Operator News
UK – Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos join Jabs Army
By Phil - 20 January 2021
The Rank Group is joining Jabs Army, a nationwide call to arms from The Sun newspaper to support the all-important Covid-19 vaccination roll out.
Jabs Army calls for volunteers to join the over 50,000 people needed to assist with vaccines in crucial steward roles, committing to only two six-hour shifts per month at their nearest vaccination hub.
As an integral part of many local communities, the team at Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos want to do their part to support the process of protecting the UK against Covid-19 and get the nation back on its feet. Each business is appealing to its workforce of team members across the country, with almost 4,000 at Grosvenor Casinos and over 2,000 at Mecca Bingo, as well as over 500 support staff, to sign up as a volunteer, and has offered a number of their venues’ car parks as vaccination sites.
John O’Reilly, Chief Executive of the Rank Group Plc, said: “Jabs Army is a brilliant collaboration with The Sun and something we’re very proud to be a part of.
With over 6,000 Rank Group staff nationwide, we often find ourselves at the heart of our communities. Our venues and teams offer a familiarity that lend themselves ideally to being used for the vaccine roll out – a friendly face awaits at our Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos sites.”
In addition to the Jabs Army initiative, Mecca and Grosvenor have delivered charity initiatives to support local people and give back to their communities.
Mecca’s Everyone Deserves a Christmas campaign saw customers raise £185,000 for families in need, while the team has also provided £50 food and gift hampers, community kitchen activities supporting local charities, as well as education hampers for local families and free meals for Blue Light Card holders.
The team at Grosvenor Casinos have also rallied together throughout the pandemic to help feed local communities who need it most. Its Home Delivery Service is delivered at select venues across the country, partnering with local charities to cook and deliver thousands of free meals for key workers and local families. Individual venues have also organised a series of fitness and exercise challenges such as the Grosvenor to Grosvenor Charity Challenge encouraging the team to walk, run or cycle the 672 mile distance between its Aberdeen and Plymouth venues to keep active and raise money for Carers Trust during lockdown.
