The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, is reaching out to companies with employees whose welfare is affected by the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) to direct them to the charity for support.

The charity can provide financial assistance to workers with a grant that can cover costs including essential household items or bills, property repairs, disabled and medical equipment and general financial hardship.

Dids Macdonald OBE, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “For over 100 years our charity has supported the industry and now more than ever we want colleagues working in the trade, from shop staff, production workers, designers, designer-makers, interior designers, sales staff and everyone in between, to know that we are ready to help them and it is easy to apply.

“Our One Step at a Time welfare campaign has built an industry community of One Step Champions, to say that we are here if a curve ball strikes. No one could have foreseen the scale of the current challenges and therefore we need to be united in our collective effort to help.”

More information about welfare grants is available at www.furnituremakers.org.uk/welfare. Alternatively, contact Sue Dean, welfare officer, on [email protected].