Our network of volunteers are at the heart of our work, providing practical, spiritual, and emotional support for seafarers, fishers, and their families across the UK and worldwide.

Why volunteer?

Our volunteers love what they do. Knowing that you have made a real difference to someone’s life is invaluable.

Through volunteering for Stella Maris you’ll have the chance to meet some truly inspiring people. You’ll also gain new skills and experiences, but most importantly, you’ll make a real difference in the lives of seafarers and fishers.

Who volunteers for Stella Maris?

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and are of varying ages. Some of our volunteers have a connection to the sea, for example they may have been a seafarer once themselves or they may have a relative who worked in a port or at sea. Others heard about us in their parish and have found volunteering with us a great way to express and share their faith. Whatever your skills or experience, we would love you to join our team of volunteers.

Want to know more?


We are always happy to help with any questions you might have about volunteering with us. 

In England and Wales contact Roland Hayes on 078 8789 3763 or [email protected]

In Scotland contact Euan McArthur on 077 2009 3155 or [email protected]

How can you get involved?

Parish Volunteer

Parish volunteers act as ambassadors in their parish and communities and help spread the word about our work. This can be simply putting copies of our annual report into your parish or helping to promote our annual Sea Sunday appeal. Or if you would like to be more involved then you could hold coffee mornings to raise awareness or even give a talk about the work of Stella Maris.

For more information, in England and Wales contact Roland Hayes on 078 8789 3763 or [email protected]

In Scotland contact Euan McArthur on 077 2009 3155 or [email protected]

Head Office Volunteer

Head Office volunteers are our unsung heroes. they play a vital role in helping everything to run smoothly. These volunteers are either based at our London office or can volunteer remotely.


Responsibilities may include data entry, admin, accountancy, social media, website or events support. Please contact our national office for more information.

Local fundraising

Fundraising volunteers help us by organising events in their local community. Whether you run, cycle, bake or knit, you could help us. Please contact our national office for more information about how to get started with a fundraising event.

Ship Visitor

Our ship visitors provide a vital service to seafarers in need. They go onboard vessels to visit seafarers, approaching them as friends, listening to their concerns and where possible offering practical help, for example providing news from seafarers’ home countries, local information and arranging for Mass or liturgy onboard.

For more information about volunteering as a ship visitor please call the office on 020 79011931 or email [email protected]

Knitting

Seafarers are often ill-equipped to deal with the cold conditions they find onboard. Our volunteer knitters provide invaluable support for seafarers by helping them to keep warm. You can find more information and some patterns to get you started here.