Licensed Trade Charity attacks pubcos

Pub companies have been attacked by the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) for their "laughable" lack of support for its fundraising efforts.

Speaking at the LTC's annual conference in Harrogate on Wednesday, appeals committee chairwoman Maureen Batty said: "It [major pubcos' refusal to donate] has become laughable and in some cases immoral.

"We have played a great part in supporting their employees. We must tell them again and again the people we are helping are hard working licensees, often their own employees."

Scottish and Newcastle (S&N) has for a long time donated around £10,000 a year to the LTC. And a new deal with Punch Taverns whereby the pub giant will provide the LTC's volunteer programme with a £12,000 sponsorship package over the next year, was announced at the conference.

However, according to Batty, the vast majority of pubcos reject its appeals saying they would rather support employees through internal programmes, or have already allocated their budgets.

"We must tell them they have a moral responsibility to support these employees," she said. "If S&N can do it, then so can others."

The calls came as the LTC admitted a widening gulf between its outgoing expenditure in the form of grants and assistance and the amount coming in via donations.

Last year welfare grants increased by 17 per cent to £1,100,000 - while the level of income was £89,000 lower that in 2005.

Chairman Anita Adams said the gap had been filled by an 'increase in the value of our investments' and growing pupil numbers at the two schools run by the charity.

"We sold some of our rental properties during this period, which meant that the income from them fell by some £300,000," she said. "However, the value of our investments increased by £1,200.000."