LTC receives £6,000 donation from Licensees Unite

Licensees Unite, the organisation previously known as NALHM, has donated £6000 to the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC).

As the new union opens their membership to licensees, personal licence holders and club and restaurant managers, the donation acknowledges the ongoing support that the LTC provides to those in sector facing challenging times.

In January alone, the LTC saw a 73% increase in the number of applications for short-term assistance compared to the same period last year.

This equates to 38 applications versus 22 in 2007.

The LTC offers two types of financial support, regular and short term; the short term assistance is often there to help people in extreme circumstances or to help them get back on their feet.

The range of this type of support includes a licensee whose continued ill health prevented him from attending to his business resulting in an employee embezzling money and now, insolvency proceedings are pending.

In addition to his financial concerns, he suffered a heart attack caused by the death of his terminally ill partner.

He has now moved into sheltered accommodation where he is entitled to Incapacity benefit and Housing and Council Tax benefit.

The LTC awarded him funding to help him furnish his home with essential goods.

Brian Revell, national organiser for Licensees Unite said; "Our organisation aims to unite licensees and what better to way to pledge our support by donating money to the Licensed Trade Charity, an organisation which helps those who work in our business." ​

"The LTC is a lifeline for many people in the industry who have no one or no where else to turn, which is why we as an organisation see it crucial to support them and we are more than happy to do so. We gave financial assistance to the LTC last year and will endeavour to continue this in the future."

Liz Gaffer, director of marketing and charity services said; "We are delighted that Licensees Unite in their new guise have continued to help us financially." ​

"The £6000 will go towards welfare provision and assisting those who call on the charity in times of need. The first few months of the year are usually the busiest in terms of helping people, but this year there's definitely been an increase."

"The money donated to us will help assist more people throughout 2008."