Wates pledges local mental health support
Wates pledges local mental health support
Wates currently building the new purpose-designed mental health hospital off Haxby Road in York, has launched a campaign to promote positive mental health as part of the project.
Forming a major part of the contractors community investment commitments, the mental health campaign will see Wates, and its two site-based Mental Health First Aiders, proactively support employees and supply chain to help improve the mental wellbeing of the industrys workforce.
The campaign launch closely follows the start of construction work on site last month, which will see Wates build a new 72-bed hospital on behalf of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.
Throughout the project Wates will deliver a comprehensive education and skills programme that will see the team collaborate with local residents, schools, colleges, universities and community groups, as well as colleagues from Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. This is an excellent opportunity to generate local interest, support local inclusion and to integrate the hospital into local community infrastructure, ensuring that it is not seen as a stand alone resource.
Wates will also work with Buildforce and RFEA, charities that support ex service personnel and provide training and employment opportunities to service leavers, veterans and reservists.
As part of its community investment strategy, Wates has appointed Graduate Trainee, David Elliott, as project-based Corporate Social Responsibility Champion, who led site activities on World Mental Health Day to raise awareness for and encourage positive mental health amongst the site team.
Once complete, the state-of-the-art facility in York will provide two adult, single sex wards and two older peoples wards one for people with dementia and one for people with mental health conditions such as psychosis, severe depression or anxiety.
Paul Dodsworth, Managing Director of Wates Construction North, commented:
Mental health is something that for the construction industry is rarely talked about. Im glad to say that this is changing but as with all change, its a gradual process and one that needs to be driven forward through innovation.
Understanding our clients vision for the new mental health hospital in York is imperative for our work here but with our mental health campaign we are taking this one step further and putting the promotion of positive mental health right at the heart of our community investment strategy.
Patrick Scott, Director of Operations for York and Selby, Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, commented;
This is an exciting opportunity to build a modern mental health inpatient hospital whilst engaging the public in mental health developments. Over 40 design workshops have been facilitated so far and the majority of these have seen high levels of involvement from service users and carers.
Working with a construction firm who is placing mental health awareness at the heart of their work is a great way of putting together our aspiration for high quality facilities with the need to create mental health awareness for all.
