This September, ESS are running a charity golf day to raise money for construction mental health charity the Lighthouse Club. In this blog we take a look at why these funds are so important and how you can take part in this exciting fundraising event.

What does the day involve?

On Thursday 16^th September, we’ll be hosting our charity golf day from Breadsall Priory Country Club. This Championship golf course offers 18-holes on top-quality golfing greens from the picturesque Derbyshire countryside.

Throughout the day, competitors will have the chance to win a range of incredible prizes. This includes the chance to win 2 VIP tickets to this year’s British Open by getting a hole-in-one. As this event is fully sold out, it’s an incredible prize for anyone who gets a hole-in-one on any of the courses. There will also be additional prizes throughout the day, with challenges including ‘Beat the Pro’, ‘Nearest the Pin’ and ‘Longest Drive.’

But that’s not all! Those who enter will also get a breakfast and a full 3 course meal from the club’s excellent kitchen. Additional refreshments will be provided throughout the day. All in all, it is set to be an amazing day out no matter what golfing skill level you are, with the added bonus of raising money for a fantastic cause.

What do proceeds go towards?

All the proceeds from this day will go towards the Lighthouse Club. They are a brilliant charity that provides emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to construction workers and their families. Since 1956, they have been providing invaluable support to construction workers who are going through hard times, offering a 24/7 helpline for those in need.

One of their main focuses is improving mental health support to the industry. Construction workers are one of the most affected by mental health issues, with male construction workers are 3 times more likely to commit suicide than the average man in the UK. The Lighthouse Club have worked tirelessly to promote awareness of mental health problems and offer support to those in the industry and their families.

Laura McDonald from the charity says that their work is incredibly important, but needs funding to continue delivering to those who need their help most:

“Every working day we lose two construction workers in the UK and Ireland to suicide. The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is the only charity 100% dedicated to the welfare and wellbeing of the construction workforce and their families in the UK and Ireland. Our vision is that no construction worker or their family should be alone in a crisis. 

Last year we supported over 2400 families in crisis, managed over £1.2m of support services and trained over 2700 on wellbeing life skills. We are hugely grateful for the generosity of our industry that go to extraordinary lengths to raise the funds that ensure we can keep all our services FREE and accessible to our workforce.”

How to book

The price of the day is £500 per team of 4. None of this profit will go to us, it will all go directly to the Lighthouse Club and funding their fantastic work. If you’re interested, you can call our team on 0115 8970 529 or email [email protected].

What is mental health?

Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. Just as everyone has physical health, we all have mental health that we need to take care of. Having good mental health is key to functioning to the best of our ability. Poor mental health can be devastating for our lives, impacting our relationships, ability to work and even causing us to become ill.

Why is mental health so bad in construction?

Statistics show that construction workers are particularly at risk of suffering from poor mental health, with recent research findings that suicide rates in construction workers is continuing to rise. There are many potential causes of this including the physical demands of the job, stressful working environments, unstable jobs or poor working conditions.

While the conversation around mental health in the workplace is becoming more open, more work clearly needs to be done. This is why the work of the Lighthouse Club is so important to provide help and support around mental health in the construction industry.

What are mental health strategies?

Now more than ever, it’s important that you are looking after your mental health in the same way you do your physical health. Even the smallest measures can benefit your mental health immeasurably. This in turn can help you improve your working, social and family life.

Strategies for improving mental health include:

• Discussing your feelings with other and asking others for help if you need it
• Eating a healthy and balanced diet
• Getting regular exercise
• Taking breaks from work and ensuring you have plenty of downtime
• Getting a good nights sleep

To find a useful guide full of mental health quotes, tips and resources, check out our blog ‘Tips and Tools to Help You Manage Your Mental Health’.

What is mental health first aid?

One of the best ways for your workplace to improve the way it supports workers mental health is by having a mental health first aider. Mental health first aiders will be the first port of call for those suffering mental health issues at work, offer relevant guidance, support and resources to help improve their situation.

To become a mental health first aider, workers need to have completed training such as our Mental Health First Aid course. This will train learners in how they can support those suffering from poor mental health at work, including how to identify when colleagues are struggling, developing listening skills and becoming more aware of the services available. Find out more about mental health first aid by reading our blog ‘Time to Talk: Why Mental Health First Aid is Vital in Any Workplace’.

Health and safety in construction

In addition to mental health support, Lighthouse Club offer vital support to those who have sustained physical injuries while working in construction. Not only can these injuries cause serious medical problems for those who sustain them, it can also prevent them from working, causing significant financial problems for them and their families.

The risks involved in construction mean it is vital that workers have completed the appropriate training to protect themselves and colleagues in the workplace. ESS deliver a wide range of health and safety courses for the construction industry and beyond. To browse our complete list of courses, NVQs and apprenticeships, head over to our online course index. You can also speak to our team directly on 0115 8970 529 or email us at [email protected].