For 5 years each May, Hospitality Action (HA) has run their fundraising week with participating restaurants and employees across the country. Hospitality Action is the trade charity offering a crucial lifeline to people of all ages, working and retired, from the hospitality industry. Whether they are approached by a chef, chambermaid, school cook or bar staff, Hospitality Action will endeavour to support, whatever the difficulty. The charity receives no government funding and so is dependent on individuals and corporate bodies from within the industry.
HA Week, took place on the 13th -19th May this year and involved a whole host of fundraising activities across the entire hospitality industry. These funds go towards providing vital assistance to all who work, or have worked within hospitality in the UK and who find themselves in crisis.
To learn more about Hospitality Action visit their website www.hospitalityaction.org.uk or follow them via twitter: @HospAction
One way Hospitality Action assists is by providing grants to industry members. The three types of grants the charity offers are:
- Essential Needs Grants
These are awarded for assistance towards the cost of an item or need considered essential for the wellbeing or improving the quality of life of the applicant. For example cookers, medical equipment, fuel bills.
- Crisis Grants
Crisis grants are awarded to applicants of working age who have suffered a sudden loss of income due to bereavement, illness or injury. Awards are usually for a maximum of one year. This grant aims to help the applicant to adjust to their new circumstances before returning to work.
- Top-Up Grants
These grants are awarded to people who have spent most of their life within the hospitality industry and are now on a very limited income.
Penny Moore CEO, Hospitality Action said: “Sometimes all it takes is a very small change in circumstances to tip the balance and turn a manageable situation into an unmanageable one. An extended illness such as cancer can lead to a drop in pay. Other circumstances such as a relationship breakdown, bereavement or redundancy can also put a strain on the household budget. Whatever the crisis we will endeavour to be there for industry members in need.”
For further information about how you can apply you can download their application: www.hospitalityaction.org.uk/