The Sailors’ Orphan Society of Scotland

The Sailors’ Orphan Society of Scotland



Contact details

Website: https://sailorsorphansociety.co.uk/ 
Email: info@sailorsorphansociety.co.uk 
Telephone: 0141 353 2090 
Postal address: The Sailors’ Orphan Society of Scotland
18 Woodside Crescent
Glasgow
G3 7UL 
Application information: https://sailorsorphansociety.co.uk/index/applications/4553/ 
Contact page: https://sailorsorphansociety.co.uk/index/contact/4554/

What this organisation does

The Sailors’ Orphan Society of Scotland is a Scottish charity that provides financial support to the dependants of seafarers who may be experiencing hardship due to disadvantage, bereavement, or the incapacity of one or both parents. The charity also supports disadvantaged young people within seafaring communities across Scotland. 
Established in 1889, the charity has a long history of supporting families connected to the maritime sector. Its current focus is on providing grants to eligible children and young people rather than residential support. 

Who can use the service

The charity may be able to support:
  • Dependants of seafarers who are experiencing financial hardship or disadvantage. 
  • Children affected by the death of a parent connected to the seafaring community. 
  • Children affected by the incapacity of one or both parents. 
  • Disadvantaged young people within seafaring communities in Scotland. 

Grant eligibility

For the charity's regular child grant:
  • The child should normally be under the age of 16. 
  • Young people over 16 may remain eligible if they are in full-time education. 
  • Applications should include third-party confirmation of disadvantage, parental death, or parental incapacity. 

Support available

The Society provides financial assistance through:
  • Monthly grants for eligible children. 
  • Additional annual payments made in July and December. 
  • Direct support payments usually made to the family. 
  • Discretionary lump-sum grants in certain circumstances where additional support may be required. 
The website states that the standard child grant is currently £110 per month, alongside the additional July and December payments. 

Features and benefits

This support can help families connected to the seafaring community to:
  • Access ongoing financial assistance when facing bereavement or hardship. 
  • Support children and young people during difficult family circumstances. 
  • Continue educational participation through support available beyond age 16 for those in full-time education. 
  • Obtain additional financial help through discretionary grants when exceptional needs arise. 
  • Receive assistance from a charity dedicated specifically to seafaring families and communities in Scotland. 

How to get help

  1. Review the eligibility information on the charity website. 
  2. Obtain and complete the application form available from the Applications page. 
  3. Gather evidence confirming disadvantage, parental death, or parental incapacity from an appropriate third party.
  4. Submit the application to the Society using the contact details provided. 
  5. Contact the charity directly by telephone or email if you need further guidance about an application. 

Things to check before contacting them

Before applying, it may help to have:
  • Details of the seafaring connection of the child or family.(Eligibility criteria should be confirmed directly with the charity.) 
  • Evidence of hardship, disadvantage, parental death, or parental incapacity from a suitable third party. 
  • Information about the child's age and educational status if aged over 16. 
  • Any supporting information that may help the charity assess the application.(Not specifically listed by the charity and should be confirmed during enquiry.)