Driving
It can be a long and lonely walk from a moored vessel into town. Volunteer Drivers are there for seafarers to bridge the gap, transporting crew members to our Seafarers Centres, local shops, or other amenities.
Speaking
Volunteer Speakers bring the story of seafarers to life. As a Volunteer Speaker, you’ll visit community events, schools, and churches to share the vital role seafarers play in global trade and inspire others to support our mission.
Ship Visiting
Volunteer Ship Visitors board commercial ships and cruise ships in ports to support individual seafarers and crews. This can be a huge help to seafarers, who can face tough working conditions, as well as separation from loved ones. As part of our chaplaincy team, you’ll receive training and guidance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of crews arriving in Canadian ports.
Seafarers Centres
Volunteer Centre Workers help create a warm and welcoming space in our Seafarers Centres, serving refreshments, assisting with internet access, and offering a listening ear to crews far from home.
Spiritual Ministry
Volunteer Chaplains are a caring presence for seafarers, offering a listening ear, spiritual support and prayer. Our Volunteer Chaplains also often provide practical support like SIM cards or transport. Whether visiting ships or welcoming crews in our centres, you’ll help seafarers feel seen, supported, and never alone.
Administration
Volunteer Administrators with Mission to Seafarers play a key behind-the-scenes role in ensuring seafarers receive timely, well-coordinated support. They help with day-to-day administrative tasks such as organizing records, managing correspondence, scheduling activities, and supporting communication between stations, partners, and seafarers. Volunteer Administrators may also assist with outreach work and event planning, depending on local needs, helping the team stay organized, responsive, and ready to serve crews in port.
Meet Our Volunteers
FAQs
Anyone can volunteer with us. If you have skills to share, some time to spare, and a passion for the welfare of others, we’d love to hear from you.
We offer several volunteer roles:
Volunteer Speaker: Speakers represent The Mission to Seafarers at community events, schools, and churches by sharing information about our work, the importance of seafarers in global trade, and how others can get involved or support our cause.
Ship Visiting: Volunteer Ship Visitors visit ships in ports to help and support individual seafarers and crews. This can significantly help seafarers who face challenging working conditions and separation from loved ones.
Volunteer Driving: Volunteer Drivers are vital for many seafarers. They help transport crew members from isolated ports to our Seafarers Centres, local shops, or other amenities.
Seafarers Centre Volunteers: These volunteers help create a welcoming and relaxing environment in our centres, serving refreshments, assisting seafarers with internet access, and providing a listening ear.
Volunteering is flexible—it doesn’t matter how much or how little time you have; everything counts. We may ask for a minimum commitment for specific roles, but this is outlined in the role description.
No specific skills or experience are required. We welcome volunteers from all walks of life and provide training and support for your role.
Volunteers can claim reasonable expenses directly related to their volunteer duties. We understand that volunteering shouldn’t be a financial burden, so we offer reimbursement for eligible expenses, such as travel costs to and from your volunteer site.
While The Mission to Seafarers is a Christian organisation, for most volunteer roles we welcome volunteers from all faiths and backgrounds who share our commitment to supporting seafarers. For some roles, such as a volunteer speaker, you will need to be a Christian, as this involves speaking in churches.
No maritime experience is necessary. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and provide the required training for your role. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or new to the maritime world, your contribution is valuable.
We have roles to suit various abilities. While some positions may involve physical activities like climbing stairs on ships or lifting items, we strive to accommodate volunteers with different levels of mobility. Please let us know of any concerns, and we’ll find a suitable role for you.
Get In Touch
Fill out this form and we will be in touch with how you can help.