DJS Research proud to support MRBA as cost of living crisis bites

10th November 2022 11:00

As the cost of living crisis continues to affect every area of life, the Market Research Benevolent Association has never been in greater need. We are proud that DJS Research is able to continue its support of the MRBA, as a Corporate Patron, to help support those in our industry who need it most.

The Market Research Benevolent Association

This year the MRBA marks its 45^th year helping people who work, or have worked in market research, but who require help of some kind. Mostly that need comes about through illness or accident, sometimes redundancy or lack of work, or simply not having enough money to cover an emergency or necessary expense. It can mean paying someone’s rent or other essential bills such as council tax or debts that they have no hope of repaying; helping with costs to fix a leaking roof or buying a new washing machine, or sometimes for re-training where there is no hope of employment in research. And in areas where the MRBA cannot directly help, they will pay for things like counselling or therapy and in some instances for treatment.

To date the MRBA has helped nearly 1,500 people working in market research who were in need. The help provided varies, but can range from a few hundred pounds to sometimes, several thousand, where the MRBA feels that such expenditure can make a real difference to someone’s life.

Ian Brace, Chairman of the MRBA said:

"Now, in autumn 2022, with inflation hitting and rising fuel bills starting to arrive, the MRBA expects to see an increase in requests for help from those people who may have been coping up to now but are beginning to struggle and have to choose between buying food and paying bills. All of this costs, and the MRBA spends in the region of £50,000 per annum helping people.

"That is why we are so very grateful to DJS Research, a valued Corporate Patron of the MRBA, together with other leading market research companies, without whose support and regular financial input we would not be able to continue our work helping our colleagues in need."

Funding also supports MRBA Skills, an initiative set up five years’ ago which offers bursaries to people who want to study for the MRS’ Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research, but who cannot afford the fees, and their employer, if they have one, cannot offer them the support.

The MRBA has given dozens of young people a hand in progressing their careers in this way.