Six ways to support the mental well-being of your team

Regardless of the industry, every job has its stressors. From excessive workloads and tight deadlines to conflicts with colleagues there are lots of reasons why people experience burnout and mental health issues.

The added challenge in the third sector is charity work, by nature, can be upsetting and mentally draining. Throw in the impact of the pandemic and you’ve got a plethora of reasons to make mental well-being a top priority in the work-place.

Here are six steps you can take to improve the mental well-being of your staff:

1. Find out what support your staff need

If you don’t have a mental health strategy in place, before implementing anything, you need to develop a clear picture of the current mental health of your organisation.

The easiest way to do this is with a mental health survey. This will help you to (among other things) understand the factors that affect your employee’s mental health and identify what they need to feel supported.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. There’s a great resource on Mind’s website that’ll help you take stock of mental health across your workplace, and put a plan of action together.

2. Talk openly about mental health

Creating a culture of understanding and openness can help employees feel comfortable talking about mental health issues. Leaders and managers should make sure staff and volunteers know their wellbeing matters to them. You can do this by:

• Talking openly about the importance of mental health and wellbeing in staff meetings.

• Providing information to staff and volunteers about mental health and wellbeing and the support available.

• Modelling behaviours that support mental health and wellbeing, such as a good work-life balance, active listening and compassion.

• Supporting line managers and volunteer managers to have conversations about mental health and wellbeing with those they manage.

• Dedicating resources to supporting your organisation’s work in this area.

3. Invest in Mental Health First Aid training

Chances are you have a trained first aider and fire marshal in your office, but do you have a mental health first aider? If not, it’s worth considering.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course, designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis. In the same way as learning physical first aid, MHFA teaches people how to recognise the warning signs and feel confident to guide someone to appropriate support.

A number of organisations offer mental health first aid training. The courses vary in duration, format, and cost.

Here are a few options.

• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England

• St John’s Ambulance

• Westfield health

4. Implement an Employee Assistance Programme

An employee assistance program (EAP) provides confidential counselling to staff to help with personal or workplace problems that are affecting their mental wellbeing. While they can be accessed for any issue a worker may have, they’re often used as a way of helping employees deal with the effects of anxiety, stress, and depression.

In the face of long NHS waiting lists, this is a good way for your staff to get the support they need before things escalate (if your budget allows).

Find out more about EAP’s here.

5. Incorporate mindful meditation into the working day

Meditation is an age-old practice renowned for its physical and psychological benefits, such as reducing blood pressure, anxiety, and stress. So why not incorporate it into the working day?

Make a point of educating staff about the benefits of meditation, on the intranet and in team meetings. Encourage them to take meditation breaks as and when they need to.

There are loads of apps dedicated to mental wellbeing - Headspace, Be Mindful, Calm for business, and Shine Offline to name a few.

Take it a step further by building time into the working week for group meditation sessions.

There’s lots of advice and free resources (including a meditation script for leaders) on the Mindfulness Exercises website.

6. Ensure you have enough staff

Understaffing can have a major impact on employee’s physical and mental health.

If you’re short on numbers, inevitably, others will end up picking up the slack. We’re not saying your employees are shy of a hard day’s work, but if they’re overstretched for too long, it will soon take a toll – especially if workloads were already tight.

With stress comes tension. If employees are feeling the heat, it can put a strain on relationships with colleagues, resulting in disputes, job dissatisfaction and ultimately, staff absences.

No-one wants that, so it’ll pay to ensure you have enough bodies to do get the work done.

This is where we come in. At Bamboo, we fill fundraising roles with experienced fundraising professionals. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to find out we can help.

‘Feel Good’ Fundraising - Pedal Pushers

Our ‘Feel Good Fundraising’ series sees Bamboo’s digital marketing apprentice, Georgie, follow up on the stories of inspirational volunteer fundraisers to ask them the questions no one’s thought to ask.

