Incidents of colleague support rise by 44 per cent: GroceryAid

GroceryAid has released its 2022-2023 Impact Report, revealing a 44 per cent increase in incidents of colleague support compared to last year.

The industry charity spent £5.6 million supporting colleagues, including £642,000 awarded in School Essentials Grants which ensured more than 2, 340 children had the right equipment and clothing when they returned to school in September 2022.

Additionally, the introduction of a Cost of Living Grant in January 2023 provided a £300 one-off payment per eligible household. The grant programme awarded 357 Cost of Living Grants within the initial 10 weeks.

The charity’s free and confidential helpline also received over 10,000 calls from colleagues which resulted in more than 5,000 in-the-moment counselling sessions with BACP accredited counsellors. There was a 14 per cent increase in referrals for legal advice from Law Express and more than 1,280 Relate counselling sessions were delivered.

“We are delighted that we have helped more grocery colleagues than ever before, at a time when they really need the support. Our holistic approach means we work closely with colleagues to understand their challenges and ensure that we are helping them improve their situation,” Mandi Leonard, welfare director at GroceryAid, said.

Allan Leighton, president of GroceryAid, added: “Keeping our services free and confidential, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, is our priority so we can continue to be the most relevant and easily accessible source of help to everyone in the grocery industry who needs us.”