NeurodiversAtSea is now a registered charity. The Charity Commission for England and Wales has granted us registered charity number 1208735, formally recognising our work to support neurodivergent people in the maritime industry.
It is a significant step for an organisation that began in 2022 as an idea between two seafarers. Our founder, Dan Smith, is an autistic seafarer who works as a Mate on harbour tugs. He and co-founder James Stockbridge met during their cadetships, and set up NeurodiversAtSea in 2022 after Dan’s own frustrating experience with a potential employer showed how easily neurodivergent people can be shut out of maritime careers. In the early days, Dan funded the work himself, carrying it out alongside his job at sea.
We are thrilled to achieve this significant milestone. Becoming a registered charity in the UK not only validates our mission but also enhances our ability to drive positive change within the maritime industry. This status will enable us to expand our programmes, reach more individuals, and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for neurodiverse professionals at sea.
What charity status makes possible
Registration gives our supporters, partners and funders confidence that we are properly governed and accountable, and it opens the door to grants and partnerships that weren’t available to us before. We intend to use it in four ways.
We will expand our outreach, raising awareness and understanding of neurodiversity across maritime careers through education and partnerships with employers, training providers and welfare organisations.
We will provide resources: practical guidance, training and tools designed around the real needs of neurodivergent seafarers and the people who work with them, from recruitment to life on board.
We will advocate for change, working with industry bodies, regulators and employers to promote policies and practices that make the industry fairer for neurodivergent people, building on our response to the Maritime Skills Commission earlier this year.
And we will build community, creating a supportive network where neurodivergent seafarers can share experiences, challenges and successes with people who understand.
Thank you
None of this would have happened without the seafarers who took part in our first survey and told us about their working lives, and the many people across the industry who have encouraged and supported us. We would also like to thank our trustees and volunteers, who give their time to make this work possible.
If you would like to support NeurodiversAtSea, partner with us or find out more, please get in touch or see how you can get involved.
