LTC plans off-shoot organisation for younger members

A young members' off-shoot of the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) was proposed at the organisation's national conference on Wednesday.

Alastair Eadie, chairman of the Licensed Trade Charities Trust said: "Perhaps a good idea would be to form a special off-shoot of the LTC aimed at the young in companies."

Delegates at the Grand Hotel in Torquay raised the point that the LTC has historically encountered resistance from pubcos to releasing young staff to take part in the charity's events.

Mr Eadie said that it was crucial to combat this attitude. He told the conference: "The companies from whom you want support - if you can convince them what you are doing really adds value for their staff and organisation, you are off to a good start… You have got to show that you have moved with the times and shaken off past problems."

During his address, Godfrey Page, chairman of the Guild of Master Victuallers aimed a barb at licensing authorities for regional inconsistencies in the way councils have interpreted the new licensing regulations. "The new legislation has now been in force for some 11 months but there is still confusion and some councils and police forces have come out with very different interpretations. On occasions I have been amazed at the interpretations put forward."

The smoking ban also came under fire from Mr Page. He predicted that 'more pubs will fail' once the ban comes into place and said "it is clear that we are not going to overturn the new law and we can only try to get some concessions."

Colin Wheeler, chief executive of the LTC, said the charity was targeting an increase of 80 per cent in its fundraising income over the next five years.