Georgie, it’s over to you.

During my weekly Google search, I came across a story about Jon Hazan. The keen cyclist took on the mammoth 980-mile Ride Across Britain Challenge to raise funds and awareness for Blind Veterans UK, a charity that’s close to his heart due to the support they’ve given his father, Ray.

As a keen cyclist myself, I reached out to Jon to find out more.

The challenge took you from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Were there any particular places or moments that stood out?

There were lots of memorable landmarks. But the standout one was St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.

In terms of a standout moment, it would have to be crossing the Severn Road and Forth Road bridges.

Knowing that you were leaving one part of Britain and entering another was a great morale boost and felt like a real achievement.

Was the British weather kind to you?

It held for most of the time we were in England, but true to form, the moment we crossed into Scotland it turned. Memories of strong headwinds and lashing rain in the Glenn Shee Valley will stay with me forever!

On the upside, the landscape got more beautiful the further North we went. Each day I would finish up thinking the views would be hard to beat, but each day they would be bettered. The Scottish landscapes were every bit as beautiful as I’d imagined.

What kept you going?

The cause. I did it to raise money for a charity that’s supported and cared for my father for most of his life. There was no greater reason to take part or stay motivated.

I was also spurred on by my support team, consisting of my wife, mother, parents-in-law, and a family friend.

They made the herculean effort to be at each of our lunch stops and finish lines every day, clocking up 2,000 miles in the process.

Add to this the occasional visit from friends living in the areas we passed through and it was a wonderful experience.

You completed the challenge with a friend. Did 77 hours of arduous pedalling put a strain on your relationship?

No. We’ve known each other for a long time and have a good understanding of each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and moods.

The training rides also helped us understand what each other needed along the way, whether it be conversation or silent resolve!

What was the hardest part of the challenge?

My morale was lowest during the opening days of the challenge when I was adjusting to the task mentally and physically.

But the final day (for obvious reasons) was the most enjoyable.

980 miles is a long old bike ride. How did you keep your energy levels up?

The organisers laid on a full breakfast every morning (it’ll be a while before I can stomach beans on toast again) and left snacks, energy bars, and drinks at various checkpoints along the way. We also had a generous stash of Jelly Babies.

How did you celebrate?

As any good Englishman would; with a pint and a meal. I will remember that dinner for as long as I live. Surrounded by family, drinking a well-deserved pint, and eating a delicious meal while looking out over breathtaking views of John O’Groats harbour.

Looking for a community fundraiser to inspire volunteers like Tom? Contact us at info@amboofundraising.co.uk to find out how we can help.

Feel Good Friday: a charity album with a difference

It’s time for another feel-good Friday post, this time with a football flavour, seeing as the historic 2022 World Cup tournament is currently taking place in Qatar.

The tournament is historic, both for the number of “upsets” we’ve seen so far (England vs. France, anybody?) and the level of controversy surrounding the decision to host the event in Qatar.

But let’s focus on the positive with this week’s feel-good story.

Sing for Stonewall

There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned singalong to bring people together - especially when it’s for a good cause.

That’s why we were delighted to see footy legend Peter Crouch join forces with Britain’s Got Talent winner, Paul Potts, to fundraise for LGBTQ charity, Stonewall.

The unlikely duo teamed up to release ‘Crouchy Conducts The Classics’ – a charity Christmas album of football chants with a classical twist.

The collaboration saw the ex-footballer make his debut as a conductor on the eight-track album, which was released by Paddy Power Records. Yes, you read that right. The well-known gambling company hedged their bets on Crouch and Potts and turned music publisher fpr the one-of-a-kind album. The brand also committed to making a minimum donation of £25,000 to Stonewall.

The album features reworkings of football chants with the backing of a 20-piece orchestra. The track listing includes:

●      We Love You England

●      VAR My Lord

●      You’re Not Singing Anymore

Wondering if Crouch has talent? You can see him in action here.

