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Retail Trust launches fundraising appeal to relieve burden for retail workers

Jeremy Lim
11 October 2021

Industry charity the Retail Trust has launched a fundraising appeal after demand for its services for retail workers rose by nearly 90% due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The #fourretail charity challenge calls on people to support by walking, running, swimming or cycling four miles, donating a minimum of £4 and nominating another four people.

The pandemic led to the loss of 170,000 retail jobs last year as more than 15,000 shops shut down, as well as a surge in reports of abusive and violent incidents towards shop and supermarket workers. Since then, the Retail Trust has given out more than £1.2 million in financial aid and run over 11,000 counselling sessions to provide financial and emotional support to those working in the sector.

Financial wellbeing provider Wagestream, a partner of Retail Trust and the fundraising appeal,  has found that nearly half (45%) of all UK workers have been worried about their financial health over the past year and over 40% say their mental health has suffered because of financial concerns.

Former supervisor Kristina Bavera received financial aid and counselling from the Retail Trust after Paul Smith placed her on furlough. Bavera later lost her job with the fashion retailer and struggled with depression amid her job search.

“I was eventually accepted to join a teaching agency as a one-to-one teaching assistant, and have now started a one-year teacher training course, but the worries of not working have never left me,” she said.

“I am at a point where I do not know what to expect next and I try not to look forward to things as they have not gone well in the past year.”

Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, said: “Retail is one of the industries hit hardest by the pandemic, with thousands of people losing their jobs and many more facing financial, physical and emotional pressures, and this has driven a huge rise in requests for the Retail Trust’s help. Recent shortages of HGV drivers and other workers has only gone to show how much we rely on the people who keep our shops and services running and we’re now expecting demand for our services to increase even further in the run up to Christmas as retailers are forced to deal with ongoing uncertainty surrounding staffing and stock levels, alongside the end of the furlough scheme.

“As a charity, we’re focused on protecting the hope, health and happiness of everyone in retail, but the support we provide simply isn’t possible without the donations the Trust receives and the wider support of the retail sector. Together, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create the kind of industry that places the health of its people at the centre of how we operate, and leave a legacy for the next generation of retailers that ensures our sector and its people thrive.”

Visit www.retailtrust.org.uk/appeal to sign up the Retail Trust’s #fourretail fundraising challenge. 

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