INDUSTRYNEWS
Covid-19 Crisis Appeal Launched
» LIGHTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION
Industry Charity is launching a crisis appeal
so that they can respond to the needs of our
workforce as a result of Covid-19.
In an industry where two workers take their
own life every single working day and where
stress, depression and anxiety account for a
fifth of all work related illness, we are already
seeing a devastating impact on the people
that keep our infrastructure going, build our
energy plants, our homes and places of work.
The charity relies heavily on event income
to fund their 24/7 Helpline, but the current
Covid-19 pandemic has decimated their
national and regional events. So, at a time
when the construction community needs their
support the most, they simply don’t have the
resources to be able to respond in the face of
this ever-increasing cry for help.
Bill Hill, CEO of the Charity said, “As a
result of the Coronavirus pandemic the calls
to our Construction Industry Helpline are
currently increasing by over 25% a week.
Many of the calls received are from self-
employed tradesmen, agency staff or workers
on zero-hour contracts who cope from week
to week. They are often only one or two
paydays away from poverty. They need our
help to feed their families and to pay their
bills for heating and lighting. Whether you’re
in a position to donate or not, we are here for
you. Our 24/7 helpline and app will enable
anyone that needs help to access emergency
financial support and mental health and
wellbeing information and guidance.”
The charity also pledged that not one penny
of the crisis fund will be diverted to charity
overheads and that every penny donated will
reach the people that really need it. This is
a difficult time for everyone, but the charity
hopes that they can count on the industry’s
generosity to make sure that none of our
construction workers and their families are left
alone in a crisis.
FREE ONLINE
WELLBEING
WORKSHOPS
ANNOUNCED
» CALLS TO THE UK’S ‘CONSTRUCTION
Industry Helpline’ increased 25% at the
beginning of April; reflecting the rising levels
of anxiety and insecurity within construction,
installation industries and similar sectors. To
help offer support and wellbeing during these
worrying times a series of free online lunchtime
workshops have been announced.
Although the construction industry is rising to
the challenge of creating a healthier workplace,
finding the right support is not always easy and is
currently more important than ever before.
From mindfulness and meditation to
resilience and controlling stress, anyone can
take part in these bite-sized online sessions as
long as they have access to an email address
and access to the internet, whether via
smartphone, tablet or laptop. For full details
visit https://www.coins-global.com/blog/
online-wellbeing-workshops-free/bp521/
Sessions, which last for 45 minutes, will run
weekly starting from Thursday 16 April - each
starting at 12 noon:
• Thurs 16 April / Top Tips for Resilience
• Fri 24 April / Build a Work Life Balance
• Mon 27 April / How to Meditate
• Tues 5 May / How to Handle Stress
• Wed 13 May / Mindfulness for You
The ‘Wellbeing workshops’ are the result of
a new collaboration between UK’s Lighthouse
Construction Industry Charity and leading
construction software firm Construction
Industry Solutions (COINS).
COINS, with over 35 years of developing
software solutions for construction companies,
is also passionate about giving something
back to the industry. Its CEO, Robert Brown,
adds:
“The Lighthouse Club has been providing
immensely valuable services to support
construction workers and their families for
many years. We are delighted once again to
have the opportunity to collaborate with
them in the delivery of a series of invaluable
webinars which will provide construction
workers with vital health and wellbeing skills
during these most difficult and challenging
times.”
‘invaluable webinars which
will provide construction
workers with vital health
and wellbeing skills’
Another vital source of information,
advice and guidance is The Lighthouse Club’s
‘Construction Industry Helpline’ (Tel 0345
505 1956 or mobile app for Android and
iOS) which helps people experiencing stress,
anxiety or depression as well as providing
access to other areas of support such as anger
management, drug and alcohol dependency,
debt management, legal advice, and
emergency financial aid.
For full details visit www.coins-global.com/
blog/online-wellbeing-workshops-free/bp521/
C L E A RV I E W-U K . C O M » M AY 2020 » 15