Reminder of GroceryAid Support on Offer to AFB Colleagues

January 07, 2021

As the UK embarks on another challenging year, A.F. Blakemore wants to remind all colleagues across the group that they are eligible for support from GroceryAid.

GroceryAid is a national charity that supports colleagues working across all areas of the grocery industry, including in stores, wholesale, distribution, sales and support functions.

All colleagues across the A.F. Blakemore group can access a range of free welfare support services offered via the organisation’s 24/7 helpline and website. This includes financial assistance, Covid-19 advice and support, emotional support, health and wellbeing support, relationship advice, debt advice and counselling.

This brief animation explains: 

All of the support available is detailed in full at:

www.groceryaid.org.uk/get-help/

Here’s a brief overview of some of the key financial and emotional support on offer:

Financial Assistance

One-off Grants

GroceryAid offers non-repayable one-off grants, designed to help those experiencing an unexpected em­­­­ergency, a change in circumstances or a sudden gap in income. Click here to find out more.

Covid -19 Fund

The £1.5 million GroceryAid Covid-19 fund has been established to provide enhanced support for colleagues during this unprecedented period. The non-repayable grants are to help those suffering from a sudden change in their life, which could include a bereavement, poor living conditions, fleeing from domestic violence or a sudden gap in income due to the impact of Covid-19.

Debt Advice

GroceryAid partners with Stepchange, a debt charity, that can help you assess your financial situation and give advice and practical solutions to help you make a fresh start. Through their freephone Helpline, their CAB-trained telephone information specialists can carry out a full benefits check. They have also put together a useful ‘Find out More’ Guide about debt, which offers advice on getting help with debt, budgeting and saving money.

Relationship and Emotional Support

The Covid-19 outbreak has dramatically changed our lives, especially our relationships.

The GroceryAid Helpline offers in-the-moment emotional support for dealing with anxiety and stress through BACP-trained counsellors at the end of the telephone, 24/7 365 days a year, so there is always someone to talk to.

GroceryAid can provide up to six free sessions of relationship counselling and support to grocery colleagues past and present.

Also on hand to help is Woebot, an artificial intelligence counsellor available 24/7 via an app for iPhone or Android.

Woebot lets a user access in-the-moment emotional support 24/7 to track their mood, identify patterns and give insight into particular issues or concerns that the user may not have realised were causing emotional distress. Woebot can teach the user techniques and tools such as cognitive behavioural therapies or breathing exercises. Visit https://www.groceryaid.org.uk/get-help/woebot/ to download Woebot. 

Find Out More

• 24/7 GroceryAid Helpline: 08088 021 122
• Email: welfare@groceryaid.org.uk
• GroceryAid website: www.groceryaid.org.uk

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