Black Country Brighter Lives awarded £49,799 to deliver vital wellbeing support to NHS staff
As the NHS enters what is predicted to be the busiest winter period on record for A&Es and ambulance service1 Black Country Brighter Lives, the charity of Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, will be able to provide crucial support to help improve the wellbeing of local NHS staff, both now and in the future, thanks to a £49,799 grant from NHS Charities Together and NHS England.
The grant has been awarded as part of an £11 million programme – which includes a £5 million contribution from NHS England – and is one of 29 ambitious projects across England to receive funding from the programme this Autumn.
NHS staff are the driving force behind our healthcare system, but they are currently working in some of the toughest conditions in history, with growing pressure from increased demand for health services and rising NHS vacancies. Research from NHS Charities Together has highlighted that almost half (47%) of NHS staff surveyed said their job was affecting their mental health and 41% their physical health. That’s why projects such as this are more important now than ever.
Black Country Healthcare has an existing, well established Staff Support and Wellbeing Service which includes the offer of Talking Therapies, menopause support, mindfulness sessions, health checks and more, but the service recognised the challenges shift workers and inpatient staff have accessing support when working early or later shifts.
Through this funding, Black Country Brighter Lives will strengthen staff wellbeing support in one of our acute mental health inpatient services by embedding a dedicated Wellbeing Practitioner to provide consistent, trauma-informed support.
The support combines three elements:
Engagement, building trust and psychological safety through visible presence and connection to wider organisational resources;
Intervention, offering early response such as wellbeing calls, debriefs, and fast-track access to therapy to reduce post-trauma stress; and
Prevention, promoting self-care and resilience through education and training.
Staff working in mental health often face significant challenges that can impact on their own wellbeing, including shift work and experiencing physical violence.
Junior Hemans, Non-Executive Director and Wellbeing Guardian, said: “I am delighted with the award made to us. Our existing health and wellbeing services to our staff, is already viewed as an exemplar offer. This award will enable us to further increase our support to existing staff and to enhance and develop the range of our wellbeing offer.”
Kerry Smith, Interim Chief People Officer, said: “Our people are the beating heart of the NHS. Every day, they give their all to care for others, often in the most challenging circumstances. That’s why their mental health and wellbeing must always be a priority.
“I am absolutely delighted that Black Country Brighter Lives has been awarded £49,799 to deliver vital support for our incredible staff. This funding will help us create a safe space where colleagues feel heard, valued, and supported – because when we care for those who care for others, we build a stronger, more compassionate NHS. Together, we can ensure that wellbeing is not an afterthought, but a foundation for the exceptional care our communities deserve.”
Ellie Orton, CEO, NHS Charities Together, comments: “Many NHS staff feel that theirs is the best job in the world, but these roles come with a tremendous responsibility for the lives they care for, and at a time of incredible pressure on health services, this takes a toll on their mental and physical wellbeing.
“In the face of so many wider healthcare challenges it can be easy to forget about healthcare staff, but it goes without saying that we need a healthy workforce if we want a thriving NHS that can give patients the care they need.
“This funding means NHS charities like Black Country Brighter Lives can help ensure NHS staff prioritise their own health and wellness with the same care they give to patients, and we are delighted we can support this important work. We’ve spent a lot of time talking to frontline staff and analysing evidence from previous projects to arrive at solutions that will give healthcare staff the right tools to look after their own wellbeing.
Applications are now open for a second round of grant funding as part of this programme, in partnership with NHS England, and we’re excited to continue our work with NHS charities and other organisations to help the NHS go further for everyone.”
