Greene King pledges £1m to Macmillan Emergency Grants appeal

The first £1m raised this year by the business will go towards helping people living with cancer with day-to-day expenses in a bid to support them during the cost-of-living crisis.

Greene King’s pledge is the latest part of its drive to support those struggling financially amid ongoing rising bills.

The business also highlighted a number of ways in which it has been supporting team members. This has included an increased team member discount up to 50% in all Greene King pubs throughout January while in-pub team members were provided with free meals up to the v value of £10.

Greene King also has its Team Member Support Fund, which offers one-off grants up to £5,000 and is managed independently by the Licensed Trade Charity o behalf of the pub group.

It also gave staff three free streams on money management app Wagestream in a bid to aid financial strain.

Business initiatives

Furthermore, the business has invested in several national-wide schemes across a variety of its brands, which aim to help customers battle the cost-of-living crisis.

This included Hungry Horse collecting 10,000 unwanted toys for more than 100 charities as part of its annual Toy Boxing Day initiative.

Several Greene King Local Pubs gave away free drinks to customers who brought a neighbour into their local pub in a bid to reforge connections within local neighbourhoods and encourage community spirit.

At the Farmhouse Inns sites, children can eat for £1 when customers sign up for the brand’s newsletter.

Macmillan has been Greene King’s charity partner since 2012, with fundraising efforts ongoing across the pub company’s 1,600 venues.

The charity’s Emergency Grants Appear helps provide those living with cancer access to practical financial assistance, helping them pay necessary expenses such as fuel to get to hospital appointments or support with food and heating bills to aid recovery after operations.

According to Macmillan, 83% of people living with cancer in the UK – about 2.5m people – experience some form of financial impact from their diagnosis and for those affected, this reaches an average of £891 a month.

Recent research by the charity also found cost pressures had led to at least 20,000 cancer patients (6%) delaying or cancelling travel to medical appointments related to their cancer diagnosis.

Latest support

Greene King CEO Nick Mackenzie said: “The cost-of-living crisis is something that affects everyone in different ways so it is vital the support we offer to team members, customers and communities is as varied as possible so people can find a scheme that is right for their own personal situation.

“As a long-term partner to Macmillan, we are pleased to be pledging the first £1m of funds raised in 2023 to the Emergency Grants Appeal.

“The funds are just the latest in the cost-of-living crisis support we are providing to both customers and team members throughout 2023 and beyond.”

Macmillan Cancer Support executive director of fundraising, marketing and innovation Claire Rowney outlined the difference the funds will make.

She said: “We are hearing day in, day out that many people living with cancer are extremely worried about money because of the devastating financial pressure of their diagnosis and the increasing cost of living.

“The Greene King pledge to donate £1m to the Macmillan Emergency Grants Appeal will make a practical difference to thousands of people living with cancer in the UK by providing them with a rapid payment to meet their immediate needs and release some of the intense pressure on their lives.

“People living with cancer need to live, not just survive and with the support of our wonderful partners like Greene King, we will continue to do all we can to support those who need us during this challenging time.”