RMNEF Newsletter May 2025
News and Noteworthy
A Busy Spring at RMNEF HQ.
It’s been a bustling few weeks at the RMNEF, and we’re thrilled to have welcomed several new beneficiaries into the Foundation family. Our team has been working hard to ensure each child and young person receives the tailored support they need to thrive.
This month, one of our grants helped fund after-school swimming lessons for a young child. It is a wonderful reminder of how extracurricular activities don’t just build essential life skills but also provide valuable support for working parents. We’ve also funded a laptop for a teenager to help with schoolwork and contributed to a career training course for a young adult looking to take the next step toward their future.
Our CEO, Diana, and Chair of Trustees, Lesley, recently attended the Fishermen’s Mission AGM, a charity we work closely with. It was a great opportunity to connect with like-minded organisations, hear about their fantastic work, and share updates on how we’re supporting seafaring families.
But don’t worry, it hasn’t all been hard graft! We’ve been getting to grips with our new Instagram account, experimenting with fun reels and behind-the-scenes glimpses. If you’re not already following us, now’s a great time to join in.
And in other news…
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Merchant Navy Medal, a prestigious UK state honour that celebrates outstanding contributions to the maritime industry. If you know a seafarer who’s gone above and beyond, this is the perfect way to recognise their service. 👉 Submit a nomination here https://www.merchantnavymedal.org/nomination-form-and-guidance-notes
Spotlight: Beyond the Classroom — The Value of Extracurricular Activities
At the Royal Merchant Navy Education Foundation, we believe that education is not just about academics, it’s about helping young people develop into confident, capable, and well-rounded individuals. That’s why we’re proud to support not just school tuition, but also a wide range of extracurricular activities that make a real difference in a child’s life.
These activities do more than fill spare hours, they build skills, nurture passions, and help children and young adults discover what they’re good at (and what they love). They can also offer much-needed structure and a sense of belonging, especially for those in seafaring families where routines can be unpredictable.
Here are just a few ways extracurriculars help children flourish:
🖌 Arts and Crafts -
Getting hands-on with painting, drawing, or model-making can help children express their emotions, build focus, and spark creativity. It’s also a brilliant way to build confidence, particularly for children who may not thrive in traditional academic settings.
🎵 Music Lessons –
Learning an instrument teaches discipline, patience, and perseverance. Performing, whether in front of family or on a school stage builds self-assurance. Music also offers a therapeutic outlet for stress or anxiety, something that can be incredibly valuable for children in transitional or high-pressure home environments.
⛵ Sailing Lessons –
For children of maritime families, sailing can provide both a link to their heritage and a practical, exciting outlet. It encourages teamwork, builds resilience, and instils a sense of independence and leadership, all while getting them out in the fresh air and connected with the sea.
🏊♀️ Swimming
– Apart from being a vital life skill, swimming improves physical fitness and boosts mental wellbeing. One of our recent grants helped a child attend after-school swimming lessons, which not only helped build their confidence but gave a working parent peace of mind and flexibility during a busy week.
⚽ Team Sports
– Sports like football, netball, or hockey are fantastic for teaching teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. They also foster friendships and give children an outlet to let off steam, something that’s especially helpful when home life is unsettled due to a parent being at sea.
🧘♀️ Drama, Dance & Theatre
– These creative outlets help children explore their identity, build self-expression, and develop empathy, not to mention the joy of performing and the camaraderie of being part of a production.
We see time and time again how extracurricular activities help children grow in ways that go far beyond academic achievement. They can spark lifelong passions, open new doors, and give young people the confidence to chart their own course, wherever life takes them.
Dates for your Diary
- 5th-11th May Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
- 13-19th May Mental Health Awareness
- 19th-23rd May Walk to School Week
- 24th May – 1st June National Children’s Gardening Week
- 31st May Entries close Merchant Navy Medal
