Listen: the forgotten COVID-19 key workers

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, British fishermen have woken without complaint at the crack of dawn to ensure the supply of the fresh fish we love so much is uninterrupted. And although the demand from fishmongers and supermarkets hasn’t slowed, access to funding for charities has taken a huge hit.

COVID-19 hit the UK only weeks after the nations fishing fleets had finally been able to return to the seas as a result of months of winter storms. The crisis has seen the supply chain disappear over night and the price of fish hit rock bottom. The knock on effect of this has been that many fishing families have struggled financially and emotionally with growing concern for their ability to put food on the table or even keep a roof over their heads in the coming months.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Fishermen’s Mission have helped fishermen and their families access grants in excess of £250,000 but this is not enough, more support and aid is needed to ensure we reach everyone who has been and continues to be effected by this crisis.

The Mission doesn’t receive any government or lottery support and relies entirely on voluntary income, where for every £1 generated, they spend 88p on providing much needed services. Simply put, there’s not enough cash left to ensure their vital work can continue.

Johnny spoke to Ali Godfrey, Director at The Fishermen’s Mission and Dean Lawrence, their fundraising manager:

Photo by Anastasia Palagutina on Unsplash