The SAM team laced up their trainers and pounded the streets to raise money for charity partner, the Mental Health Foundation.
With a strong focus on health and wellbeing, Antrim based MDF mouldings manufacturer SAM set a challenge to collectively walk 5,000,000 steps over the month of May. This is aimed at encouraging team members to keep active and enjoy some fresh air alongside kick starting our mental health fundraising efforts. As an extra incentive, if the target was reached, SAM promised to donate £1000 to the Mental Health Foundation. Additionally, SAM has pledged a further £100 for every 1,000,000 steps thereafter.
The SAM team obviously enjoys a challenge because they smashed the original target and walked over an amazing 16,000,000 steps, meaning the company is donating a total of £2,100 to the Mental Health Foundation.
The Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for mental health since 1949. They focus on finding and addressing the source of mental health problems and working towards prevention. Therefore, allowing the community to thrive.
SAM’s Commitment Through Fundraising and Employee Wellbeing Initiatives
Cat McCrea, Director at SAM, commented, “The pandemic has truly shone a light on what an important role mental health has on our wellbeing. As May is National Walking Month, we decided that organising a Step Challenge whilst raising money for the Mental Health Foundation was a good way to not only promote mental and physical health but also allow us to support our chosen charity partner at the same time.”
Honouring its commitment to employee wellbeing, at the beginning of the year SAM signed up to Work Well Live Well. This is the Workplace Health and Wellbeing Support Service funded by the Public Health Agency. The project provides personalised support to improve the wellbeing of employees. All SAM team members completed a health and wellbeing survey. From this, a bespoke health action plan was developed by the MDF mouldings manufacturer based on the results. Moreover, a group of staff members volunteered to become Health Champions for the wider SAM team. The programme delivered training, including mental health first aid, and also resources to support.
Shauna McErlain, HR Manager at SAM, said: “I was so pleased to see so many get involved and make such an effort to increase their step count for this project. It is a great start to the Work Well Live Well initiative. In addition to our fundraising campaigns for The Mental Health Foundation.”
SAM will be organising more events throughout the year to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation while promoting positive mental and physical wellbeing throughout the company.
Read more on SAM’s work with charity.
For more information on the Mental Health Foundation visit mentalhealth.org.uk.
