The Printing Charity has stepped up the roll-out of its practical and emotional support helpline to SMEs.
In response to the unprecedented financial and emotional impact of the Coronavirus outbreak, the charity is extending its free, confidential helpline service with a particular focus on UK SMEs in the sector, enabling them to give their staff access to the type of employee assistance bigger organisations can provide.
The helpline offers in the moment counselling from counsellors accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy as well as guidance from information specialists. The free service covers a range of areas from dealing with debt and housing issues to addiction and stress.
‘We had planned to introduce our helpline through a phased roll-out to SMEs over a longer period, but since this pandemic began, we have changed our plans to make it available to more businesses in our sector,’ said cheif executive Neil Lovell.
‘We’re keen to hear from UK business owners and managers who want to provide staff with emotional and practical support through our free and confidential helpline. We need their help to make their employees aware of what it offers, whether their staff are on site or on furlough. The helpline is available to an employee’s immediate family members, too.
‘In these times of great uncertainty and change we know many people are feeling overwhelmed so access to practical and emotional support is vitally important, not just for today’s challenges but for what is coming next.’
