Carney Consultancy is sponsoring a series of mental health talks for construction students at colleges across the North East, following the positive impact of an earlier session at East Durham College.
The talks will be delivered by Sam Warner and Ray Elliott through NE1’s Mental Health CIC, a North East-based charity they established to use their own experiences of mental health to support others.
Sam and Ray deliver talks, coaching, training and wellbeing support, encouraging more open conversations about mental health. The college sessions break down stigma and help students feel more confident discussing their wellbeing and seeking support when needed.
The programme visited Hartlepool College of Further Education on 3 November, it was led by Ray Elliott and formed part of a Working Well Together event promoting health, safety and wellbeing across the construction industry. This will be followed by sessions at Darlington College and Middlesbrough College on 2 December, with final sessions at Bishop Auckland College and Tyne Metropolitan College on 3 December.
Having seen at first-hand the positive impact of the initial talk at East Durham College, Angela Carney, managing director of Carney Consultancy, was keen to help bring the same opportunity to more construction students.
Carney Consultancy is a North East-based health, safety, environmental and quality consultancy and training provider specialising in the construction and engineering sectors. Established in 2002, the company works with businesses to improve safety standards, meet legal responsibilities and protect their workforce.
Angela’s commitment to mental health awareness is informed by her own experiences of anxiety, depression and burnout. She is a Neuro-Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner and coach and has also trained in the Three Principles approach to coaching, which focuses on understanding how our thoughts shape our experiences and emotional wellbeing. Currently, she is studying the Emotional Freedom Technique and is on course to qualify by the end of November.
Angela, said: “Mental health is a really important issue in construction and we need to make it something people feel comfortable talking about, just as they would a physical injury. Starting these conversations while students are still at college can help them build a positive approach to mental wellbeing that stays with them throughout their careers.
“Having seen the impact of last year’s session at East Durham College, I wanted to help bring these conversations to more construction students. When people share their own experiences, it can help others open up and realise they’re not alone. Sam and Ray have a really relatable way of talking about mental health and I hope the talks encourage students to speak openly, support one another and seek help when they need it.”
Building on the college talks, Angela is helping to bring NE1 BUILT FOR LIFE, a 12-session life-skills and wellbeing programme developed by Sam Warner and Ray Elliott, into colleges. The programme is designed to complement students’ technical education, helping young people develop the practical skills and confidence to manage pressure, build healthy relationships, make informed decisions and prepare for the realities of adult life and working in the construction industry.
As well as delivering talks through NE1 Mental Health CIC, Sam and Ray have supported mental health awareness across the construction industry through the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity’s Make It Visible initiative, delivering talks to thousands of tradespeople and apprentices across the UK and Ireland. The Lighthouse Charity provides emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to construction workers and their families, while Make It Visible encourages open conversations about mental health and helps break down stigma across the industry.