GroceryAid launches £1.5 million COVID-19 fund

GroceryAid said it has raised a fund of £1.5 million to support grocery colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Amid the huge challenge of COVID-19 our trade has done a great job of keeping the nation fed. GroceryAid has raised a special COVID-19 fund to help our industry colleagues at this time of need,” said Charles Wilson, Booker chief executive and president of GroceryAid.

The charity will provide a Bereavement Financial Assistance to grocery colleagues who lose a partner or the immediate family of a colleague who has passed away as a result of COVID-19 whilst working in the industry.

Crisis grants will be available to those who face unexpected financial emergencies due to the pandemic. Colleagues with a year’s industry service can apply for these non-repayable grants/

GroceryAid urged the industry colleagues to get in touch via the 24/7 helpline which will deal with the concerns and assist with financial stress caused by the crisis.

“Our industry has been tested like never before and colleagues have risen to the challenge. We are proud that this fund enables us to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those who now need help as a direct consequence of COVID-19,” said Steve Barnes, chief executive of the charity.

Earlier this month, GroceryAid has announced additional services to its helpline to provide grocery colleagues with emotional and practical support amid the crisis.

GroceryAid launches new services to help cope with coronavirus crisis

The charity is now offering ‘in the moment’ emotional and practical support for grocery colleagues dealing with shock, anxiety and stress through BACP trained counsellors, a health and wellbeing portal and its AI Robot app Woebot.

The GroceryAid helpline is available 24/7, 365 days a year: 08088 021 122

More details about the fund and links to apply online can be found here.