Wiltshire Council uses funding to help improve workplace wellbeing

Wiltshire Council has awarded £160,950 to four providers to help support employees struggling with their mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

The project, which is funded via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) as part of the programme's Sustaining Work element, will run until 31st March 2025.

Grants have been awarded to Help Counselling, Wiltshire Mind, Open Mind Training and Consultancy, and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to provide preventative methods and early interventions to support mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

This will ultimately support people's ability to sustain working lives, reduce sickness levels caused by poor mental health, and promote positive well-being in the workplace.

Each provider will deliver its own bespoke programme, but all will be aimed at businesses in Wiltshire. The focus will be on small and micro businesses that may not have the internal infrastructure, such as an HR department or an occupational health team, to support staff in this way.

The support will target employees in routine and manual roles that are often hard to reach, for people aged 16-25, and for rural businesses.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “These days we are all more aware of our mental health and wellbeing, especially in the workplace, which is why we want people to know that there is always support available to those who are struggling.

“This funding will provide local firms with the knowledge and practical tools they need to help improve their mental wellbeing, and I hope local businesses take advantage of these programmes on offer, to better the health of their employees.

“It’s a key priority in our Business Plan to help residents to prioritise and optimise their health and mental wellbeing, and this is just one of the initiatives that we’re implementing to make this a reality.”

Help Counselling will deliver a programme named Thriving at Work: The Workplaces Counselling Programme, which offers one-to-one counselling for people who are in employment and struggling with mental health issues. People will be offered up to eight sessions free of charge and this can either be delivered face to face or online.

Wiltshire Mind will be using preventative methods, early interventions, and one-to-one counselling for people with mental health needs. Planned preventative methods on offer include accredited training courses in Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Champion training.

Similarly, Open Minds Training and Consultancy will deliver both preventive methods and early interventions including Mental Health Awareness Training and Mental Health First Aid training. Businesses will also be offered access to a library of digital support films, covering a variety of common mental health issues. The videos can be used as an additional tool for trained Mental Health First Aiders to support individuals within the business they work.

The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust will be delivering a programme named Wild Workplaces, which focuses on both preventative methods and early interventions. Their preventive methods include open engagement sessions to get people talking about mental health in the workplace, identifying the benefits of businesses investing in mental health support systems, and just generally raising awareness around the topic. Businesses will also be offered training in Mental Health First Aid, allowing employees to support their colleagues who may be struggling with their mental health.

Any businesses that are interested in receiving any of the above support should contact the provider directly.

For more information on mental health and wellbeing, people can visit: https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/1407/Mental-health-and-wellbeing