The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC), the 230-year-old industry charity supporting drinks professionals in need of emotional support, specialist advice and financial assistance, experienced an unprecedented 43% jump in calls to its helpline in 2023 compared to the previous year.
A total of 4,560 people from across the sector contacted the LTC through its 24/7 helpline in 2023 – the highest number of calls the charity has received in a 12-month period since the helpline was established. Across all its support services, the LTC provided aid to 47,130 people in the drinks industry last year, highlighting the critical role the organisation plays in helping support individuals currently or previously employed within the licensed trade.
Financial issues continue to represent a clear pressure on people in the sector, with 23% of calls received by the LTC referred to the grants team to discuss necessary financial assistance. In 2023 alone, £1.4m was awarded in grants and services by the LTC, up from £1.17m in 2022.
The LTC’s chief executive officer Chris Welham said: “The hospitality and drink sectors have faced unprecedented challenges over the past four years, and the pressures on our industry are being felt throughout the workforce.
“2023 represented the busiest year on record for the LTC, with a significant spike in individuals requiring support with their mental health, and assistance with their finances. Although this is clearly a worrying time for many across our industry, I am glad the LTC has been able to provide meaningful help to so many people. Increased awareness for the charity has been critical for us to reach a greater number of people needing aid, so I thank everyone who has amplified our message and raised vital funds over the past year.”
When asked how they heard about the charity’s helpline, 36% said they were referred by their employer, 9% by Turn2us, while 6% were referred to by other charities and housing associations, and 1% by the public sector.
Fifty-three per cent of those who made the call were employed at the time, and 44% of all calls made came from individuals working at one of the four largest pub companies in the UK – highlighting how important the LTC is viewed by the biggest operators.
The figures are a record high for the charity since the helpline was first established and demonstrates significant effort on the part of the LTC in helping to grow awareness in the industry, being trusted and relied on as an organisation that people can turn to in times in need.
-ENDS-
For more information on the Licensed Trade Charity, please contact Fleet Street:
About the Licensed Trade Charity
Founded in 1793, the Licensed Trade Charity has been helping drinks people for over 200 years, however, the work the charity does for the industry has never been more important. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, LTC has supported 155k people facing a crisis with practical, emotional and financial support. However, the charity’s ambition going into 2023 is to spread the word even further about the grants and services it can provide so that it can help even more people in need across the drinks trade.
Central to the Licensed Trade Charity’s service is its invaluable 24-hour free helpline that is there day and night to give people the help they need, whenever they need it. Many reach out to the LTC helpline for support with their mental wellbeing, with the charity providing practical guidance and emotional care. However, the helpline and website are vital first steps, allowing the Licensed Trade Charity to assess the care needed for its users. Many of its beneficiaries come first through the helpline and then speak to a specialist support team or trained counsellors for support in all areas of social, mental wellbeing and financial aid who will provide help on a confidential basis.
The spectrum of support drinks people can receive from the Licensed Trade Charity is vast, it really is a one stop shop, covering everything from employment advice to one off grants up to £5,000 that might go towards helping with rent arrears, having a new washing machine fitted or providing new school uniform for children. Of course, the level of support industry professionals can receive is dependent upon length of service and grants are means tested but all resources are completely free. The charity even runs three fully funded independent schools, providing education to many children from the sector. Through its bank of specialists and dedicated staff, the Licensed Trade Charity is perfectly positioned to stop an issue turning into a crisis.
You can find out more about the Licensed Trade Charity by visiting its website https://www.
The Licensed Trade Charity helpline is 0808 801 0550.
Licensed Trade Charity is registered with the Charities Commission Registration no. 230011.
Please see supporting imagery in the WeTransfer link here.
For more information on the Licensed Trade Charity, please contact Fleet Street:
Third-party news items that are posted on the Guild website’s news section come from press releases received by the Guild. These press releases are posted as they have been received and their publication on the Guild website is intended as an informational service provided to our members and website visitors. As such, the publication of a story from a third-party source is neither an endorsement of the content, nor its sender, by the Guild. For enquiries on any news item, please use the contact details that can be found at the bottom of each post.