PEOPLE who have fallen on hard times after working in the licensed trade are being encouraged to apply for one-off grants as part of a charity’s ‘Glass Half Full’ campaign.

Over the years, the Scottish Licensed Trade Benevolent Society has helped a number of people across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire with everything from household goods to financial support for travel expenses.

The Glass Half Full campaign is targeting current and former members of the licensed trade who have fallen on hard times through illness, unemployment or other factors and would benefit from financial aid for reasons both big and small.

To be eligible for support, applicants must have worked in the licensed trade, including bars, pubs, restaurants, hotels, wholesalers and packaging, production and distribution firms, for at least three years on a full-time basis. The three years do not need to be consecutive.

As well as encouraging potential beneficiaries to get in touch, the Glass Half Full campaign aims to engage members of the licensed trade, and general public, to help spread the word.

Chris Gardner, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Benevolent Society, hopes it will enable the charity to support more people than ever before.

She said: “We know there are people out there who are eligible for support but just don’t know it, so we want to let them know we are here to help, whether that’s emotionally or financially through our regular discretionary payments or one-off grants.

“Anyone can require assistance at any time of their life and, as our records show, this could be anything from tiding you over for a lost wallet to helping with essential payments such as rent or mortgage that allow our beneficiaries to keep a roof over their head.

“We understand there can be apprehension and embarrassment caused by seeking financial support but would assure anyone considering contacting us that the application process is completely confidential and any arrangements are managed with the utmost discretion. Every beneficiary is treated individually and we would encourage anyone in the license trade looking for support to get in touch as we are here to help.”

To find out more about the support available, visit www.bensoc.org.uk or call 0141 353 3596.