Hospo staff pour beers for a change

Hospitality staff in bars across Auckland are working for free and donating their wages to worthy causes.

Shifts for Change is a charity started by bar manager Poni Sula in July last year. So far 32 hospitality staff have raised more than $5000 for 11 charities.

Mr Sula has worked in the hospitality industry for two decades, and has managed Auckland icons such as Monsoon Poon and Orleans Restaurant.

Shifts for Change involves bartenders donating their time to a participating venue, and working for free while their wages go directly to charity.

Suppliers also participate by giving free stock to sell on the night, the proceeds from which are also donated.

Mr Sula believes Shifts for Change is a vehicle for the industry to give back to communities which support it, and to mitigate some of the harmful effects alcohol can have.

“Because of the way the industry is, with alcohol having adverse effects, we knew we needed a way to give something back.”

Mr Sula said businesses were able to write off their charitable donations for tax deduction, so lost nothing through participating.

“While most bars and restaurants may be hesitant at the start, once they realise that there's nothing but benefits all around, they immediately ask how they can do another one.”

Mr Sula said engagement from the hospitality community had been strong, with venues such as Racket, Revelry, Mea Culpa and Rich Heart taking part.

Dan King, training and development manager for the Britomart Hospitality Group, which runs more than 15 venues in Auckland, has taken part in Shifts for Change twice.

“It’s a great concept and is a lot of fun. Plus it’s nice for the customer to know that their drinking is serving a worthy cause.”

Mr Sula has recently also hosted Shifts for Change events in Melbourne, and hopes it will eventually go worldwide.

Poni Sula. Photo: Finn Hogan