Local mental health charity Newport Mind is in the running to win Employer of the Year at this year’s awards ceremony in London, as recognition for the extra effort they make to look after their staff.

Newport Mind, based on Commercial Street, is a registered charity supporting more than 2,500 people each year with their mental health. With such a busy service, it’s even more important for managers to support their staff well.

CEO Dave Bland said: “As a mental health charity, we can’t effectively support others until we look after our own wellbeing – so we prioritise staff wellbeing to help us build a happy, motivated team.

“Our staff care deeply about the work they do to help others, so we make sure that they’re well supported and can turn to managers and to each other for support in their work with people with mental health problems.”

Newport Mind also supports local employers to keep their staff happy and healthy offering workplace counselling, Mental Health First Aid training, group awareness sessions and HR consultancy. As mental health is one of the leading causes of absenteeism at work [Health and Safety Executive], this is fast becoming a popular service for local businesses.

Newport Mind has been shortlisted in the Employer of the Year: Gold (up to 49 people) category at this year’s Investors in People Awards, and is up against nine other companies from different sectors across the UK. They’ll find out if they’ve won during the ceremony on November 19.