Support for the LGBTQ+ community

All the proceeds will support Stonewall’s campaign to tackle the oppression that the LGBTQ+ community faces in Qatar. A country where being gay is illegal, and punishable by up to seven years in prison.

FIFA faced heavy criticism after the announcement in 2010 that Qatar would host this year’s World Cup. Many charities called out the organisation for holding the much-loved tournament in a country with such a poor track record for human rights.

As a result, Manchester Pride boycotted the tournament, and Amnesty International labelled it the ‘World Cup of Shame’.

But let’s turn our attention to Stonewall.

Stonewall Stands Up Against Qatar

Founded in 1989, Stonewall stands up for LGBTQ+ rights in Britain and beyond. The organisation is dedicated to championing LGBTQ+ communities and campaigning for a change in attitudes and policies to enable individuals to live a life free from prejudice and discrimination.

The charity’s Proud Stadium campaign aims to fill a virtual stadium with supporters of LGBTQ+ rights, shining a light on the injustices faced by LGBTQ+ people in Qatar.

The target is to reach 80,000 signatures – the capacity of the Lusail Stadium, which will host the 2022 World Cup Final in Qatar.

A worthy campaign.

Want to make a difference?

Looking to use your skills to raise money for a worthy cause like Stonewall? We can help you score a winning career move.

Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to kick things off.

‘Feel Good’ Fundraising’ Podcasting Pros

In our ‘Feel Good Fundraising’ series, Bamboo’s digital marketing apprentice, Georgie, follows up on the stories of inspirational volunteer fundraisers to ask them the questions no one’s thought to ask.

Georgie, it’s over to you.

I’m a big fan of podcasts, so I was excited to speak to Sam Thomas, who hosted a 24-hour live podcast on his podcast platform, County Business TALKS to raise money for Rockinghorse Children’s Charity.

After reading about his fundraiser on Charity Today, I reached out to find out he got on.

Was it challenging to host a 24-hour podcast?

It was intense. As a host, you have to listen intently to your guests to ensure you respond properly and keep the conversation flowing.

I often record two episodes in a day and feel mentally drained after that, so I didn’t know how I’d fair over 24 hours.

Luckily, the guests were amazing, so I was okay. I structured the interviews so they ran for approx 45-50 minutes. This enabled me to have a quick breather between guests, but I still managed to lose my voice at the eight-hour mark.

As I’m a bit of a technophobe, I had the amazing H2 Productions on hand to manage that side of things and it all ran smoothly. They were brilliant.

24 guests over 24 hours is a lot. Did you find your powers as an interviewer waned as time went on? 

Surprisingly I felt okay. I had a rough structure for each interview, but each guest brought a different energy and perspective to the conversation so it was easy. One guest, who joined me from Dubai in the early hours, shared a fascinating story, but there was a slight delay on the call. As a result, it became a bit of a monologue (his words not mine), but it didn’t matter as the story was brilliant. However, I had to cut him off as my next guest was waiting to speak to me from Sydney Airport before catching a flight.

How did you navigate losing your voice? 

My voice started to go around 8pm and I still had 16 hours to go. I had some throat lozenges, lots of lemon, ginger, and honey tea, and cracked on. By the end, I sounded like I was auditioning for the Godfather!

How was the live audience?

They were amazing. It was wonderful to have such amazing support. They gave me a massive energy boost.

Any final words?

The tagline for the podcast is 'everyone has a story to tell' and I truly believe that. I felt honoured to have so many incredible guests with brilliant stories to share. If I had to choose one, it would be Carole Gilling Smith, founder of the Agora Clinic. It was a very emotional episode. The fertility clinic she founded is where my wife and I conceived our twins through IVF. It was the first time I’d seen her since she gave us the news that we were pregnant.

You can check out all of the episodes from Sam’s challenge here. Want to support his fundraising efforts? make a donation on his fundraising page.

