The Printing Charity extends its reach and impact

Print Solutions

The Printing Charity’s chairman, Jon Wright, announced at its 192nd Annual General Meeting on 21 May at St Bride Foundation, London, that the charity helped 1737 people in 2018, an increase of 34% on the previous year.

Reporting on the charity’s positive year in growing its reach and impact in its welfare and education work, Jon said 832 people were helped through its education initiatives, including 91 Print Futures Awards winners; and 197 people facing redundancy in 13 companies received practical back to work support.

In his round-up of the charity’s activities, Neil Lovell, The Printing Charity’s chief executive, gave an update on improvements to the charity’s two sheltered home schemes for people who have retired from the sector and extending the annual Print Futures Awards programme.

He also shared the positive results from its latest survey asking beneficiaries receiving regular financial support what the charity’s help means to them. There was an 81% response rate, with 94% saying that the charity offers a good level of service; 87% feel happier about the future; 62% are able to go out more; and 90% now worry less about buying food, while 87% worry less about switching on their electricity and heating.

This year’s guest speaker was Lauren Powell, a 2018 Print Futures Award winner and trainee account executive at Adare SEC, the Integrated Communications Provider, which she joined on a three year customer service apprenticeship. She spoke engagingly about why she chose an apprenticeship, enjoying hers so much that she completed it in just 12 months. Learning in a real life environment has opened up opportunities she might not have had if she had followed a different career path.

Jon Wright and Steve Sibbald were re-elected at the AGM as The Printing Charity’s chairman and deputy chairman respectively.