How UK distilleries, merchants and auctioneers are supporting The Drinks Trust’s Covid-19 fund

UK breweries, distilleries and importers have pledged to support industry charity The Drinks Trust and help those affected by the country’s coronavirus lockdown.

Companies across the country have offered to provide financial support for the Drinks Trust’s emergency fund, which went live on 6 April. Running until 10 April, the fund provides financial relief for those who have lost their job as a result of the pandemic, whether that means they are on a zero hours contract, or they have been made redundant and subsequently not reinstated.

Fine wine merchant Armit Wines, autioneer Whisky.Auction, and Scotland’s Ian MacLeod Distillers are just a few of the UK businesses that have said they will hand a proportion of their sales to the Drinks Trust.

The charity has so far fundraised over £400,000 with the support of leading industry businesses. Successful applicants will be offered £250 grant to assist them with buying essentials.

Armit Wines said it will donate £10 to The Drinks Trust on every order placed for delivery through its website and via their Private Client team and throw in a free bottle of wine with their order.

In addition, Armit said it will donate £10 to The Drinks Trust for every trade order placed over £250.

Ian MacLeod Distillers, which makes Edinburgh Gin, has also given support to the charity, donating proceeds from every bottle it sells in its online store to the fund.

Whisky.Auction, meanwhile, is holding a dedicated online charity auction until 14 April to raise funds for the charity. A spokesperson for the website said an exclusive Karuizawa Omoiyari blended whisky has just gone live for its April auction, donated by Elixir Distillers. Co-founder Sukhinder Singh was part of a small group of whisky buyers who purchased the final casks from the Japanese Karuizawa distillery, which closed in 2001. Elixir Distillers archived a sample from every cask they bottled so that they could be revisited, and have devised this blend from whiskies distilled between 1963 and 1984, and 1972.

The bottle that is currently live on www.whisky.auction is one of six that have been created. The rest will be stored by Elixir Distillers until an occasion arises when selling another bottle could make a difference, the spokesperson said.

How The Drinks Trust is supporting workers

The Drinks Trust will support over 350 vulnerable beneficiaries, many of them retired drinks industry staff and in the ‘at-risk’ categories with severe critical illnesses and mental health concerns.

Ongoing grants currently total £30,000 a month, historically paid by industry donations. Not all the usual contributors are able to continue as they normally do, however, so the fund is crucial to keeping up with these payments.

Wellbeing services – There has been an increase in individuals contacting the Trust with anxiety and depression concerns and to help in tis regard the Trust is keen to expand its helpline services.

Financial Support – From 6 April, those who have lost their job as a result of the pandemic will be able to apply for a grant.

This initiative is targeted at the following two groups:

1.Those who have been made redundant and subsequently not been reinstated, meaning they are unable to benefit from the salary grant scheme set out by the Chancellor

2. Those on zero hours contracts who will receive only small levels of financial benefit from the salary support measures outlined by the Chancellor

Additionally, these individuals will have worked in one of the following establishments;

On-trade; bars, pubs and those who worked with drinks in restaurants and hotels, such as sommeliers and beverage managers

Off-trade; those who worked in alcohol retailing businesses

Distribution; those who worked in businesses supplying the above   

Qualifying individuals will be able to access a one-off financial grant of £250, payable directly into their bank account. The Drinks Trust will apply its expertise in assessing hardship and will prioritise individuals who have health conditions, and also those caring for dependents.

The Drinks Trust said: “We anticipate a high level of demand, therefore, the window for applications under this scheme is limited between Monday 6 April and Friday 10 April 2020.”

Visit https://www.drinkstrust.org.uk/cv19-fund for more information