VolkerStevin safety scheme raises thousands for charitable causes
In 2018-19, VolkerStevin raised nearly £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and Mates in Mind – a mental health and wellbeing charity, which has a focus on the construction and engineering industry.
The near miss/close call reporting scheme, introduced across VolkerWessels UK in 2014, identifies risks and good practice on construction sites UK-wide. The scheme encourages all employees to provide feedback and take advantage of their own health and safety performance on site, reducing risks, improving standards and encouraging behavioural change.
For every near miss or close call reported, VolkerStevin donates £1 to charity. Half goes to Macmillan Cancer Support and half to an alternating charitable cause.
Duncan Aspin, head of HSEQ, said: “We are delighted that this scheme has been so well received by VolkerStevin employees. We encourage people to take ownership of health and safety on site and identify best practice and opportunities for improvement, and the added charitable incentive has been incredibly well received. As well as raising money, standards on site have improved, and colleague engagement has increased.
“We are so proud to have raised much-needed funds for Mates in Mind, a fantastic charity which is addressing the stigma of poor mental health in the construction industry. Highlighting the importance of positive mental wellbeing in the workplace is paramount, and we are proud to align ourselves with such a worthy cause.”
James Rudoni, Managing Director of Mates in Mind, commented: “We would like to thank VolkerStevin for doing their part to start the conversation around mental health in the construction industry. VolkerStevin’s fundraising enables us to break the silence and stigma around mental health and change the culture around the topic. The money they have raised goes towards initiatives that raise understanding and awareness, urge employers to empower their workforce and create a safe mental health environment. So far, we have reached over 200,000 people, helping them to understand how, when and where to get support and promote a culture of positive wellbeing.”
Since the scheme began in 2014, VolkerStevin has raised £28,779 for charitable causes.
Donations in previous years have been gifted to The Baby Beat Appeal and North West Air Ambulance.