10 Oct World Mental Health Day and National Work Life Week

Today is World Mental Health Day. On the 10th October each year, the World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day and this year’s theme is ‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority.’

World Mental Health Day is a great opportunity to talk about mental health issues, to offer a platform for others to talk about their mental health and to focus on ways we can improve mental health and wellbeing for those around us, in our communities and in our workplaces.

Today also marks the start of National Work Life Week – Working Families’ annual campaign to open the dialogue for employers and employees about wellbeing at work and work-life balance. This year’s campaign focuses on increasing access to flexible working and ‘finding the flex in every role’ so important with the current cost-of-living crisis faced by many families.

At WWA, we understand the value of achieving a rewarding work-life balance and the positive impact good wellbeing and health, both physical and mental, has on our staff. CIPD highlights the benefits of supporting staff, stating, “Research on the psychological contract shows that people want to work for employers with good employment practices. They also want to feel valued at work. To be competitive, organisations need everyone who works for them to make their best contribution.”

Our greatest asset is the WWA team, ensuing we look after our staff is a top priority for us – two people working in construction in the UK die by suicide every day – the measures we implement can help to reduce the impact of mental health concerns on the people we work with.

The WWA Team is committed to using ‘business as a force for good’ and was the first chartered surveyors in the world to be certified as a B Corporation in 2020.  

B Corps are companies that are committed to using business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy and meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance.

Our business ambitions align with our B Corp status and drive the approach we take in improving what we do for People, Places and Planet, with the triple-bottom-line focus of Environmental, Social and Financial aspects in all that we do.  

The WWA B Corp Working Group has implemented a number of initiatives designed to support the health and wellbeing of our staff. These include: 

• Community-based Volunteering – including using our partnership with Surfers Against Sewage ‘Ocean Network’ as a basis for office beach, river and canal cleans. 
• Organisation of cross-business social and healthy activities to support team morale and individual wellbeing. 
• Launch of the WWA Hybrid working Model and trialling of 9-day fortnight. 

Through flexible working, assuring employees are able to work more autonomously, an open culture and encouraging breaks and good health, we provide the working conditions to promote positive wellbeing in our teams. In addition, we have several staff who are trained as Mental Health First Aiders and staff have free access to an accredited and qualified counsellor. 

To learn more about our people and culture visit Careers – Ward Williams Associates (wwa.uk.com)

Find out about WWA’s B Corp journey here Ward Williams Associates – Are Now a Certified B Corp (wwa.uk.com)

For more information about B Corps visit https://bcorporation.uk/ 

Visit https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/world-mental-health-day to discover more about World Mental Health Day and https://workingfamilies.org.uk/nationalworklifeweek/ for more info about the National Work Life Week.