Giving Back to the Local Community
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s founding mission was to link the communities of the Isle of Man to Liverpool and the North West. Over 190 years later, serving the community is still a core part of the Company’s mission. Every year the Steam Packet receives hundreds of requests from a wide arrange of charities, sports groups, musical, cultural and community organisations and individuals looking to do something that adds to the quality of life for our island. We’re very fortunate to be in a position to be able to help with a large number of these initiatives. Here’s a round up of just some of the ways the Company has tried to give back this year:
Performing Arts and Culture
As in previous years, the Steam Packet Company was delighted to support events which celebrated the Island’s unique heritage and diverse arts and culture scene. In July it subsidised artists travelling to the Isle of Man to perform at Yn Chruinnaght’s The Celtic Gathering, a week-long festival which brings together musicians and dancers from across the Celtic nations.
The Company also supported the Manx Amateur Drama Federation (MADF), with their 2022 Easter Festival of Full Length Plays. The iconic Festival, which was first started in 1950, has welcomed hundreds of visiting groups from across Europe and the UK over its 72-year history. Open to amateur drama, operatic, musical and play groups from across the Island and the UK, the Company supported the event by subsidising the travel expenses of those groups travelling from the UK.
Sport
The Steam Packet Company is a long-time supporter of sports in the Island too and has played an integral role in the Island’s world-class motorsport events, ferrying thousands of race fans each year. Earlier this year, we launched Quayside Racing to support local rider and double Manx Grand Prix winner Nathan Harrison’s 2022 racing season. The Steam Packet Company was delighted to make Harrison a Steam Packet Company Champion, whilst helping transport the Quayside Racing team and equipment between the Isle of Man and the UK throughout Harrison’s action-packed 2022 campaign, which included a number of high-profile events such as the British Superbikes series and North West 200.
In 2022 the Company was also thrilled to announce another record-breaking year for charity collections during the TT festival. More than £22,300 was collected on board our vessels for the Rob Vine Fund, taking the total raised in the last 28 years to over £300,000. The Rob Vine Fund, which, in partnership with Hogg Motorsport Association, provides essential pre-hospital medical care at Manx motorsport events.
Keen to enhance the development of sport in the Isle of Man, we have supported various local sporting communities across the Island, including local rugby legends Vagabonds RUFC – and will be acting as the main team’s travel sponsors for the new season, whilst continuing our sponsorship of the club’s women’s team. Intent on supporting the development of sport in the younger community, earlier in the year the Company funded the Vagabond’s under 14s team travel costs for their end of season tour to the UK. In May, we also subsidised 30 Ayre United A.F.C players’ ferry fares to and from Liverpool in support of the football club’s UK Juniors Tour.
Community Causes
Where we can, the Company is always willing to help charities, organisations, and individuals as they strive to make a difference and help others.
In August we helped a group of four local disabled children and volunteers from Riding for the Disabled Isle of Man attend a horse-riding centre in Wales.
Once again, we supported local fundraising group ‘Mad Manx’, a team of charity adventurers who over the summer drove from Andreas to Athens to raise funds and awareness for The Children’s Centre Isle of Man and Manx Children’s Art Therapy. The Company supported the team’s endeavours by covering the cost of their travel between the Island and the UK.
Riding for the Disabled 
Mad Manx
Global Support
Our charitable endeavours also extend beyond Manx shores, and earlier this year in response to the devastation in Ukraine, the Company helped send essential supplies to the country and surrounding regions on behalf of local group Manx Support for Refugees. Working alongside local freight carrier, Island Express, we shipped several trailers of supplies free of charge.
Brian Thomson, Managing Director of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, commented: ‘The Isle of Man Steam Packet has been honoured to support so many different causes across the Isle of Man community this year. The Company has been a part of the Island’s community for over 190 years, and each year we strive to support and develop our community’s passions, causes and fundraising efforts where we can. We actively encourage local communities to reach out to us if they have a project that is close to their heart and could benefit from our support.
‘It’s an exciting year ahead for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, with the imminent arrival of our new vessel, Manxman, in early 2023. I encourage residents, customers, and our friends to keep a close eye on her journey to Manx waters, as we’d like as many members of the community as possible to get involved in this significant piece of Manx history.’
As part of our ongoing commitment to the Isle of Man, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company offers its support to a huge variety of initiatives, projects, and events, gifting free and discounted travel to worthy causes to empower our Island and to help it shine. If you have a cause that is close to your heart and could benefit from our support, please feel free to contact us.