Hospitality Action offers emergency grants for workers

Hospitality Action has launched a one-off emergency Covid-19 grant scheme of £250 per household to support eligible hospitality workers experiencing financial issues due to coronavirus.

Applications to receive the grant can be submitted on Hospitality Action's website - which also provides a 24/7 helpline - and aims to reach as many people as the fund allows.

To be eligible workers must be currently working within the UK hospitality industry or have worked in the industry within the last month and have savings of less than £1,000 per person or £2,000 per couple.

As this is an emergency grant, Hospitality Action has waived the standard criteria for applications, so even if workers have applied for grants in the last two years, they are still eligible to apply.

Applications which meet the criteria will be processed on a "first come first served basis" and grants will be paid the next working day, after being approved.

The grant is eligible to both employees and those who are self-employed – for example chefs and owners of independent hospitality business – as well as those who work on a casual or freelance basis.

Demand for the grant is already high and it is anticipated that funds will quickly run out so workers are urged to apply with all relevant supporting documents as soon as possible.

Hospitality Action was established in 1837 and offers vital assistance to people who work or have worked in the UK hospitality industry.