Leading pub company, Punch Taverns, has donated £17,943 to the Licensed Trade Support and Care national Volunteer Visitor programme to cover the cost of 16 Volunteer Visitors across the country.
The Volunteer Visitor Programme supports their team of professional staff, who receive 1,500 calls every year from those working or retired from the trade. The Volunteers, who give all of their time without charge, visit those asking for assistance to see if and how the charity can help.
Punch’s donation will cover the training and travel costs of these volunteers, who between them give time equivalent to over £33,000 per year.
James Brewster, Chief Executive of the charity said: “These Volunteers make a real difference to us and the people in need. We could not do without them, and so the support from Punch means that we can use these costs instead for grants, to make a difference to those in a time of crisis”.
Calls to the Support & Care helpline and through their website continue to increase in 2010, with the charity now helping more people of working age, either through illness or financial difficulties.
Roger Whiteside, Managing Director at Punch Taverns said: “We know how important the work of our trade charity is at the moment, particularly the dedication and assistance provided by their Volunteer Visitors. We are proud to be able to help them continue with this worthwhile programme.”