Creating an Active Black Country - a strategy to unite the Black Country to create active, healthier people and places - read more

Skip to main content

100 organisations sign the This is Me pledge

Search:
Filter by month:
09/10/2019
100 organisations sign the This is Me pledge

A pioneering campaign to improve mental health in the workplace has taken off in the West Midlands with 100 organisations signing the This is Me pledge in just 10 months.

Nationally, more than 700 businesses and service providers have taken up the initiative since its launch four years ago and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) signed up and began promoting it across the region in January.

WMCA portfolio holder for wellbeing and leader of Warwickshire County Council Councillor Izzi Seccombe, described the take up as “extremely encouraging”.

She added:

To have 100 pledges signed in less than a year demonstrates how business and service provider leaders in the West Midlands really do care about their workforce and understand that mental health issues can and do affect so many people, and that to be able to talk openly in the workplace helps the healing process and reduces the stigma. A workforce that pulls together and supports each other is a recipe for a successful business.”

Birmingham-based theatre in education company Loudmouth becomes the 100th business to sign up to This Is Me in the week in which World Mental Health Day is marked tomorrow (October 10).

Its director Eleanor Vale said:

We are really excited to sign up to the campaign. At Loudmouth, we run theatre in education sessions in schools to help raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health and so are excited to look at how we can use the This Is Me resources and ideas to look at the same issues with our own workforce.”

The campaign, developed by Barclays, takes a three-pronged approach. Employees can share their experiences through videos and blogs, to normalise the conversation about mental health in the workplace. They are encouraged to wear a green ribbon as a sign of support to colleagues who may be struggling and a Wellbeing in the City e-learning programme, devised by the Samaritans, equips staff with the skills to manage their own mental health as well as support others before they reach crisis point.

Other high-profile organisations that have signed up to the campaign, which is also supported by Mind, City Mental Health Alliance and Business Healthy, include Network Rail, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Big Lottery Fund.

To find out more and sign up to This is Me West Midlands, please visit wmca.org.uk/thisisme or email thisisme@wmca.org.uk.

Latest news from Active Black Country

View all news
21/03/2024
School water safety scheme gets £200,000 Commonwealth Games legacy funding
School water safety scheme gets £200,000 Commonwealth Games legacy funding
Read more about this article
26/02/2024
VACANCY: Sport Welfare Lead
Active Black Country are seeking suitable candidates for the vacant position of Sport Welfare Lead
Read more about this article
15/02/2024
Active Black Country Partnership Update
An update from Active Black Country on changes to our board and executive team
Read more about this article

INSIGHT HUB

Timely data and learnings in relation to physical activity and sport in the Black Country and the added value we can offer.

Read more about the Insight Hub

ACTIVATION ACADEMY

Resources and training material to support the Black Country sport & physical activity workforce

Read more

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive monthly updates