Hospitality is a way of life: A brighter future is possible By Our Industry Charity Partners ‘Hospitality Action’ Hospitality Action is the benevolent charity for the Hospitality sector. They provide financial relief to alleviate poverty for people who work or have worked in UK hospitality. Additionally, they provide counselling, advice and signposting to people facing mental health challenges or dealing with illness, bereavement, debt or addiction. Also running an outreach programme to keep loneliness at bay for hospitality retirees. 2020 has been a transformational year for everybody in the UK, not least of which are those working in the Hospitality sector which has been at the sharp end of enforced closures and economic woes. There have been some heartwrenching examples of lives thrown into poverty over the last few months but also some inspirational stories that suggest the industry will come back stronger, and a nicer place to work than ever before. Mark Lewis, Hospitality Action CEO said “One of the most remarkable things we’ve noticed at Hospitality Action is just how much the great British public love the hospitality industry and how far they’re prepared to go to help it get back on its feet. As the headlines of job losses and closures started to spread, we noticed an outpouring of solidarity for the industry with inspirational messages accompanying gifts large and small made on our website. Starting at £250 their grants provide short term relief to those facing sudden poverty. “We helped one man who had just £1.22 in his bank account – as a live-in worker he’d not only lost his job, but his home too. We helped him travel to his new accommodation and kit it out when he got there. Another person we helped was a vulnerable retiree who had long-since run out of money on his gas meter and would make soup with a single carrot and a potato cooked on the one electric hob he could afford to operate.” 6
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The industry is also helping its own both financially and with emotional support. For many, hospitality isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life. Whether it’s having your name above the door of your own business or it’s toiling in the kitchen to build the perfect team to create knock-out dishes – hospitality gets under your skin, and it can define who you are as a person. The sudden loss of your job isn’t just about the financial impact – the mental health impacts can be devastating. There’s no better way to mask an underlying mental health issue than by working long hours in a fast-paced and fun environment and suddenly finding oneself at home, worrying about the future, had a detrimental effect on the mental health of people across the industry. If you’re a hospitality worker and need help you can call Hospitality Action’s confidential helpline on 0808 802 0282 The Samaritans can be reached on 0330 094 5717 and there’s a wealth of information on the Mind website too mind.org.uk
Gift To Share Through our partnership with Hospitality Action, we donate funds from all our sales and commissions which are donated directly to help individuals within the industry in greater need. Look out for the #GiftToShareExperiences activity on our website and social media to lend your support. £2 from the sale of this guide is donated to Hospitality Action. Thank You. More information and to donate visit
hospitalityaction.org.uk Follow on social media @HospAction
