GroceryAid – Did you know?
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Published 27 Oct 2020 in Colleagues
Did you know that GroceryAid is the national charity that helps colleagues across Midcounties? As your colleague Employee Assistance Programme, today we would like to share a few ways in which you can be supported.
This month, they launched their 2019/20 Impact Report, which captures achievements over the year. GroceryAid has been providing emotional, practical and financial support for grocery colleagues since 1857, working in partnership with hundreds of supporters across the trade.
In 2019/20 alone, they assisted over 17,000 colleagues from manufacturers, convenience stores, wholesalers, supermarkets, distribution, sales and support functions. 73% of whom were of working age. In turn, distributing £4.25m in financial assistance and helping 3,183 colleagues providing emotional and practical support across a broad range of topics.
With the helpline, last year 13,871 colleagues contacted the 24/7 Helpline. This is a 12% increase in colleagues needing practical and emotional support across a broad range of topics.
The emotional, practical and financial help that GroceryAid offers makes a real difference and is available to both colleagues working for Midcounties today as well as those who have retired.
People experience difficulties in many ways and the charity has developed services to provide;
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Free confidential advice – via Helpline
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Crisis support
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Longer-term financial assistance
GroceryAid Impact Report
This year, for the first time in a digital format, it’s hosted on their website and details how they are helping grocery colleagues in so many fantastic ways.

Click here to read the full report
Supporting someone with Mental Health
Don’t forget if you are supporting someone with mental health issues you can access resources as guidance for yourself, click here to read more.
Managers Guide see here.
Grocery feeds the Nation

In March 2020 we all faced an unprecedented challenge.
Grocery key workers rose to the challenge, collectively feeding the nation.
GroceryAid asked colleagues from around the country (including ours) to film their lives during the Covid-19 crisis. From their homes, their cars and in their shops. Here are their stories in the video created by GroceryAid, click here to watch.
“Everybody in the trade has done a fantastic job in keeping Britain fed. As you will see in the video; farmers, producers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers have all played a part. Thank you for a brilliant, brilliant job. Take care everybody, stay safe and thank you.” GroceryAid President, Charles Wilson
Colleague Self-Help Guides– GroceryAid

GroceryAid have created a number of self-help colleague guides in which you can find out more information on the following topics. To see all of the guides click here.
- Covid-19: Resilience
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What is resilience
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Which factors contribute to resilience
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How to develop and use strategies for enhancing your resilience
Click here to find out more.
- Covid-19: Keeping Well
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What is COVID-19
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What is the latest government guidance
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What is social distancing
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How to keep well and look after your wellbeing
Click here to find out more.
- Covid-19: Bereavement, Grief and Loss
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What bereavement is
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What grief feels like
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The grieving process
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How to develop and use strategies for managing grief, loss and bereavement
Click here to find out more.
- Debt Management
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It is built as a seven-step plan. You can follow this plan in one go, or you could return to it to take it step-by-step.
Click here to find out more.
Need further support?
For any further support please use the following information:
Your helpline and contact website:
08088 021 122 - www.groceryaid.org.uk
