Randstad UK & Ireland, the HR and recruitment organisation, has announced that The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is to be one of its charity partners for 2023/4.
In 2022, the charity’s helpline supported 3,421 construction families in crisis. Since 1st January, the charity has supported 1,267 families with financial grants, provided 1,577 counselling sessions, and delivered 2,394 meals for families.
Randstad’s Construction and Property team places more than 20,000 people into a wide range of permanent and contractor roles within the construction industry across the UK and Ireland every year.
The Lighthouse Charity is the only charity dedicated to the emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support of construction workers and their families.
A crucial element of the charity’s strategy is to provide a wide range of free and widely available proactive resources to support the industry.
The charity offers a free and confidential 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline and text HARDHAT service which provides a range of information, guidance and support on a huge variety of wellbeing issues. These services are complemented by their free Self Support App which offers another route to support, along with their Lighthouse Beacons who provide a safe space for people to share concerns.
The charity’s Wellbeing Academy offers a variety of free soft skills and leadership training delivered across a variety of platforms to suit every learning style from self paced e-learning, tutor led online masterclasses and seminars, through to bespoke onsite training.
Victoria Short, CEO of Randstad UK & Ireland, said: “This is a worthwhile and necessary initiative and we are looking forward to supporting The Lighthouse Charity and its vision for a brighter future for construction workers and their families.
“We place in excess of 20,000 people into construction roles every year and hold our responsibilities of supporting those people in high regard. So, we will be continuing to help raise awareness of the charity and concerns around mental health and construction workers.
“Through our network of bases throughout the UK and Ireland, we will aim to shine a light on mental health issues faced within the construction industry and play an important role in reducing some of the hardship those in the sector experience. Every single working day in the UK, two construction workers take their own lives and stress, depression or anxiety accounts for 27% of work-related illnesses in construction. While the charity has developed training, ongoing support, a confidential helpline and text support service, to try and reduce those numbers, we all need to do our part in raising awareness, removing stigma and encouraging people in the industry to reach out for support.”
Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Charity said,”In 2022, more people than ever before reached out for our help and we supported 3,421 families through difficult and challenging times, an increase of 23% on the previous year. We can only achieve this with the help of organisations like Randstad. We could not operate without our incredible supporters — we receive no public funding and rely on support from within the industry to help us provide vital support services to our construction families in need. The support of Randstad’s Construction & Property team will contribute hugely to our work. Thank you, Randstad, for becoming part of our journey by donating to our charity. We are so grateful!”
In Randstad’s most recent report on mental health in the construction industry, more than a third of 3,400 construction workers polled by Randstad (34 per cent) reported experiencing a mental health condition within the previous year. Just under a quarter of construction workers (23 per cent) said they were considering leaving the industry in the next year as a result.
Victoria Short said: “With construction workers three times more likely to take their own lives than the wider population, it’s crucial we highlight this problem and encourage people to open up about mental health issues. We're honoured to help those in need of expert advice through our continued support of the Lighthouse Charity. It’s heartwarming to know that our contribution to the charity will assist the recovery of construction workers who have faced mental ill health.”
If you or anyone you know is struggling, reach out for 24/7 free and confidential support now; 24/7 Construction Industry Helplines; 0345 605 1956, (UK) 1800 939 122 (ROI); text HARDHAT to 85258 (UK) 50808 (ROI); or via the charity website.
If you would like to make a donation in support of the Lighthouse Club, you can do so via their fundraising page here.
