Mark Lewis, Chief Executive of Hospitality Action, shares some troubling statistics about mental health in our industry.
This year marks five years since Hospitality Action issued its first COVID-related grant, a moment that changed everything for us and for the people we support. It was the beginning of an overwhelming wave of need that has never truly subsided. In fact, 2025 has been our most challenging year yet, but our impact has never been greater.
Our latest Impact Report tells a deeply concerning story. Across the UK, hospitality workers are facing growing emotional and financial pressures. Soaring living costs, unstable employment, and declining mental health have pushed more people than ever to seek our help. In response, we’ve delivered more emergency support than in any previous year, often stepping in at the last moment to prevent homelessness and hardship.
Behind every statistic is a person, a family, a story. That’s why we’ve strengthened our partnerships with Shelter and PayPlan, ensuring those in crisis have fast access to expert housing and debt advice. And thanks to the generosity of the Savoy Educational Trust, we launched a dedicated income maximisation service. In just seven months, this initiative unlocked more than £194,000 in unclaimed benefits—lifeline funds that our beneficiaries simply couldn’t access without the right advice.
Our Employee Assistance Programme continues to be a vital source of support for nearly 200,000 hospitality staff. Calls rose by 25% in the past year, many fuelled by anxiety, stress, and financial insecurity. And for more than 2,000 older members of our community, our Golden Friends programme has provided comfort, connection, and care.
Our Taking the Temperature survey from 2024 shows that more than three quarters (76%) of workers have faced mental health challenges in their careers—an increase of 12% since 2020. These are more than just numbers; they’re a call to action.
Everything we do is made possible by our incredible supporters. Thanks to their generosity, they helped us award over £1 million in grants in 2024—more than in any previous year since the height of the pandemic. Continued support is not just appreciated, it’s essential.
To find out more about how you can get involved, visit hospitalityaction.org.uk.