Spring and Autumn Fair targets the wellbeing of retailers with retail trust charity and wellbeing partnership and announces female founders initiative.

Hyve Group is pleased to announce the Retail Trust as its Charity Partner for Spring and Autumn Fair for two years and Wellbeing Partner across all its Retail Shows in the UK comprising Spring Fair, Autumn Fair, Pure, Glee and Scoop, to provide dedicated support, awareness and fundraising for the retail sector.

The partnership will incorporate offsite volunteer days, team challenges, and onsite activity kicking off at Autumn Fair on the 5th – 8th September 2021 at NEC Birmingham. The partnership also sees the exciting launch of the Female Founders scheme that will offer free stands to 10 inspirational female founders.

Creating hope, health, and happiness for everyone in retail from 1832, the Retail Trust has been caring for, and protecting, the lives of people working in retail. Hyve Group plc’s UK Retail division has already supported the Retail Trust’s online wellbeing event ‘For the four’ in May, and in June employees volunteered to help get the Retail Trust’s new online eBay fundraising shop up and running: sorting donated clothes, taking pictures, writing descriptions, and getting images online. All the money the online sales make will go towards running the Retail Trust’s supported-living estates. The charity provides a much-needed safe haven and happy community where the over 55’s can thrive, maintain their health and retain their independence.

During the two-year charity partnership, Hyve Group will take part in fundraising activities to raise awareness and funds for the Retail Trust. A dedicated Wellbeing section will launch on each of the event websites for Spring and Autumn Fair, Glee, Pure and Scoop. This will feature informative and supportive articles alongside videos that support the wellbeing of retailers and wholesalers alike.

Alongside this, the Retail Trust will also be supporting the Spring Fair Female Founders initiative. Launching at Autumn Fair 2021, Female Founders initiative is an exciting program created to champion and celebrate inspiring female entrepreneurs.

The initiative will support the growth of female founded retail businesses by offering six businesses a free stand at Spring Fair 2021, followed by 12 months of business mentoring with leading female entrepreneurs. The scheme will be announced and launched at Autumn Fair in September.

Managing Director, Retail & Fashion at Hyve Group plc, Julie Driscoll says; “We are absolutely thrilled to announce the Retail Trust as our Charity & Wellbeing Partner. Over the next two years we look forward to raising much needed funds and awareness, especially after the incredibly challenging year the retail sector and especially the independents have experienced. Through our shows we are entrenched in the retail industry and fully understand the importance of listening to and understanding its needs, offering support and advice, health, and wellbeing initiatives, as well as celebrating entrepreneurship.”

A host of onsite wellbeing initiatives at Autumn Fair will be announced before the show but look set to include a Wellbeing lounge to allow attendees to escape the busy show floor and focus on their wellbeing, meditation sessions, and wellbeing content sessions providing information on the wellbeing services and training the Retail Trust offers as a charity.

Chief Executive of the Retail Trust, Chris Brook-Carter says: “The Retail Trust has been creating hope, health and happiness for everyone in retail for nearly 200 years, but our cause has never been more relevant. The financial aid we provide to help people stay in their homes, feed their families, or make essential hospital visits has doubled to more than £900,000 in the last year, and we’ve run nearly 8,000 counselling sessions.

“This support simply wouldn’t be possible without the donations the Trust receives and our valuable partnerships with organisations from across the retail industry. We’re really looking forward to joining forces with Hyve Group over the next two years as we work together to continue to raise awareness and provide vital help to those who need it.”

Find out more at https://www.autumnfair.com/wellness-hub