Business | Talking Point


Director of services, the Printing Charity


struggling, and the wider economic environment continues to be challenging.


Against this backdrop, this year we saw the balance tip,


and we are now providing financial assistance to more people of working age than of pension age. Mind’s Big Mental Health Report found that 60% of people in the UK said the cost of living was hurting their wellbeing; and in the same report, found that public knowledge of some aspects of mental health have fallen back to 2009 levels. This evidences something of a perfect storm for


everyone in the UK, including those working in print. The number of businesses whose employees are supported by our helpline rose 21% in nine months this year, and the feedback we receive bears out the continued need for our services.


One beneficiary recently told us: “Because of the


charity, I feel I have friends looking out for me”, while a recent helpline user commented: “Without a doubt, contacting the Printing Charity was the right thing for me to do. It’s played a big part in me being able to get into a much better and more resilient place.”


If an individual is struggling, whether that’s financially or emotionally, what help does the charity provide them? Our range of services covers practical, emotional and financial support designed to help people overcome challenges they may face within their everyday lives. As I mentioned before, financial difficulties and poor mental health so often go hand in hand, and our full range of services are available to anyone who approaches us needing support, whatever shape that support may need to take. Our free, confidential employee helpline is available


for everyone working in our industry. It offers 24/7/365 in-the-moment emotional support from BACP-accredited counsellors; plus practical information and advice, covering a huge range of topics including money, debt, housing, childcare, bereavement and challenges at work, from information specialists between 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. One helpline caller used the helpline for legal information, and told us that it was ‘extremely helpful’.


Our financial support is available for people facing hardship, who may be struggling with essential day-to-day expenditure, as well as one-off grants for those who find themselves hit with a significant, unexpected cost. We’ve supported people to buy crucial white goods and household goods, and funded home repairs and provided help at times of bereavement. We also signpost those in need to partner organisations


who provide specialist services, including for debt management, wellbeing, benefits, housing, energy prices and implications of the cost of living crisis. We run two affordable Almshouse developments in Basildon and Bletchley that are especially for those of reduced financial means who are retired from a career in print. And, while this isn’t for people struggling, we’re also really proud to help our industry’s phenomenal emerging talent shine through our annual awards programme, the Rising Star Awards, the largest dedicated awards programme for young people in our sector. This year we helped 61 people access the training and development they needed to develop and grow, professionally and personally.


And finally, could you tell our readers a little bit about your background and what made you want to take on a new challenge and work for the Printing Charity? I have worked in the charity sector for the last 15 years, predominantly in the military charity sector including the Royal British Legion, and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, where I was responsible for the wellbeing and community welfare programmes. I have held a variety of roles over the years from


welfare casework through to designing and delivering new services. I worked with the RAF Benevolent Fund as it celebrated its 100th anniversary and helped deliver a significant expansion of its wellbeing and welfare services. To that end, there are a lot of parallels with the Printing Charity today.


As the Printing Charity approaches its own milestone


anniversary in 2027, the organisation is keen to scale up its wellbeing and welfare services. I love a new challenge, and the opportunity to join and support the cause was too good to pass up.


www.imagereportsmag.co.uk | 13


WHAT I


FIND MOST ENJOYABLE IS SEEING THE IMMEDIATE DIFFERENCE OUR SUPPORT CAN MAKE, AND HEARING FIRST-HAND FROM PEOPLE WE HAVE


HELPED, ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE


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