This role is an opportunity to make a real difference and impact to people’s lives locally in the community by providing practical support to empower individuals to facilitate recovery and overcome barriers preventing them from doing the meaningful activities that matter to them.
Mid and North East Essex Mind is bringing a series of free mental health training sessions to Braintree, Halstead, Witham, and surrounding villages over the next eight months.
These community-based courses are designed to help individuals strengthen their mental wellbeing, but the charity is also encouraging businesses and community groups to get in touch to arrange bespoke sessions. This could be particularly valuable for employers supporting staff, local organisations, or anyone looking to improve wellbeing in their community.
A Toolkit for Better Mental Health
The sessions form part of the pioneering Mental Health Toolkit, developed by Mid and North East Essex Mind to help people understand their emotions and strengthen resilience.
Natalie Britt, Mental Health Education Lead, explains:
“We all feel different from one day to the next. Our mental wellbeing can be affected by so many things – whether we’ve had enough sleep, eaten well, or are experiencing pressures from work, relationships, or stress.
Through the ‘Mental Health Continuum’, we help people become more aware of their own feelings, understand others, and learn practical ways to manage emotions. We’ve already seen great results, and we’re excited to reach more people in the Braintree area.”
The training has been fully funded by Braintree District Council through the HM Government UK Shared Prosperity Fund, making it free for all participants.
Mental Health Toolkit – The Essentials
In-person sessions across Braintree District:
11th September – Braintree Town Hall, Braintree
16th September – Team Kinetix, Witham
9th October – Queens Hall, Halstead
23rd October – The Plaza, Great Notley, Braintree
11th November – Team Kinetix, Witham
27th November – I-construct, Braintree
6th January – Braintree Town Hall, Braintree
20th January – The Plaza, Great Notley, Braintree
29th January – Team Kinetix, Witham
5th February – Queens Hall, Halstead
24th February – Online session
10th March – Online session
12th March – Braintree Town Hall, Braintree
Sleep Well, Work Well & Keeping Calm
Workshops run 9.30am–11am (Sleep Well, Work Well) followed by 11.30am–12.30pm (Keeping Calm):
1 in 4 pregnancies ends in loss, yet only 10% of UK employees say their workplace has a baby loss or miscarriage policy. Even more concerning: over 20% report receiving no support at all from their employer.
As of 2024:
🔹 Only 36% of organisations have a pregnancy loss policy
🔹 Just 24% of leaders say employees feel comfortable speaking about it
🔹 38,000 employees have been trained in bereavement support by Sands — a great start, but we need more
🔹 In sectors like private equity, only 7% have a written policy in place
🔹 NHS England has advised trusts to offer 10 days’ paid miscarriage leave — a step in the right direction
This isn’t just about policy — it’s about compassion, culture, and leadership. Employers must do better in supporting colleagues through unimaginable loss.
👉 If your organisation hasn’t yet implemented baby loss training or support policies, now is the time.
Our next workplace training session takes place on 10th October in Witham and is only £60 per person!
