The Printing Charity has announced two new initiatives aimed at helping more people in the printing, graphic arts and publishing industries.

Revealed at an event at the House of Lords hosted by Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde, the UK institution will invest ￡1m throughout 2012 and 2013 in working with social enterprise partners by providing grants to organisations and charities, and by other means.

In addition, The Printing Charity is to help people who have been made redundant from its key sectors, and has begun talks with possible partners regarding the provision of assistance packages.

"These two initiatives have a common purpose – to help individuals and their families, to help people of all ages and to help more people throughout the UK," comments Stephen Gilbert, chief executive of The Printing Charity.

The charity’s president Murdoch MacLennan adds: "These are difficult times for our industry in all its different forms. And – in the teeth of a bitter and prolonged recession – it's a tough time for many families, too. We need to make sure that the work of the charity is made known across the industry."