AV Dawson, owner and operator of Port of Middlesbrough has supported mental health awareness week 2022 by raising over £500 for Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind.
Taking place on the ground floor of the business’ new head office, 27 colleagues took to an exercise bike and cycled for 20-minutes each over the course of nine hours for charity.
The total distance the cyclists covered was over 400 kilometres, the same distance from Port of Middlesbrough to central London.
Representatives from Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind attended the cycle ride to show support to the volunteers.
Emma Howitt, Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind’s chief executive officer, said:
“Even though 1 in 4 people experience mental health difficulties every year, many people don't reach out for help or share what they're going through with loved ones. Mental Health Awareness Week is a great opportunity to raise awareness in workplaces and in the community about the importance of good mental health and how to get help if you need it. Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind really appreciates the support of AV Dawson colleagues in getting people talking and, through their fundraising, helping us make our help available to anyone who needs it.”
The firm wanted to raise awareness among its workforce of the new colleague gym facilities it has on site and the benefits exercise has on positive mental health, while raising money for a good cause. Other mental health initiatives also include a dedicated team of Mental Health & Wellbeing Ambassadors. , These ambassadors, made up of colleagues from across the business, are available for their peers to speak to if they are struggling for any reason, the ambassadors can then offer signposting and referrals for people that may need further support. The business has also signed MaritimeUK’s pledge for mental health, illustrating its commitment to continually championing the issue.
AV Dawson’s head of human resources and training, Louise Croce, a health & wellbeing ambassador herself, said: “It is important to highlight the initiatives we have in place for colleagues’ mental health. The ambassadors give colleagues someone to confide in, ask for support or signposting or even just sit and have a coffee with if they’re having a down day. It’s pivotal we have people like this across the business, for employees’ wellbeing and to tackle mental health issues head on.
“We also have some fantastic facilities in our new head office to support positive health and wellbeing including a gym and exercise studio and we wanted to use Mental Health Awareness Week to promote the potential positive effect that exercise can have for the body and mind.”
There’s still time to donate to the fantastic cause: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/av-dawson1