The workers on-site at the Sunderland Gigaplant are an integral part of its success. Nothing is more important than looking after the wellbeing of the workers on site, and it’s important for them to be able to take time out to reflect not just on their physical health, but also their emotional wellbeing and feel like they are able to reach out to someone if they feel that they need help. To assist with that we were proud to recently welcome members of the Lighthouse Club to the site.
Many individuals in the construction industry suffer from stress or anxiety issues – shockingly, the latest findings from the Office for National Statistics show that suicide rates within the construction industry have continued to rise to a staggering 507 in their latest report, nearly four times that of the national industry average. So, it's crucial to ensure individuals working in the sector have access to as many resources as possible to support both their physical and mental health.
As a Company Supporter of the Lighthouse Club and recruitment partner to SES and Wates, NRL were delighted to facilitate this stop on the Lighthouse Club's North East tour so they could deliver advice about these important topics to workers on-site.
The Lighthouse Club is a member-led charity that works with over 6,000 people in construction each year. They provide advice about the emotional, physical and financial support services available to construction workers and aim to improve the wellbeing and mental health of people working on construction sites by providing guidance and resources, as well as offering first-hand advice from their members who have had their own experiences dealing with mental health struggles.
A major part of the charity's #MakeItVisible campaign, the tour sees the Lighthouse Club travelling across the country to share resources and conduct one-to-one sessions with workers on various projects, to demonstrate how important it is for us all - whether we're in construction or not - to talk openly about mental health issues such as depression or anxiety in order to make them less taboo topics within society at large.
At the Sunderland Gigaplant, this was achieved through an informal presentation followed by an opportunity for participants to visit the charity’s stand where they could speak directly with members of the Lighthouse Club coming from various backgrounds who have suffered from mental health issues themselves. Conversations continued throughout the day around what individuals can do to support their own wellbeing in and outside of work hours, as well as highlighting the importance of listening to others and showing an open attitude towards the subject.
We were delighted to hear feedback from those that attended the Lighthouse Club’s visit and found it to be an incredibly valuable experience. We’re proud to continue our commitment to supporting our workers and driving change in the industry.
The Lighthouse Club Construction Charity offer a free and confidential 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline, so if you would like to find out more about how the team could help you or if you’re just looking for someone you can open up to, please contact the Lighthouse Club:
UK – 0345 605 1956 (or email HARDHAT to 85258)
ROI – 1800 939 122 (or email HARDHAT to 50808)
Finally, if you’re looking to recruit for a major project and are keen to work with a supplier that will not only find you the talent you need to bring it to life but also make sure that those individuals are well looked after and able to perform to the best of their ability, please get in touch with our team for a chat on 0191 415 3300.