After a challenging year for everyone, Hospitality Action is starting the new year in the same way we ended the last one, by working hard to help as many of our industry friends in crisis as we possibly can. As a benevolent charity for the hospitality industry, we have a rich history of helping hospitality people whose life has taken a wrong turn; whether this is through injury, financial trouble, addiction or any number of issues, we are proud to be able to help these people get their lives back on track.

 

As many businesses will probably agree, nothing could have prepared us for what 2020 threw at us. In the days following the first lockdown we received three years’ worth of applications for our help in a single day, the phones rang off the hook, all while our fundraising events programme fell through the floor. We quickly rallied and launched an emergency grant and fundraising campaign, which enabled us to help over 5,000 hospitality households to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table during the pandemic. We were also compelled to innovate and forge new fundraising partnerships with our supporters. Our 20,000 Mile Challenge, Invisible Chips and Bidfood Christmas charity single ‘Our Hospitality Voices’, are just some of the ways we raised awareness and money during these unprecedented times. Partners across the industry, like Bidfood, truly stepped up to the plate when needed, to help us continue all the work we do, grow through the crisis and reach more people than ever before.

 

Unfortunately for our industry, the darkest hour of the night comes before the dawn, and while the second half of 2021 should see our industry start to recover, the next few months could be bleak. The good news is, that thanks to the generosity of partners like Bidfood, we are still here to help, by providing financial assistance and mental health support to thousands of people over the coming months, and we’ll be on hand to support the wider wellness of the industry as we embark on the long road to recovery.

 

There are a wide variety of ways you too can support us in our work supporting the industry. From signing up for our upcoming virtual challenge event, or adding Invisible Chips to your menu when you can finally welcome guests back into your venue; plus don’t forget we’re here to support our industry colleagues too, so if you’re a hospitality person who is worried about anything you can call us on 0808 802 0282 or visit our website: www.hospitalityaction.org.uk

 

Don’t forget – we’ve got you!