£90,000 raised to help tackle loneliness

A charity to help solve the challenges of loneliness has been given a £90,000 boost thanks to a glittering gala ball hosted by Heineken UK.

The brewer held the ball at the stunning Monastery in Manchester to celebrate its new charity partnership with Marmalade Trust, one of the UK’s leading loneliness awareness charities.

The night saw fundraising reach a peak of £90,000 to kickstart the partnership with Heineken colleagues, licensees and customers all chipping in to help raise money for the charity.

The ball was the climax of three months of focused fundraising from Heineken, with colleagues across the country raising money in a number of different ways - from tracking physical activity, to pub quizzes, bake sales, cycling challenges and more.

The new partnership will see them working together on initiatives to raise awareness of loneliness within Heineken and the wider hospitality industry, including the introduction of loneliness awareness training, which the company plans to also offer to staff in its Star Pubs and Bars estate.

James Crampton, corporate affairs director for Heineken UK said: “By their very nature, local pubs can be like a home from home, an incredibly important place for people to make social connections. For some, that half a pint a week on a Thursday night in their local might be their only meaningful social connection. Pubs are at the heart of communities. They are places where we meet family and friends, make new connections, laugh, share problems, and build bonds.

“The money raised for the Marmalade Trust will help them continue their purpose of raising awareness of loneliness and how it can affect every one of us, and putting in place ways to help people.”

Hatty Goodwin, Chair of Trustees for Marmalade Trust said: “The generosity of our friends and partners at Heineken UK has been incredible, after just three months they have raised over £90,000 to support Marmalade Trust! Culminating in a magical charity ball, truly celebrating bringing people together and the joy of community. The funds raised will make a huge impact helping us to empower those experiencing chronic loneliness to find new social connection and to raise awareness of loneliness on a national level.”