Lift Industry Mental Health Charter Forms

Plans in the works for 2023.

After going through a difficult time in his own life and then seeing the pressures faced by the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark Harding, director of Ascension Lift Solutions Ltd., formed the Lift Industry Mental Health Charter in 2022 to raise awareness within the lift industry. With an interest in mental health and experience working with Our Mental Health Matters, Mark wanted to continue his work in mental health but with a focus on the lift industry. The Lift Industry Mental Health Charter believes health and safety includes mental health, and this, therefore, should be an important part of health and safety policies and lift industry toolbox talks. “Your safety does not stop at PPE and process; it includes your well-being,” Mark said.

Because of this, Mark is encouraging lift companies to join the Lift Industry Mental Health Charter to make the movement large enough to gain sponsorships that will be used for providing support services and mental health courses. To this end, since October 2022, more than 40 companies — that employ more than 2,000 employees — have joined, and the website has had 2,500-plus hits. 

In January, the charter company formed as a community interest company (CIC), meaning that business is conducted for community benefit and not private advantage,^[1] with plans for it to become a charity down the line. Additionally in January, Mark launched his YouTube channel. About the channel, he said: 

“The objective of the channel is to get as many as possible to subscribe and monetize the channel. The money from the channel will go back into the charter to support mental health services for the industry.”

Mark also created an online shop, which was expected to launch in February, to sell products to the industry, the first of which would be release keys with the charter’s logo. He was also working on offering work wear, with all the profits from the shop going back to the charter. 

Moving further into 2023, Mark said he has “some bold objectives” and hopes to provide an in-house mental health course for all companies who are part of the charter, free of charge. These courses would largely be delivered by Our Mental Health Matters, but he is looking to develop partnerships so the courses can be delivered nationwide. He is also hoping to create a lift industry well-being event along with additional fundraising events. 

To join the Lift Industry Mental Health Charter, companies can reach out to Mark through his website, which also includes a supporter directory. “The support has been very fast and great to see. I believe this is something many people have been waiting for in our industry, as it impacts all our lives,” Mark said.

References

[1] gov.uk/government/publications/community-interest-companies-business-activities