The helping hand of the Newstrade

Newspapers, once printed, are bundled and dispatched in giant loads to the wholesaler and leave the printers in articulated lorries travelling nationwide to wholesalers.

David was a driver working nights, taking papers to wholesalers when he suffered a heart attack. Fortunately he survived but is now unable to work and has a family to support.

NewstrAid helped David support his wife and disabled son by providing regular benefit and pay for occasional extras when required.

Publishers, via their circulation departments, will be issuing their magazines and periodicals with thousands of variants in numbers and frequency of copies. These are sent to the wholesalers using distributors to allocate them.

Alan and his wife Janet were both employed at a distributors and retired after many years of service. Alan ploughed his savings into a business which unfortunately failed leaving enormous debts.

NewstrAid help by topping up their pension and paid a few outstanding utility bills to get them back on their feet.

At the wholesalers, the newspapers are divided into smaller numbers ready to take to their final destination. The magazines and supplements are also divided into smaller customer numbers and distributed together with newspapers.

The newspapers and magazines are on their final journey to the retail outlets; from the biggest to the smallest independent retailer; the supermarkets, petrol stations, newsagents, rail & bus stations, street vendors etc.

Jim and Mavis were news retailers for over 30 years and saw many changes in the industry, some good, some bad. Jim lives with his daughter since he was no longer able to continue caring for his wife at home so Mavis is now living in a residential care home. Jim feels they have little to show for their 48 years of married life but is grateful for the support that NewstrAid gave to both he and Mavis individually, giving each some financial independence.

Newsagents represent 50% of our beneficiaries. Business once flourished and news retailers did well but deregulation leading to supermarkets selliing papers as well as a frightening increase in crime has deeply affected this industry.

NewstrAid can support qualifying newsagents once their trading has ceased.

Street vendors represent 10% of our beneficiaries. A harsh working life followed by a very low-budget retirement. Without private pensions, their limited incomes struggle to cope with spiralling rents and utilities.

NewstrAid can lift them out of poverty, returning their dignity to them.