The Drinks Trust is the drinks industry community organisation. Since 1886, The Drinks Trust has provided care and support to the people who form the drinks industry workforce, both past and present. Today we provide educational, practical, emotional and financial support to those who are currently working, or have worked, in the UK drinks industry, and we are assisted by thousands of industry fundraisers and contributors. We are a charity run by drinks professionals for drinks professionals.
Over the years, especially since the Covid pandemic hit, we have expanded our services to meet the industry’s ever-evolving needs. Today, we offer a wide range of resources, including hardship grants, mentorship, guidance from licensed therapists, advice on mindful drinking, and more. Ultimately, we aim to provide comprehensive support: emotional, financial, practical, and vocational to meet the needs of our industry’s workforce; our community.
Restore – wellbeing services
The Drinks Trust’s Restore service strives to equip the people of the drinks industry with tools and resources for healthy living in both mind and body. Our 24/7 confidential helpline sits at the heart of our wellness services, allowing us to connect individuals seeking help with professional insight. Each call is answered by a qualified counsellor who can give in-the-moment guidance and referrals to additional forms of support, from further one-to-one counselling sessions to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), treatment for sleep and insomnia, and mindful drinking courses.
Assist – financial services
Financial hardship and debt pressure can impact every aspect of life, including mental health and family relationships. That’s why we offer financial assistance to trade members who have fallen on hard times. Our Assist services provide hardship grants to people meeting our financial criteria, helping with costs such as household bills, as well as funding purchases of food, home equipment, and more. Through The Drinks Trust Helpline, we are also able to connect those in need of financial advice with debt specialists.
Develop
With the drinks hospitality industry facing a significant lack of skilled staff in the wake of Brexit and the pandemic, building our industry’s workforce is more crucial than ever. The Develop programme will bring new talent to the trade while helping people out of long-term hardship. Officially launched in 2022, Develop offers individuals educational opportunities, resources, and bursaries to enter the industry or learn new skills to grow their careers. We work with carefully selected providers and brand partners to deliver a variety of training options, from generalist workshops covering skills such as CV writing, to specialist courses in bartending, brewing, distillation, and more.
The Drinks Community
The Drinks Community is the only dedicated digital platform for people in the drinks hospitality industry to network, share ideas, and upskill. Our free-to-join interactive space allows members to take part in industry-specific conversations, seek and provide mentorship, and tap into expert resources. Through the Drinks Community, we also run in-person events for professional development and networking, connecting the trade both online and off.
Equal Measures
The Drinks Trust is the official delivery partner of Equal Measures, an initiative focused on fostering greater equity in the drinks trade. Equal Measures provides education and mentorship for individuals from minority ethnicities and other marginalised backgrounds, giving participants the tools to build long-term careers in the industry. The initiative also empowers businesses to re-evaluate their internal practices and prioritise diversity and inclusion in their workplaces.
Contact us today to find out more about our services, become a partner, volunteer with us, and more.
Helpline: 0800 9154610