Community First Academy Trust

Today and on World Mental Health Day (Thursday 10 October), Sue Darbyshire will be signing a pledge with Time to Change, the mental health anti-stigma programme. https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/ To help mark the occasion, we’re raising awareness of the support available to colleagues with mental health problems and introducing our new workplace employee champions. The pledge is also a commitment by Community First Academy Trust as an employer to address mental health stigma and discrimination, and support mental health and wellbeing among our staff. In conjunction and in support of signing the pledge we have recruited four volunteers from across the organisation who will act as our mental health champions. Time to Change Champions are a movement of people across the country who use their own experience of mental health problems to change the way we all think and act about mental health. Employee Champions are our incredible supporters who are passionate about tackling mental health stigma and discrimination in our workplace. Our champions will also: • take an active lead in signposting employee with mental health problems • explore trust-wide well-being programmes to increase support for colleagues but, also remove workplace stigma • identify the impact of any well-being initiatives on individuals • contribute to how we can introduce new concepts of employee well-being into our organisation. Champions at Platt Bridge are John Lees (Teacher rep) and Angela Unsworth (Support Staff rep). Champions at Rose Bridge are Kathryn Green (Teacher rep) and Helen Sharples (Support Staff rep) champions will also be supported by Craig Holden Trust HR and payroll Director. Watch this space for more information and programmes coming your way!