Publication Date: 07-01-2025 09:00
Bellway Wales supports charity that helps adults bereaved by suicide
Bellway Wales has made a donation to a national charity that offers support to adults bereaved by suicide.
The Cardiff-based housebuilder has made a £350 contribution to Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) as part of its ongoing commitment to addressing mental health issues within the company, the construction industry and the wider community.
SOBS is a national organisation which has about 470 volunteers across the UK offering peer-led support groups, online virtual support groups, a national telephone helpline, an online community forum and email support.
Rachel Singers-Mulqueen, who is PA to Bellway Wales Managing Director Andy Backhouse, is a volunteer who helps run the Cardiff branch of SOBS.
“I turned to SOBS after my mum Lynda died by suicide on May 9 in 2008,” said Rachel. “I was really struggling to cope, to make sense of what had happened. Mum was an occupational health manager, she had a five-bedroom home, a successful career and loving family and friends.
“From the outside looking in, mum seemed to have it all. It just goes to show that mental illness and the risk of suicide can creep up on anyone. The support I got from SOBS helped me to process my grief and it made me feel less alone. It was a revelation to talk to people who had gone through a similar experience to what I had gone through and could relate to how I was feeling and vice versa.
“When they asked me if I would help run the Cardiff group, I was more than happy to help out. Myself and my fellow volunteer Ryan Chamberlian hold a face-to-face peer support session on the last Tuesday of every month where people who need help can come along.”
Rachel not only helps run Cardiff SOBS but is a public speaker and is a mental health advocate at work.
“I am proud to be working for a company which takes the issue of mental health very seriously,” said Rachel. “I have received valuable training at work and am delighted to be a mental health advocate who is there for colleagues to reach out to when they need help or advice for themselves or someone they are worried about.”
Mental health awareness forms an important element of Better with Bellway, the company’s strategic vision for responsible and sustainable practices. The housebuilder has increased the number of mental health first aiders within the business and stepped up the delivery of mental health awareness training to its employees.
Bellway has also supported the work of the Lighthouse Construction Charity, the only charity dedicated to providing emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to construction workers and their families.
Daniel Shone, Head of Sales at Bellway Wales, said: “We are striving to build a positive mental health culture, including a comprehensive training programme to provide our staff with knowledge and skills to support colleagues’ mental health.
“Training employees in mental health first aid ensures staff are able to spot signs of someone in distress and provide support to someone developing mental health problems. Rachel is one of our mental health advocates and a shining example of how our internal training is proving to be successful.
“When we learned about Rachel’s selfless commitment to SOBS we wanted to support her efforts by making a donation to the charity. It provides such a vital service to those struggling to come to terms with losing a friend or a loved one in the most tragic of circumstances.”
Further details about Survivors of Bereavement Suicide can be seen at https://uksobs.com/
The SOBS phone support number is 0300 111 5065 and the line is open every day from 9am to 7pm.
