90% of Blue Light workers feel their job negatively impacts their wellbeing – Blue Light Card Foundation launches to support projects enhancing mental and physical wellbeing within the Blue Light community
“You can feel every human emotion in a nine-hour shift – it’s an emotional rollercoaster… Coming to a project like this, you can surround yourself with people who’ve been through similar things… We need more places like this.”
We are delighted to announce the launch of the Blue Light Card Foundation.
Born out of Blue Light Card (the UK’s largest discount provider to members of the NHS, Armed Forces, emergency services and social care sector), Blue Light Card Foundation grants funds to projects across the UK that provide life-enhancing support and experiences to members of the Blue Light community.
The launch comes at a critical time. A survey of 863 members of the Blue Light community, across multiple sectors including NHS, police, fire, MoD, HM Prison Service, and social care among others, found that 90% of respondents felt that their job negatively impacted their wellbeing. A further 62% said that they’d considered leaving their job because of how much it impacted their wellbeing day-to-day.
The research also revealed the toll that working in the emergency services can have outside of work; less than half (46%) of respondents felt that they could leave the challenges of work ‘at the door’ when they ended their shift.
The Blue Light Card Foundation exists to bridge this gap, ensuring members of the Blue Light community have access to organisations and projects that can support their wellbeing – be that through funding bushcraft courses, surfing weekends, and walk and talk initiatives, to providing mental health TRIM training programmes, funding mental health hotlines and even renovating wellbeing spaces and break rooms on site.
Naomi Adie, General Manager at the Blue Light Card Foundation and Royal Air Force Veteran, says: “I am humbled to play a part in launching the Blue Light Card Foundation and helping to fund projects that directly impact the wellbeing of the Blue Light community. Having served in the Royal Air Force myself and completed multiple operational tours, I understand first-hand how hard it is to process what you experience and not let it impact your life outside of work.
“We’ve listened to the Blue Light community and what they’ve told us is clear – having the right wellbeing support is critical. The launch of the Foundation is an exciting new chapter where we can support the people that go above and beyond for us every day. If you’re running or planning a project that we could help fund, we’d love to hear from you.”
Our first grant – The Woodland Warrior Programme
Our first recipient of funding was The Woodland Warrior Programme, founded in 2019 by husband-and-wife team Nick and Louise Goldsmith, who served as a former Royal Marine commando, and former Detective Constable respectively.
The Woodland Warrior CIC Programme, now funded in part by the Blue Light Card Foundation, consists of nature-based activities including woodcraft, woodland management, group camping and cooking, all of which have helped members of the Blue Light community detach from the everyday and feel empowered to prioritise their own wellbeing.
Nick Goldsmith and Louise Goldsmith, Founders of Hidden Valley Bushcraft, say: “Having support from the Foundation has been amazing – a force multiplier that amplifies the important work we already do. It means we can support even more members of the Blue Light community. We now have space for 30 more people on the Woodland Warrior programme and another 120 beneficiaries who we can access support through additional resources.
“Everyone who visits us has a shared experience. They can connect and support one another’s wellbeing whilst at the Woodland and realise it is okay to talk about what they are going through.
The activities we offer here truly impact people’s health and wellbeing. These people can take these skills home and, more importantly, share them with their loved ones and colleagues.”
The Foundation aims to raise up to £1m a year to support programmes and projects like Woodland Warrior to ensure the entire Blue Light community know that help is available, and feel empowered to seek help if they want to.
The Blue Light Card Foundation was born out of Blue Light Card, the UK’s largest discount provider for members of the NHS, emergency services, social care sector and armed forces.
To find out more about the Blue Light Card Foundation and the support we provide, visit: https://bluelightcardfoundation.org/?
To find out if the Foundation could help fund your project, please visit: https://bluelightcardfoundation.org/find-funding/?
