Help us make a difference

Be part of our mission

For 160 years, the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society has been a safe haven for former seafarers and their spouses or partners – ensuring they receive the care, dignity, and respect they deserve.

As a registered charity, we rely on the generosity of individuals, families, and organisations to continue our vital work.

By supporting us, you become part of a proud legacy of care and compassion. Whether through a donation, legacy gift, volunteering, or sponsorship, your contribution helps us continue our mission and make life better for those who once served at sea.

Leave a legacy

A gift that lasts a lifetime

Leaving a gift in your will is a powerful way to continue your values of care, service, and support.

Many assume legacy gifts must be large – but every contribution, no matter the size, has a lasting impact. Your support helps us to maintain and enhance our services, improve facilities, and ensure future generations of seafarers have a safe and welcoming place to call home.

By choosing to remember Royal Alfred, you help safeguard our mission for years to come.

To discuss leaving a legacy, please call 01737 353763 or email enquiries@royalalfred.org.uk

Volunteer with us

Enrich lives, including your own

Volunteers are the heartbeat of our home – bringing joy, energy, and friendship to life at Belvedere House.

Whether it’s a few hours a week or occasional support, you can brighten lives and bring genuine companionship to residents.

Did you know?

  • 93% of volunteers say they enjoy their experience
  • 90% feel they’ve made a difference
  • 77% say volunteering has improved their wellbeing
    (source: YouGov for NCVO)

Ways you can get involved:

  • Befriending & social engagement – Chat, share stories, or simply be a friendly face
  • Activity & event support – Help with crafts, music sessions, and outings
  • Skills-based volunteering – Use your professional skills to support fundraising, IT, admin, or estates
  • Community engagement – Build stronger ties with local schools, groups, and our neighbours

Find out more about volunteering by calling 01737 360106 or emailing careers@royalalfred.org.uk

A group of six people wearing gloves stand outdoors by a grassy wetland area on a sunny day, smiling at the camera. Some hold tools and baskets, suggesting they are working on a conservation or clean-up project.
A woman and a man stand smiling in front of a blue minibus parked outside a building. The woman wears a lanyard and headscarf, while the man wears a uniform with epaulets. The weather is sunny.
A group of elderly people, some holding poppy wreaths, stand together outdoors by a sign for The Parish Church of Saint Peter. One person is in a wheelchair. Autumn leaves are on the ground and trees in the background.
A group of people, including firefighters, elderly individuals (two in wheelchairs), and others, pose in front of a fire truck on a paved area outside a building, with trees and cloudy sky in the background.
Four adults stand in front of a flagpole and a well-kept garden outside a brick building on a cloudy day. The group is smiling, and one person is holding a plaque or award.
Five people stand on a sunny lawn with large black tubs, wearing casual clothes and gloves, surrounded by green trees and palm trees, appearing to do outdoor clean-up or gardening work.
An elderly woman in a wheelchair looks at a necklace being handed to her by a vendor at a table displaying various pieces of jewelry in a well-lit room.
A small park with wooden benches and log seats sits on grass near a path, with modern houses and trees in the background under a mostly cloudy sky.

Sponsorship & fundraising

Making a meaningful impact

From funding a garden bench and sponsoring a major project to organising a community fundraiser, your support helps us continue delivering exceptional care.

Whether you’re an individual, group, or company, there are lots of ways to get involved.

Ways to support us:

  • Corporate sponsorship – Partner with us to fund a service, facility, or community project
  • Fundraising events – Organise your own event or take on a sponsored challenge
  • In-kind support – Donate goods, services, or expertise

Every gift and gesture helps. Get in touch to explore current sponsorship and fundraising opportunities.

Talk with us about sponsorship by calling 01737 353763 or emailing enquiries@royalalfred.org.uk

Thanks to our seafaring and community partners

We’re proud to work alongside a wide range of seafaring and community organisations who help make our work possible – through grants, collaborative projects, in-kind support, and more.

There’s often a gap between what government funding covers and the true cost of providing high-quality care. That’s where grant-making partners play a vital role – helping us ensure that seafarers and their loved ones can access excellent care and subsidised housing, regardless of their means.

