Industry charity faces increased demand for services as epidemic presents new challenges

The grocery industry charity had to assist more than 17,000 people during the period and distributed £4.25m in financial support to help almost 3,200 colleagues.

Last year, almost 13,900 grocery workers, colleagues and immediate family members contacted the charity’s helpline needing practical and emotional support. This was a 24% rise in calls on the previous period – with the result that 12% more people were helped during the 12-month period.

In the charity’s new Impact Report, which reviews its performance over the past year, charity president Charles Wilson says: “The last year saw GroceryAid support more colleagues than ever before and we take great pride in that achievement.

“As we look forward, Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the nation and on our trade. We expect rising demand for our services, and we are geared up to help colleagues who need assistance from GroceryAid.

“We helped over 17,000 grocery colleagues in the past 12 months, and we remain humbled by the feedback we get from beneficiaries. This inspires all of us in GroceryAid every day.”

For the first time, its annual Impact Report is being made available digitally. Steve Barnes, the charity’s chief executive, says:  “In 2019-20, the GroceryAid team assisted thousands of grocery colleagues with skill and kindness.

“The Impact Report demonstrates this achievement digitally and we hope the content is shared widely throughout the industry to raise awareness of the support we offer.”

The charity, which dates back to 1857, financially supported some 800 people in the year who were awarded a total of £603,000 in grants to help them deal with a personal crisis in their lives.

Illness is the main reason why people need financial help with nine out of ten of them being of working age. GroceryAid also made more than 1,850 home visits during the year and was helped in its work by 340 volunteers.

In April, the charity moved its helpline service to a company specialising in employee assistance programmes, counselling and well-being – and then experienced a 70% increase in calls  in the following quarter.

The move also meant the charity could launch its most digitally advanced service, Woebot. A friendly, artificial intelligence chatbot, it is available via an app to support people through “everyday challenges”. Its helpline – 08088 021 12 – is open 24 hours a day.