Thursday, September 10, 2015

Do Like the Under Secretary of State and Get That Knitted Beanie On to Do Good for Shipping Charity

Mission to Seafarers Launches Woolly Hat Day
Shipping News Feature

UK – With London International Shipping Week (LISW) now well under way there was room on Wednesday night (9 September) for a frivolous event supporting a serious purpose at the launch of the Mission to Seafarers Woolly Hat Day 2015, organised by the Red Ensign Group and ably assisted by Robert Goodwill MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for shipping.

Joining leading industry figures and Red Ensign Group Head of Maritime Administration, Piers Baker, the UK Shipping Minister signalled his support for seafarers in need by wearing a woolly hat to launch the maritime charity’s annual fundraising initiative. The gala reception organised by Red Ensign Group brought together representatives from UK, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas territories, and they kicked off the fundraising campaign in style, sporting woolly hats and posing for photos.

However for those who worry they may have missed the chance to imitate Benny from Crossroads – fear not! Woolly Hat Day 2015 will take place on Friday 9th October, 2015 and Mission to Seafarers is challenging the maritime industry to wear a woolly hat in support of seafarers in need around the world. The maritime charity is encouraging supporters to donate money, and get others involved by wearing a woolly hat, taking a photo and sharing via Facebook and other social media.

This year’s campaign is supported by Old Pulteney, the maritime malt, and the Campaign for Wool which will release five bespoke knitting patterns to raise funds for Mission to Seafarers and you can support this worthwhile cause simply by pulling on the woolly hat of your choice and sharing a photo on Facebook or Twitter, text WOOL11 followed by £3, £5 or £10 to 70070 and encourage your family, friends, colleagues, fellow commuters… basically anyone you know or meet… to do the same.

You can raise money for Woolly Hat Day with a sponsored run or swim, host a woolly hat fashion show, get your colleagues involved with a dress down Friday.

Donate money to the campaign here. Join the campaign on Facebook here.

Every pound given to Mission to Seafarers is spent on services that support seafarers. Whether it’s trauma services, roaming WiFi to keep them connected to their loved ones, or a drop-in centre at ports or ship visits, the money donated helps the seafarers that need it most. Andrew Wright, Secretary General of Mission to Seafarers, commented:

“I am looking forward to our exciting Woolly Hat Day campaign 2015 which is taking place on 9 October and I would like to ask as many of our supporters as possible to ‘Join the Crew!’ this year. It is vital that our welfare work with seafarers is promoted across the maritime community and further afield. This year we are taking our campaign to a far wider audience through our highly valued partners Old Pulteney Maritime Malt Whisky and The Campaign for Wool. We have new videos and lots of interactive fun planned via social media via #WHD. Please download our new fundraising pack filled with ideas and promote the Mission’s Woolly Hat Day to all your friends.”

Photo: High fashion it may not be but enthusiasm can make up for a whole bunch of sartorial mistakes!