As revealed at its recent Annual Members’ Conference and Awards, the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has nominated the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity as its charity partner for 2024.
The Lighthouse Charity’s mission is to reduce construction workforce suicides, improve industry welfare and wellbeing, and to make welfare and wellbeing support visible and accessible. It provides emotional, physical and financial support to those working in construction and their families across the UK and Ireland and has become a central provider for those who are either self-employed, agency staff or on zero hours contracts and have nowhere to turn in a crisis.
In 2022 the charity supported over 3,400 construction families in crisis through its helpline services and trained 3,850 workers in mental health first aid and other wellbeing education programmes. The organisation’s #MakeItVisible onsite tours have engaged thousands of site workers in discussions to start the conversation on wellbeing and ensure that anyone identified at immediate risk receives immediate counselling. In addition, its onsite support services also help workers experiencing the traumatic effects of major site incidents and fatalities.
Bill Hill of the Lighthouse Charity said: “We are delighted to be selected as the BMF’s charity partner. The Lighthouse Charity receives no public sector funding and relies on the generosity of the industry to help them help colleagues in need. You can be assured that every penny is well spent (and) the charity creates a Social Value of £9.12 for every £1 invested.”
BMF CEO John Newcomb added: “A report published in Mental Health Awareness Week earlier this year found that 73% of UK builders experience mental health problems such as anxiety or depression every month, and 92% said they did not feel comfortable discussing their mental health with others. The Lighthouse Charity provides vital support for those most at risk and we are looking forward to fund-raising with our members to help them continue their valuable work.”
The BMF’s Annual Members’ Conference and Awards (commonly known as Members’ Day) took place from 20-21 September at the Hilton Metropole at Birmingham’s NEC complex. Click here for more news from the event.
