Fishermen’s Mission in good hands in Kilkeel
Many of us don’t give a thought to the people who people who land our fishing catch, but their job remains the most dangerous peacetime occupation in the UK.
Financial uncertainty and time away from home can put a strain on fishermen and their families, but The Fishermen’s Mission has been there to help for well over a century.
The Mission is the only fishermen’s charity that provides emergency support alongside practical, financial, spiritual and emotional care. It helps all fishermen, active or retired, and their families.
Here in Ireland, The Fishermen’s Mission has 3 centres – Kilkeel, Ardglass and Portavogie – all of which are in our diocese. There are two full time workers at Kilkeel harbour and they’re both ladies and both Church of Ireland!
Superintendent Lesley Hammond worships in Christ Church Kilkeel and has been the Missionary Officer since August. Before that she was Centres Manager, having volunteered with the Mission for 2 years.
Superintendent Ingrid Perry, a parishioner of Kilhorne, Annalong, took over from Lesley as Centres Manager for Northern Ireland and has a particular focus in Kilkeel, the busiest centre.
Lesley came to the Mission through her role as the local Asda ‘Community Life Champion’ and Ingrid, a friend, was initially a reluctant volunteer! Both sense a clear calling to the work.
“This is a faith adventure for both of us,” says Ingrid. “Fishing is traditionally a male industry and even though there was some scepticism about two women running the Centre, it seems to be working. The Fishermen’s Mission actually has quite a few women doing what we do around the country.”
Day to day
“Vast!” is how the pair describe their jobs.
“We go with the fisherman until the day he dies,” says Lesley. “Our first priority is the welfare of our fishermen and their families and that takes up most of our time. We have to make sure that whatever situations they find themselves in, they’re safe.
“We offer quite a lot of services – including an advice line called SAIL, and there’s physiotherapy, counselling and medical help, paid for by some of our sponsors. There are different agencies we can go to and apply for grants to assist families.”
Lesley continues: “We’re there as a listening ear so that involves pastoral work in hospitals and homes. We totally rely on God’s guidance when we enter those situations because you never know what you’re going to find.”
Ingrid says: “We’ve had tough days when we’ve felt our backs are against the wall but we’ve also had our blessings. We’ve seen people saved and coming back to the Lord. We’ve been able to share and pray with fishermen from other faith’s, who have been open towards the gospel and have received New Testaments. Those are the things that keep us going.”
Fishing is an international industry and in Kilkeel attracts, among others: Filipinos, Poles, Lithuanians, Romanians, Indians, Ghanaians and Sri Lankans. Some of the men live on the vessels and others have flats or houses in the town but in 90% of the cases, their families are back at home.
The Mission has good relationships with the Harbour Authority and other fishing industry stakeholders, including the fish factories. Lesley and Ingrid are also grateful for the support of all the clergy in the area and for the help of the local doctors and dentists.
Kilkeel is the hub of the work in Northern Ireland and has around 20 volunteers but Lesley and Ingrid are keen to build a network and redevelop the Centres in Ardglass and Portavogie.
They say: “We can’t put a figure on the numbers of fishing families in the country. We’re still regularly finding people that haven’t been on our radar and we need more volunteers to help us reach them.
“Above all else we need people to pray for the work of the Mission. We’re so grateful to the folk who are already praying. We really have seen the fruit.”
The ladies will be commissioned in Christ Church Kilkeel on 27 November 2016 at 6.30pm Bishop Harold will attend along with Chief Executive David Dickens, Senior Superintendent Keith Dickson and Pastor George Ayoma.
Find out more about The Fishermen’s Mission at www.fishermensmission.org.uk