New benevolent fund launches in support of HA
Since the start of 2020, Hospitality Action has spent over £3.5m on grant-giving and awarded more than 10,000 grants
A new benevolent fund providing unrestricted endowments to UK hospitality sector charity, Hospitality Action (HA), has been launched to support the charity’s work assisting hospitality people in difficult crises.
The Procter England Bancroft for Hospitality Action Fund has been established by COO of the Stafford Collection, Stuart Procter; American and UK philanthropist, Lenore England; and managing director of Northcote Craig Bancroft.
The fund will donate an initial £100,000 to HA, and Procter, England, and Bancroft will then advise on future donations to the charity.
The Stafford Collection’s two hotels and restaurants are regular supporters of HA.
Northcote’s annual Obsession chefs’ season has raised £345,000 for the charity since 2009; and The Stafford is a long-time supporter of HA’s ongoing fundraising efforts.
Meanwhile, Norma, the collection’s Sicilian restaurant in London’s Fitzrovia, has been a stockist of Invisible Chips since the fundraising campaign’s inception in 2020.
Since the start of 2020, Hospitality Action has spent over £3.5m on grant-giving and awarded more than 10,000 grants.
Its Employee Assistance Programme now supports some 190,000 hospitality professionals.
Mark Lewis, chief executive of HA, said: “We’re all lucky to be able to take basic requirements for granted: carpets on bare floorboards, a comfortable mattress, food in the fridge, a cooker that works.
“But for many families, these essentials are out of reach, and that’s where HA comes in. We rely on the generosity of our supporters, and none are more generous than Lenore, Stuart, and Craig. I’m humbled by their support of HA and thank them all for the extraordinary gift of this Fund.”
Procter added: “We have set up the fund to support those less fortunate than ourselves. Our goal is to involve our clients, who don’t always meet our superstars, along with hoteliers and restaurateurs who are yet to get involved. We can’t wait to get cracking.”
Bancroft concluded: “HA is a charity we have all had a long and beneficial relationship with over the years, and the announcement of the Fund is a true honour for me to be a part of.
“Lenore’s vision and willingness to start such a fund is truly generous and inspiring and we can only hope that such a pledge inspires others to do the same. I sincerely look forward to working alongside Stuart and Lenore in delivering the most effective form of assistance that HA requires to be truly effective in the future.”