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The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) has launched a new global awareness campaign to spotlight its confidential 24/7 helpline, YachtCrewHelp.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of YachtCrewHelp and the fact that it is available to any yacht crew member – regardless of rank, experience, employment status, nationality or location – as well as their families.

Life on board can be demanding – physically, mentally and emotionally. In response to a lack of accessible, specialised support available for yacht crew – a gap highlighted by crew themselves during a 2018 ISWAN study – in November 2020 ISWAN launched YachtCrewHelp. Building on ISWAN’s expertise from running SeafarerHelp, its long-established helpline for the maritime sector, YachtCrewHelp is free, confidential, multilingual and provides emotional, wellbeing and practical support to yacht crew and their families of any nationality. The helpline service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and crew and their families can get in touch using live chat, WhatsApp, e-mail or telephone.

Since its launch, YachtCrewHelp has supported over 1,500 crew and family members of more than 40 nationalities with a wide range of issues ranging from everyday contractual concerns to complex psychological first aid, highlighting the urgent need for wellbeing services tailored to the unique challenges of the yachting industry worldwide. The helpline is part of ISWAN’s Welfare of Yacht Crew Project, which works to ensure yacht crew and their families have the support and resources they need to thrive, and aims to drive meaningful crew-centred change across the yachting industry. ISWAN is aware, however, that many yacht crew and their families simply do not know that this support is available, and this is what the organisation is aiming to change.

ISWAN’s campaign, launched on Monday 15^th September and running until the end of October 2025, will feature a series of social media posts using the hashtags #YachtCrewHelp and #HereForAllCrew, a creative video challenge which anyone can take part in, appearances at key industry events, and collaborations with supporters across the yachting industry. ISWAN is also calling on crew, industry professionals and supporters to get involved by sharing the message however they can.

ISWAN’s Welfare of Yacht Crew Project Manager Laura Beard said: ‘We want crew to know that YachtCrewHelp is here for everyone – whether you are new on board or an experienced captain, looking for work in the yachting industry, or a relative of a crew member. ISWAN understands the unique pressures of working in yachting, and we offer a safe space and a listening ear along with support, information, and resources. We also understand crew concerns about risks to their reputation and the pressures of non-disclosure agreements. That’s why YachtCrewHelp is confidential, non-judgmental and available anonymously. Those contacting the helpline do not have to tell us their name, the name of their boat, or anything that they don’t feel comfortable sharing with us. We would never pass on any personal information to others without the crew member’s permission unless there was a serious risk of harm.

‘We encourage anyone and everyone to be part of this campaign, in any way that you can. Whether it’s sharing a post, telling your story or simply spreading the word, we can all play a part in making sure yacht crew know that support is always available.’

A campaign pack containing digital and printable marketing materials, an e-mail signature banner and information about the campaign’s video challenge can be found on ISWAN’s website on its Welfare of Yacht Crew Project page. Contact details and more information about YachtCrewHelp can be found at www.iswan.org.uk/yachtcrewhelp.