Windmill Hill City Farm is a charity providing education, therapy and fun through farming and the environment. The farm was introduced to Time to Change via the Wellbeing in the Workplace Charter back 2016 and started by signing up to use their mental health awareness day resources. In 2016/17 they started to look into the Time to Change Champion in relation to their Farm Staff Health Programme and by February 2018 they had signed a pledge approved by Time to Change at a general staff training day.
Sarah Mellor, Office and Personnel Manager at Windmill Hill City Farm commented:
"Quite simply It fits with our ethos. 'Time to Change exists to end the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health problems.' This is so important to us at the Farm. By having a safe working environment to start a conversation about mental health, impowers and engages staff across all areas of the organisation from board to grass-roots".
Since signing the pledge all line managers at the farm have attended Mental Health First Aid training with refreshers when required, there is training every six months with a wellbeing and mental health session, and emplyee engagement and participation has increased through the setting up of the wellbeing committee and Time to Change champions.
Sarah says the Time to Change Employer Pledge is one of the fundamental building blocks within our Staff Health Programme and is integrated within the farm's ethos.
"Time to Change is an integral part of our Farm Staff Health Programme. It’s not a HR thing, it’s a Farm thing!"
Mental health and the workplace