Travel Counsellors has launched a number of initiatives focused on mental health in the run up to World Mental Health Day.
The homeworking group’s sessions have been designed to boost the personal wellbeing of the company’s business owners and support team colleagues.
Initiatives include mood-boosting physical exercise and nutrition tips, the power of keeping a positive mindset, focus on financial wellness and a spotlight on the peer-to-peer support available from the wider company community and culminate in a worldwide event on Saturday, October 10.
Guest speakers include franchisee Travel Counsellors and colleagues sharing their personal journeys and insights on how they take care of their own wellbeing.
All the resources have been made available within a digital TC Wellbeing Hub, and Travel Counsellors aims to get the whole company community of nearly 2,000 people talking about the topic of mental health.
Chief executive Steve Byrne said: “Supporting trusted travel professionals to work remotely has meant that we’ve had a huge focus on boosting the motivation and mindset of people who work independently, and keeping a community feeling connected to each other has always been at the heart of this approach.
“The impact of the pandemic on the travel industry has been profound, and whilst we work together to come through this time, we are also increasingly mindful that these challenges have an ongoing effect on people. It’s reflective of our company culture and our duty of care to ensure that we are doing everything we can to support, guide and signpost people to all help available – whether that’s the TC welfare fund which has supported both business owners and colleagues through financial hardship over the last few months, to simply showing kindness, and knowing that someone will always be at the end of the phone when you need them.”
The company has offered everyone at the firm a personal counsellor for over a decade and has now partnered with Able Futures which delivers an Access to Work Mental Health Support Service on behalf of the government’s Department for Work and Pensions.
Able Futures will give franchisees and Travel Counsellors’ head office staff access to a qualified and experienced health care professional who will help to build a nine-month support plan for individuals, and be available to talk over the phone, via email or virtually.
Travel Counsellors has also signed up to the Mental Health at Work Commitment, alongside other UK businesses to improve mental health care by agreeing to adhere to six standards, including pledging to promote an open culture around mental health, and increasing an organisation’s accountability by proactively measuring and reporting on mental health initiatives.
Byrne added: “We remain focussed on continuing to build a company community where open, honest conversations are encouraged in an inclusive environment, breaking down any barriers that people may have about mental health, and ultimately being there for people when they need us the most.
“Over the last few months, it’s been inspiring to see how our business owners have come together to support each other, and we really see it as our responsibility as a company to use the technology and community platform we have to ensure that people can take advantage of a safe space to talk openly about how they’re feeling, and keep connected to each other, as we work through this time together.”