Liverpool-based Regenda, which owns 10,000 homes across the North West, invited mental health charity Chasing the Stigma to deliver the programme. Tony McDonough reports

Almost 700 staff at Liverpool housing and regeneration group Regenda have undergone mental health awareness training.

Many firms and organisations are now recognising that addressing mental health in the workplace is both good for employees and good for business, offering people the support they need and contributing to higher productivity.

National mental health charity Chasing the Stigma came into Regenda, which owns 10,000 homes across the North West, to deliver its Ambassadors of Hope training to all the employees.

Ambassadors of Hope is a fully Ofqual-accredited 20-minute training programme, giving staff a better understanding of mental health and advice on providing signposting to those who need help via the free Hub of Hop app. It also provides information on how to deal with a mental health crisis.

Regenda has installed the Hub of Hope app, which was created by Chasing the Stigma, onto all work smart phones. The app enables people to find local, national and grassroots support at the click of a button and is the UK’s most comprehensive nationwide mental health support database. 

Michael Birkett, chief executive of The Regenda Group, said: “At The Regenda Group we are passionate about creating a workplace that is positive about mental health and where support is readily accessible.

“The Ambassadors of Hope training programme will equip each of our employees with a baseline understanding of mental health issues, how to provide support and how taboos associated with mental health can be challenged. 

The Regenda Group provided the training across all of its subsidiary organisations, including M&Y Maintenance and Construction, Redwing Living, Positive Footprints, The Learning Foundry, Petrus, McDonald Property Rentals and Centre 56.