GroceryAid has supported more than 19,000 grocery workers and their families over the past year, as demand grows for financial, emotional and practical assistance across the industry.
The charity’s 2025/26 Impact Report reveals that 19,200 people accessed its welfare services during the year, following a major brand refresh and an increased investment in awareness activity.
Just nine months after unveiling the most significant refresh in its 169-year history, GroceryAid says more colleagues are finding and using the support available to them. Financial grant applications rose by 15% year on year during the campaign period, while visits to the welfare section of its website increased by 12% during its first awareness campaign.
During the past year, GroceryAid:
- Provided financial grants to 8,162 colleagues
- Supported 4,210 people through the GroceryAid Helpline
- Funded specialist support for 1,421 people through trusted partners
- Helped 4,576 people access further welfare support through its website
The rise in demand comes as households across the UK continue to contend with the cost of living, rising housing costs and growing mental wellbeing pressures.
GroceryAid’s latest research found that more than half of grocery workers, 53%, have experienced unexpected difficult times during the past 18 months. However, the report also highlights a continued reluctance among some colleagues to seek support, with nearly one in three people who need help saying that fear of judgement stops them from reaching out.
Financial pressure remains one of the leading reasons grocery colleagues seek assistance. Over the past year, the charity awarded 8,395 grants to 8,162 workers, representing a 3% increase on the previous year.
Its grants are designed to support colleagues through a range of circumstances. Financial Relief Grants are available when the unexpected happens, while Cost of Living Grants can help with rent and household bills. School Essentials Grants support families facing the cost of a new school year, while Carers Gateway Grants provide assistance to those with caring responsibilities.
Alongside financial help, GroceryAid continues to offer emotional support for people facing some of life’s toughest moments. More than 4,200 colleagues accessed the GroceryAid Helpline during the year, resulting in over 11,000 support sessions covering anxiety, complex mental health issues, stress, bereavement and relationship challenges.
In 2025, the charity launched a High Intensity Counselling service, providing specialist cognitive behavioural therapy for people experiencing moderate mental health conditions. The service contributed to an 84% increase in structured counselling sessions.
GroceryAid’s partnership with Relate also continued to provide relationship support, with 243 grocery workers and their families receiving 1,449 counselling sessions over the year.
Kieran Hemsworth, chief executive of GroceryAid, said: “The results in this year’s Impact Report show our strategy is delivering real outcomes. By investing in raising awareness of GroceryAid and the support we provide, more grocery colleagues are finding us and accessing help when they need it most. Seeing more people come forward is exactly what we set out to achieve.
“The report also reminds us that many colleagues continue to face challenges created by wider economic and societal pressures, while too many still feel unable to ask for help. That’s why raising awareness and tackling the stigma around seeking support remain such important priorities.”
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Looking ahead, GroceryAid plans to continue investing in awareness while strengthening its fundraising programme through new supporters, diversified income streams, event participation, donations and strategic partnerships.
Hemsworth added: “As more colleagues access our services, continued fundraising will be essential to ensure we can provide the help grocery workers have earned whenever they need it. We’re incredibly grateful to our colleagues, trustees, volunteers, partners and supporters whose commitment makes that possible.”
The full GroceryAid 2025/26 Impact Report is available on the charity’s website.