If you’re looking for a community fundraiser to inspire volunteers like Sam, get in touch at info@amboofundraising.co.uk.

Simplifying the New Political Activity Guidance from the Charity Commission

The charity sector is about as diverse as it’s possible to be, encompassing everything from local food banks and health to climate change. And these disparate voices all play a vital role in making a positive difference to society.

But there’s confusion about what role charities should play. Some argue that their only legitimate function is to provide services that address the symptoms of society’s problems. However, this view excludes advocacy work that attempts to challenge the root causes that exacerbate the problems in the first place.

The issue was brought to the forefront in 2020 when the National Trust published a report highlighting connections between 93 of its historic places and slavery. The list of sites linked to ‘colonialism and slavery’ included Winston Churchill’s former family home, citing the former prime minister’s role in the Bengal famine and his opposition to Indian independence.

The report prompted accusations of politicisation from MPs, who claimed the trust presented a negative view of Britain that didn’t represent the scholarly consensus.

In response to the furore Baroness Stowell, then-chair of the Charity Commission, suggested that in publishing the report, the organisation had strayed from its charitable objectives.

Following an investigation, it was decided the National Trust acted within the law, undertaking the project in a considered way. But the debacle led the Charity Commission to update its guidance around charities and political campaigning.

What is the updated guidance?

There’s a lot to chew through to get to the meat of the changes. But, as an early Christmas gift, we’ve sifted through the update and pulled together the key points.

Before we jump into the guidance, let’s remind ourselves of the role of the Commission.

The Charity Commission: Who are they and what do they do?

The Charity Commission is a non-ministerial arm of the government, responsible for registering and regulating charities in England and Wales. They ensure charities stay on the right side of the law, and take action against those that don’t.

What are the amended rules around political activity?

• Charities can only be established for charitable purposes. An organisation that exists to further the interests of a political party cannot be registered as a charity.

• Political activity is acceptable, providing it’s undertaken in the interest of supporting a charity’s purpose.

• When working within the political arena, charities must emphasise their independence.

• A charity must not provide support or funding to any political party, candidate, or politician. However, they can support specific policies endorsed by political parties if it helps the charity achieve its purpose.

• Trustees must not allow their charities to be used as a vehicle for the expression of political views.

• Charities must comply with charity laws and any other applicable civil and criminal laws when campaigning.

• Political campaigns may use emotive or controversial material, where lawful and justifiable in the context of the campaign. But it must be factually accurate and backed up by evidence.

What is political activity?

Political activity is defined as any activity designed to change or influence policies or decisions taken by governments. For example, an ocean conservation charity campaigning for a government to change fishing laws to ensure sustainable levels of marine life.

Charities getting political, successfully.

That’s the definition. Now let’s look at a few examples of charities that have nailed political campaigning.

Pregnant Then Screwed

One of the many restrictions put in place during COVID was a blanket ban on partners attending the birth of their newborns.

However, Pregnant Then Screwed came to the rescue.

The charity, which works to end pregnancy and maternity discrimination, launched a peaceful protest dubbed March of the Mummies, to campaign for action from the UK Government to overcome the disadvantages mothers experience during labour.

The campaign resulted in a change in legislation, that helped get partners back on maternity wards.

Shelter

With lockdowns, furloughs, and redundancies, the impact of the pandemic on private rental tenants was significant. Thousands were left at risk of eviction due to their inability to pay their rent.

This was not something that Shelter, a charity that campaigns for tenant’s rights, could stand by and let happen. The organisation drummed up support on social media and put pressure on the government to protect tenants from the threat of eviction. This led to the introduction of a temporary ban on landlords evicting tenants and changes to the notice period they’re required to serve.

Final Word

As ‘Pregnant then Screwed’ and ‘Shelter’ have shown, it’s possible to incorporate political activity into your fundraising campaigns, providing you do so respectfully and lawfully.

If you need a talented fundraising talent to help you do it, give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk.