A time when retail staff need more help

Christmas can often be a tale of two halves for people working in retail.

While friends and family are often winding down and enjoying the festivities, it can be a pressurising time for retail staff - long hours, peak trading times, harder targets and little time off. In many cases a holiday isn’t an option with Christmas trading running straight into the Sale.

Who do retail staff have to turn to when they need a listening ear? Retail Trust has been around for more than 178 Christmases and through our free, confidential and independent helpline we are uniquely placed to understand the pressures that working in retail can bring in the way no one else can.

More and more retailers told us this year that we are a necessity for their business and that is why this year we have forged more new partnerships with retailers who understand that their staff’s happiness is crucial for a successful business.

Retail Trust has continued to be the safety net for people in retail. We have had a 54% increase in contacts to the Retail Trust Helpline. We’ve given away more than £1m in grants and services, and there’s been a 72% increase in counselling sessions offered to staff in need.

In the past year alone we have changed many people’s lives for the better when they have had problems they don’t know how to deal with.

Meet Lisa and Tanya. Lisa works for a well known supermarket and often struggles to make ends meet. Her brother was diagnosed with cancer. Slowly Lisa’s brother deteriorated and sadly passed away but instead of being able to mourn for her brother, Lisa was worried about how to pay for his funeral.

Retail Trust covered the cost for her and, while things are still raw for Lisa, this Christmas time she says she’s eternally grateful for the help we gave her.

Tanya works for a department store as a buyer. She loves her job but for years she dreaded going home at night as her partner would regularly beat and rape her.

To make matters worse, he stole all of her savings and kicked her out. Tanya was homeless. She got in touch with Retail Trust and we moved her to a safe environment away from her abusive ex. Tanya is looking forward to her first Christmas in her new home.

So Christmas time isn’t always as straightforward as many might think for retail staff. In the new year we want to make an even greater impact by dealing with the issues that retail staff tell us about including bullying, debt and job security.

Help us to reach out to even more people in retail who need our help. Why not support us by booking one of the seven remaining tables for the Retail Trust London Ball on January 31 2011 (www.retailtrust.org.uk/londonball)?

Retail Trust Helpline 0808 801 0808

Nigel Rothband, chief executive, Retail Trust