GROCERYAID SERVICES… AN INTRODUCTION
GroceryAid has been providing emotional, practical and financial support for people working in the grocery industry since 1857.
Working in partnership with hundreds of supporters from across the trade, the charity helps colleagues within the grocery industry from: Multiple Retailers, Wholesalers, Convenience Stores, Independents, Manufacturers and Service providers.
Last year, the charity experienced a 61% increase in incidences of support, a 17% increase in calls to its helpline and 114% increase in the instances of online support and partner referrals.
Any colleague working in the grocery industry can access the free and confidential emotional and practical support, plus financial advice, from the first day of their employment. After six months of continuous employment, colleagues may be eligible for one of our non-repayable financial grants.
To access these services, colleagues can call the FREE and confidential Helpline, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. BACP accredited counsellors answer the Helpline and can provide immediate emotional support and guidance. More than 200 languages are also supported through the Helpline, on request.
For those colleagues who prefer using the internet, www.groceryaid.org.ukgethelp is where they can read about all the services on offer, the eligibility of each one and how to apply for financial grants. Colleagues can request more help by emailing welfare@groceryaid.org.uk.
GroceryAid raises the majority of its funds through an annual events calendar which enables it to continue offering its service free of charge, without membership fees.
Financial Grants
Our non-repayable grants are designed to help those experiencing an unexpected emergency, a change in circumstances or a sudden gap in income and are available to those who have worked in the industry for six months or longer.
Practical Advice & Support
Colleagues can access Telephone Information Specialists via the Helpline who are Citizens Advice Bureau trained, and available Monday to Friday 8am-8pm, to advise on areas such as debt management, benefits, basic consumer law and gambling.
Emotional / Counselling Support
GroceryAid offers a wide range of support services for people struggling with stress, anxiety, low mood or depression. Colleagues can call the 24/7 free and confidential Helpline where they can be assessed and referred for up to six sessions of counselling.
Emotional Counselling / Young People
Kooth is an anonymous online mental health and emotional wellbeing support service for children and young people 11-25 years old. The digital platform gives free, confidential online counselling and support to students and young people.
Emotional Counselling /
Relationships
In partnership with the registered charity Relate, GroceryAid can offer access
to free relationship
counselling and support for people working in the grocery industry. Counselling
sessions are available for families, couples and dependants
Workplace Critical Incident Support
GroceryAid offers specialist support to help grocery colleagues deal with the trauma of witnessing or
being involved in a critical incident in the workplace
such as an accident, robbery or assault. An employer or manager can activate the on-site trauma support
service by contacting the
24/7 free, confidential
Helpline after an initial assessment has been made
to give support on site.