m, spending 111% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £8.6m to £6.8m (-21%), an average of -5.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income dropped by 43%. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.

Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, The Mission to Seafarers sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru (£6.7m), Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) (£6.8m) and The United Reformed Church East Midlands Synod Incorporated (£6.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 68%, investments 16%, trading 12% and charitable activities 2.7%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.7m. Charitable activities took 78% of spending and raising funds 20%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.4m. Reserves of £39.2m would cover about 62 months of spending at that rate. It employed 67 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.