STAH’s vocational education arm awarded funding for new work programme

St Andrew’s Healthcare’s (STAH) vocational education arm, Workbridge, has been awarded a £60,000 grant by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to support its efforts in helping people with mental ill health return to employment.

The funding, which is part of the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), will enable Workbridge to deliver a wellbeing support and essential skills programme aimed at boosting employability in the local community.

The announcement coincides with World Mental Health Day on 10 October, which this year highlights the importance of prioritising mental health in the workplace.

Workbridge will provide a five-week programme for individuals to develop life skills, build resilience, and increase confidence, with the ultimate goal of easing their transition back into work.

Jenny Lane, Workbridge education manager, said: ‘For more than 40 years, Workbridge has been providing a bridge for people to find work. We’ve found that very often people want to work, but there can be a number of barriers, which they need to overcome first before they can do that. But our new initiative is going to work with these people, to find out what those challenges are and, working together, we’re going to help tackle them.’

Participants will be supported by skilled tutors, with referrals made through the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Wellbeing Launchpad via social prescription. Self-referrals will also be accepted, provided they meet the programme’s criteria.

Dr Inga Stewart, consultant psychologist at STAH, said: ‘It’s great to see that support is being provided to get our job seekers, who have become ill with poor mental health, back into the work place. But, we all have a responsibility to ensure things are put in place to protect mental health at work.

‘Life is busy for everyone, particularly for those who work. Whatever you do for a living, a lot of people will experience some form of stress at work. But, it’s important to realise when that small amount of stress is causing emotional distress. It can feel like it has taken over and this can start to become part of a bigger problem.’

According to Mental Health UK, 20% of employees took leave due to stress last year, and burn-out rates continue to rise. In 2022, mental health issues accounted for 7.9% of sickness absences, making it the fifth most common reason for time off.

Stewart added: ‘We need to protect and promote mental health at work. We should be empowering our staff and colleagues to put their mental health first, before anything else. Organisations need to be ready to recognise and respond to emotional distress. We need to have access to the right training, support and adaptations so we can look out for ourselves and those around us.’