More than 4,400 industry people sought help from the Lighthouse Construction Industry Helpline last year – up 30% on 2022 – in a year that saw the charity’s spend increase 12% to over £3,700.
Its charity caseworkers, through collaboration with other charitable organisations and ensuring that people accessed their statutory entitlements, leveraged £1,524,508 of financial support during the year.
One of the charity’s most successful interventions has been the MakeItVisible on site initiative. In 2023 the team visited 390 worksites and engaged with more than 25,000 site workers. The charity says these on-site visits are a crucial component of ensuring the message of support reaches some of our industry’s most vulnerable workers, including the trades and contractors. Last year alone, the on-site team made a life-changing and life-saving impact with 147 workers experiencing suicidal thoughts. Through simple conversations they were able to provide immediate support, implementing positive interventions and signposting to expert help.
Earlier in the year, the charity unveiled its MakeItVisible Wellbeing Portal, www.makeitvisible.info providing information, advice, and guidance, directing users through authentic video case studies to support pathways for all aspects of emotional, physical and financial wellbeing.
Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Charity said: “We are making a difference in the lives of those who reach out to us. The increase in families helped and charitable spend is encouraging.
I’m also encouraged to see the industry’s commitment to a culture of positive wellbeing and the support of the MakeItVisible campaign is testament to that. By joining forces, the industry is transforming work sites and creating a lasting impact on lives.
“As part of our charity’s ongoing efforts to diversify support pathways, we recently introduced a live online chat service offering immediate support from our helpline advisers. As well as providing help without the need for a telephone conversation, the service also offers a real time translation service which extends our support to those who may not have English as their first language.”
The charity’s Wellbeing Champion Support programme offers professional support to over 12.000 mental health first aiders in the industry. This ensures that those who bear the emotional weight of the workforce are supported in managing their own wellbeing as well as enhancing their ability to provide continued support to others.
In 2023 their Critical Response Service provided vital support at 50 locations for those affected by a serious or fatal on-site incident. A specialist team provide immediate support offering a ‘safe space’ for people to share their concerns and signpost to specialist trauma counsellors if necessary.
The charity’s Wellbeing Academy caters for the diverse learning styles and needs within the industry and is aimed at equipping workers with the soft skills they need to navigate today’s challenges. Recent additions have included new self paced e-learning courses along with Lighthouse Wellbeing Exclusives, such as their Suicide Awareness courses which were attended by 341 workers last year.
Construction Industry Helplines: 0345 605 1956, (UK) 1800 939 122 (ROI)
Live chat lighthouseclub.org constructionindustryhelpline.com makeitvisible.info
Text HARDHAT to 85258 (UK) 50808 (ROI)