We are also grateful to the local organisations who regularly support our work in ways that bring joy and connection to daily life at Royal Alfred.

Thank you for being part of our story.

See our supporters

Ways to get in touch

Your generosity directly supports the lives of our residents – ensuring they receive the care, companionship, and dignity they deserve.
We’d love to hear from you and explore how we can work together.

For legacy enquiries
01737 353763
enquiries@royalalfred.org.uk

For volunteering enquiries
01737 360106 (ask for our recruitment team)
careers@royalalfred.org.uk

For all other enquiries
01737 360106 (ask for our admin team)
welcome@royalalfred.org.uk

    Words of appreciation

    Real voices, real impact – here’s what people say about working with us:

    Such a rewarding experience.

    Volunteering at the Royal Alfred was such a rewarding experience. It was great to see the difference we could make… the warm welcome from staff and residents made the day even more special.

    Maggie, Bytes Software Services

    A donation in her memory.

    My mother passed away at the end of November. We could not have wished for a better place for her to spend the last seven years of her life. Thank you so very much for all you have done to make her life so comfortable. Please accept this cheque as a donation in her memory.

    Family member

    A chance to give back.

    Fundraising is my way of honouring our residents and giving something back to the generation who have paved the way for us.

    Damian, Deputy Clinical Manager,
    Royal Alfred

    Life aboard the Royal Alfred

    Anchored in community and full of heart. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for a window into life on the Weston Acres estate.

    royalalfredseafarers

    It was a pleasure to welcome the trustees of Age Concern Banstead to our training room last week for their strategic planning day.

    We’re always happy to support local organisations doing such important work in our community, and it’s great to see the space being used for collaboration, reflection, and forward planning.

    Thank you for choosing to spend the day with us – we hope the discussions were productive and inspiring.

    #Community #LocalCharity #StrategicPlanning #WorkingTogether #Banstead #SupportingOurCommunity #Trustees #Collaboration #ageconcern

    View Instagram post by royalalfredseafarers

    Jan 21

    Open post by royalalfredseafarers with ID 18083247790944886
    It was a pleasure to welcome the trustees of Age Concern Banstead to our training room last week for their strategic planning day. We’re always happy to support local organisations doing such important work in our community, and it’s great to see the space being used for collaboration, reflection, and forward planning. Thank you for choosing to spend the day with us – we hope the discussions were productive and inspiring. #Community #LocalCharity #StrategicPlanning #WorkingTogether #Banstead #SupportingOurCommunity #Trustees #Collaboration #ageconcern

    royalalfredseafarers

    Do you remember when we showed you these being made? 🍽️

    Earlier this week we shared a video of Kevin giving Sam chef training while they prepared these homemade Thai cod fish cakes — and here’s the finished article, enjoyed by our residents.

    A lot of thought goes into our menu planning. Meals are planned well in advance, taking into account residents’ preferences, nutritional balance, dietary needs and variety, as well as giving our kitchen team the time and space to develop new skills and recipes.

    By planning ahead and investing in our staff, we’re able to serve fresh, home-cooked meals that residents can look forward to, every single day.

    #MenuPlanning #FreshlyPrepared #InvestingInPeople #StaffDevelopment #ResidentFocused #QualityCare #HomemadeWithCare #ProudTeam

    View Instagram post by royalalfredseafarers

    Jan 15

    Open post by royalalfredseafarers with ID 17896488969383978
    Do you remember when we showed you these being made? 🍽️ Earlier this week we shared a video of Kevin giving Sam chef training while they prepared these homemade Thai cod fish cakes — and here’s the finished article, enjoyed by our residents. A lot of thought goes into our menu planning. Meals are planned well in advance, taking into account residents’ preferences, nutritional balance, dietary needs and variety, as well as giving our kitchen team the time and space to develop new skills and recipes. By planning ahead and investing in our staff, we’re able to serve fresh, home-cooked meals that residents can look forward to, every single day. #MenuPlanning #FreshlyPrepared #InvestingInPeople #StaffDevelopment #ResidentFocused #QualityCare #HomemadeWithCare #ProudTeam