The charity launched last month and aims to help the homeless, ex-offenders and ex-service personnel launch careers in the hospitality industry. It aims to help 500 individuals find employment in the sector in its first year.
Now it has formed a relationship with two FinTech (financial technology) payment companies, AcceptCards and Hastee Pay, which intend to provide technology that makes financial activities easier.
OAPA founder and chief executive Greg Mangham said: “We’re delighted to partner with both Hastee Pay and AcceptCards and we are incredibly grateful for their support.
“As a new charity, we need as much assistance as possible to help get people back into employment and the generosity of both companies will make a real difference.”
Discounts and donations
AcceptCards, an independent payments brok
er, will provide a free card payments review for all leisure sector companies. It hopes companies will make significant savings and choose to donate to OAPA.
The company said it would provide the charity with a 20% of any income it receives from payment processing companies it recommends following the review.
AcceptCards chief executive Richard Bradley said: “In every case, we will be able to identify a saving in pricing or administration costs, or even both, so this is a great way of benefiting businesses in the leisure sector, while also providing valuable support to the vital work that Greg and his team are doing.”
Crucial mission
Hastee Pay makes it possible for employers to pay their staff immediately. It will offer a year’s worth of unlimited access to the service to every individual who finds employment through OAPA, for free. This will help to reduce the financial stress of individuals on the scheme as they begin their careers, it said.
The company will donate 50% of all proceeds from the operators and partners of OAPA who sign up to Hastee Pay before Christmas, for a period of three months.
Hastee Pay chief executive James Herbert said: “We’re incredibly proud to support OAPA in its crucial mission, helping the most vulnerable in society access their right to work and get back on their feet financially.
“Immediate access to earnings will be so empowering for those coming from difficult situations who simply want to earn a living but would otherwise struggle to reach their first payday.”