St Austell Brewery presented a £5,000 cheque to the Licensed Trade Charity at its annual Estate Awards which will go towards helping Cornish pub, bar and brewery workers who need support.

The awards dinner was attended by over 250 people and provided an opportunity to reward managers and licensees for their efforts in the past year, as well as make the charity donation. The cheque was received by the charity’s representative Liz Hore who is also a St Austell Brewery licensee at Salcombe’s Victoria Inn.

In Cornwall alone last year, 19 people benefited from the support of the Licensed Trade Charity, receiving £15,500 of grants to secure somewhere to live, pay essential bills at a time when income was low, and cover funeral costs.

St Austell Brewery’s property director Adam Luck, said: “The Licensed Trade Charity is close to our hearts and is so vital. We all know that these are not easy times for pubs and it is not hard to envisage how someone can find themselves very quickly in difficult circumstances. This is where the Licensed Trade Charity comes into its own, providing crucial help, advice and funding to help get people back on their feet."

The donation was raised as part of the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust’s efforts, with proceeds coming from across the brewery’s 178-strong estate through a variety of events across the year with generous donations from staff, publicans and customers.

Through its website and free helpline, the Licensed Trade Charity provides advice and assistance on debt, housing, health and relationships, plus financial support and retraining grants. For further information on the Licensed Trade Charity’s work, visit licensedtradecharity.org.uk.