The Rank Group And Carers Trust Hit £4m Fundraising Milestone To Support Carers

The Rank Group Plc (‘Rank’) and Carers Trust are delighted to announce their partnership has now raised an incredible £4m to support unpaid carers.

This major milestone has been reached thanks to the dedicated fundraising of both the team and customers of Rank, including Mecca Bingo, Grosvenor Casinos, digital and support offices since the partnership began in 2014.

The money has been used to provide over 14,418 unpaid carers with support from Carers Trust’s UK wide network of over 130 local carer organisations. These vital organisations provide unpaid carers with support and much-needed respite breaks.

Money raised from the partnership is also funding grants for carers to buy essential household items like fridges and washing machines, as well as the chance to develop new skills.

Research shows carers – people who look after friends or family with an illness, disability or addictions – are more likely to live in poverty than the wider population. Alongside the high cost of living, that means many essential household items can be unaffordable for them without some financial help.

One person who made use of a grant was Evelyn, 47, from Leeds. She is a carer for her 12-year-old daughter who has an autoimmune disease which affects her muscles and joints, alongside sclerosis and arthritis.

This huge responsibility takes up all of Evelyn’s time and the worry over her daughter can be very stressful, causing her insomnia among other challenges. So when she had the added stress of having to move out of her rented flat into a new property that had no fridge-freezer, cooker or other important items, the Rank grant was vital.

Evelyn, who secured the grant through local carer organisation Carers Leeds, said:
“I had to prioritise the cooker because I have to prepare food for my family. Without it I just couldn’t look after my daughter. The grant was so important to me.

“There were so many things I needed to buy when we moved because there was nothing inside and all the money we had went on furnishing the house. If not for the grant, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to look after my family. The grant came at just the right time, it has helped us so much.”

Rank’s money for carers has been raised through a host of activities including sports challenges, donations, payroll giving and venue fundraising.

As they enter into the partnership’s 12th year, they already have team members taking part in the London Marathon, the Big Half and the Great North Run, with many other big challenges planned.

They are also going to be entering into new ways of working with Carers Trust which will include volunteering opportunities for the team to help boost carer employability.

Rank’s partnership with Carers Trust was recognised in the European Casino Awards as they were crowned winners of the Corporate Community Engagement Awards in both 2023 and 2024.

Carers Trust’s CEO, Kirsty McHugh, said :
“Raising £4m for carers is a huge achievement by Rank’s staff and customers. That money has been a lifeline for thousands of people up and down the country who work so hard to look after friends and family. With the rising cost of living and increasing numbers of us becoming carers, that support is needed now more than ever. We’re delighted and very grateful to Rank for being such a steadfast supporter of our work to transform carers’ lives.”

John O’Reilly, CEO of Rank Group, said:
“Raising £4m for Carers Trust is an incredible milestone, and one that simply would not have been possible without the generosity of our colleagues and customers who have contributed over the past 11 years.

“Supporting our community is central to Rank’s core value of responsibility, and with this in mind, we are now exploring how we can further build on our partnership with Carers Trust, including initiatives like skills-based training and work placements for carers who are looking to get back into work.

“I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has played a role in this partnership. Your support for carers across the UK makes a really big difference.”