UK hospitality industry charity Hospitality Action has launched an emergency appeal to support workers affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, as a growing raft of restaurants shut their doors.
Hospitality Action, which supports hospitality staff including chefs, waiters, sommeliers and bartenders, has launched an appeal after the “unprecedented crisis” that is the coronavirus outbreak “puts many thousands of livelihoods at immediate risk”.
It said it would use the money raised to support workers who faced job losses, reduced hours, pay cuts and restaurant closures.
The statement reads: “We urgently need to build a significant fund to enable us to make a one-off award to eligible workers suddenly facing hardship.
“To be effective in meeting the anticipated demand we need to secure funds before we can open the scheme for grant applicants so we urgently need the industry to mobilise. We won’t be able to help everybody who applies, but with your support we will reach as many people as the fund allows.
“Please give whatever you can today and leave a note in description that it is for the Covid-19 Hospitality fund.”
A number of chefs have already lent their support to the campaign including Tom Brown, James Cochran, Jason Atherton, Paul Ainsworth, Tom Kerridge, Ellis Barrie and Simon Rimmer.
If you would like to donate to the appeal, please follow the link here.
The appeal follows the closure of considerable numbers of restaurants across the country, as the government urges the public to stay away from eateries, pubs and bars.
These include Jason Atherton’s Social Company restaurants; Angela Hartnett’s Murano restaurants; Oklava; Monica Galetti’s Mere; Galvin Brothers’ Galvin La Chapelle and Galvin HOP; and sites owned by JKS Restaurants including Flor, Lyle’s and Sabor.
Outside of London, closures include Daniel Clifford’s Midsummer House; Rick Stein’s restaurants in Winchester, Sandbanks, Marlborough and Barnes; and Tom Kitchin’s Kitchin Group restaurants in Scotland.
