<p>The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is appealing to the construction industry to help the charity respond to increased demand during the coronavirus crisis.</p><p><span>The charity, which provides emotional and financial assistance to the construction community and their families, has launched a crisis appeal with the organisation seeing calls to its Construction Industry Helpline increase more than 25% a week because of the pandemic, it said.</span><br/></p><p><span>The organisation has asked the industry to donate to its Construction Workers Family Crisis Fund. And, whether companies can donate or not, it has requested the sector “spread the word” about its </span><a href="https://www.constructionindustryhelpline.com/about-us.html">24/7 Construction Industry Helpline</a> <span>and </span><a href="https://www.constructionindustryhelpline.com/our-app.html">app.</a></p><p></p><p><span>It said that many of the calls to its helpline were from self-employed tradesmen, agency staff or workers on zero-hour contracts. “Others were already struggling to deal with life threatening illnesses and injuries and need even more support during these unprecedented times,” it said.</span><br/></p><p><span>The charity relies upon event income to fund its helpline, but the pandemic has “decimated” its national and regional events.</span><br/></p><p><span>Bill Hill, the charity’s ceo, said: “I know that this is a difficult time for everyone, but I hope that we can count on your generosity to make sure that our construction workers and their families …