Making a Difference Through Donation: How Three Charities Have Benefited From Pagabo Foundation Support
Nearly 12 months on from an industry-led initiative at UKREiiF 2024, which saw us donate a total of £10,000 to three charities, we’re looking back at the difference these donations have made and the vital work that has been furthered.
Following feedback from attendees in Leeds last May, on charities they believed would benefit from the foundation’s support, a split donation of £3,333 was made to Mates in Mind, Community Links and Andy’s Man Club. In line with the Pagabo Foundation’s focus on mental health challenges within the built environment sector, all three charities work to support those who struggle with issues of wellbeing and poor mental health in the workplace and beyond. These charities have a particular focus on men, as mental health evidence within industry sector continues to highlight a problem rising at an alarming rate.
Inspire North
Based in Yorkshire and the Northeast, Community Links (which has now changed its name to Inspire North) is a mental health, wellbeing and housing charity, providing life changing services for thousands of people. It works tirelessly to support those facing mental health problems, dementia, homelessness, domestic abuse, and resettlement to build a brighter future. Its focus is on supporting people to recover, reconnect and ultimately feel better in themselves.
An example of where our donation has been vital in supporting the charity within the past year is their service ‘Men’s Talk’ offering in Kirklees. This project aims to tackle the stigma surrounding men talking about their mental health by teaching participants to talk freely about their feelings and celebrate openness through a collaborative approach.
A core part of the offering is film making and theatre activities, in which participants can write their own performances. This has seen the group hit the road, performing at community groups, playhouses and schools – making a truly life changing impact on the people involved.
Speaking on the true impact that Men’s Talk has had, one participant said: “Having a group of people to discuss issues with, a kind of fraternity, has proved invaluable. I am happy to engage with people more and not feel embarrassed or ashamed about my mental ill health.
“Men’s Talk has given me a structure and a purpose in my daily life. Not being conditioned to focus on my mental ill health has made me look at the broader picture that life is meaningful and can have purpose.”
Andy’s Man Club
At Andy’s Man Club, it’s clear that every donation plays a crucial role in breaking the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and providing vital peer-to-peer support, so we’re incredibly proud to have played our part to support this.
This has been amplified by the regional lead for the East of England at Andy’s Man Club, Sean Gill, who said: “Every donation we receive allows us to keep our doors open and reach more men who need support. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Pagabo Foundation, which helps us continue changing and saving lives.”
A core driver in the work that Andy’s Man Club does is creating safe spaces where men can openly share their struggles, with a focus on education, awareness and community engagement.
In the past six-months especially, the charity has opened several new groups to provide greater access to support, engagement in awareness campaigns, partnering with local businesses and sports team to drive conversation, alongside continuing vital free to attend sessions across the UK.
Mates in Mind
As we know, the construction industry is an incredibly high-risk sector for mental wellbeing, with a 2023 Mates in Mind reporting showcasing that a third of self-employed construction workers alone suffering from severe levels of anxiety – meaning support is so incredibly important. Mates in Mind is an organisation that works to support other organisations and individuals to proactively improve mental health across the workforce.
Through support from the Pagabo Foundation, Mates in Mind has been able to continue its work to support organisations in championing better mental health within the sector and building a culture of prevention. More specifically, donated funds are supporting its free 24/7 BEAMATE text support service, enabling Mates in Mind to make its resources more accessible. Reasearch is also an ongoing consideration, as the charity looks to identify contributory risks and the effective interventions that can mitigate them.
Through our own work here at the Pagabo Foundation, we’re continuing our efforts to not only support these three deserving charities, but to support the wider mission of improving the environment for those who work in our industry day in and day out. From supporting mental health awareness courses to engagement with more than 700 businesses so far, we are maintaining our effort to make a difference within the construction industry.
Jason Stapley, chief procurement officer for Pagabo and Pagabo Foundation chairman, said: “In the close to six years since the foundation’s inception, we’re proud of all we have achieved, but are also aware of how much more needs to be done.
“A key part of this journey is supporting and collaborating with like-minded causes to tackle the huge issue with mental health, which is prevalent in the construction industry especially. Strong bonds are vital to this being successful, and the development of our relationships with Mates in Mind, Andy’s Man Club and Community Links are successful examples of this.”
To find out more about the Pagabo Foundation and its aims and objectives or to support its work, go to https://pagabofoundation.org.uk/
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