In such cases Caravan assists with an annual payment of £804, paid quarterly. This works out at £15.46 per week, which can more than double their disposable income.
When someone is eligible for our help one of our professionally trained welfare assessors will visit them in their home, and make a detailed assessment of their needs. Not only does the assessor look into their financial situation, he or she also checks that the applicant is in possession of all the essentials of modern day living. For example, we ensure that all our beneficiaries have safe fully functioning domestic appliances such as a washing machine, cooker, fridge, telephone and television. Other household equipment provided over the last year has also included microwave ovens and beds.
Beneficiaries with mobility difficulties can be provided with electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters, stairlifts and recliner chairs. And for particularly frail or vulnerable beneficiaries who live alone, we are able to provide Telephone Response Systems, which enable them to feel more confident in their own homes.
Emergency grants are also made available when necessary to help towards the cost of items such as walk-in showers, boilers, roof repairs, security items or double-glazing.
For those in the industry who have worked for some time but perhaps not quite long enough to qualify for our ongoing support, or who do not qualify within our financial parameters, we are sometimes able to provide one-off grants. These can make an enormous difference to many beneficiaries, particularly those who are householders and struggling to maintain their homes. These applications are judged on their own individual merit.
The Caravan in Action videos take a look at how we help our beneficiaries. A new video was released in Autumn 2011 - and can be seen below:
The Caravan Welfare Helpline is also available to everyone who is working, or has worked, in the industry. The helpline focuses on personal welfare problems arising at work, as well as at home. It is open to all who work in the grocery industry, from the factory to the shop floor, ranging from independent stores to multinationals.
