Anxiety UK and the CIOB Benevolent Fund team up to offer more member support

The CIOB’s Benevolent Fund, set up in 1992 to support CIOB members struggling with employment or finance issues, is teaming up with Anxiety UK to offer a new service to members. The partnership with the award-winning charity will deliver a specialised programme of support for all CIOB members and their families to help those living with anxiety, stress and/or anxiety-based depression.

This is an entirely new service for CIOB members to access and a very positive development for the Benevolent Fund. Throughout its history, the Fund has provided advice focussed on financial assistance. CIOB members will now be able to access additional services, focussed entirely on an individual’s need for wellbeing and mental health support. This is available to CIOB members free at the point of use, as costs of the Anxiety UK service will be met entirely by the Benevolent Fund.

Anxiety UK, formed in 1970, works to support those living with anxiety disorders, stress and anxiety-based depression. The charity provides information and support via a range of services. These include psychological therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), counselling and clinical hypnotherapy, delivered via the charity’s national network of Approved Therapists. Email, text and instant messaging support is also available, along with helpline services and information resources, including Anxious Times, their quarterly magazine.

The plan to deliver a service supporting CIOB members will see Anxiety UK provide person-centred holistic wellbeing assessments, leading to a personalised treatment plan which can include accessing the charity’s psychological therapy services.

Caroline Gumble, CEO of the CIOB, and a Benevolent Fund trustee, said: “The Fund’s trustees have welcomed the opportunity to reach out and offer members this important new service. Talking about mental health and wellbeing is sometimes seen as taboo and is, in fact, a big issue in the construction sector. I am so pleased that we’re able to provide this additional support. As CEO of the CIOB, I’m also happy to confirm that we’re offering it to all our staff.”

Nicky Lidbetter, CEO of Anxiety UK, said: “As Anxiety UK enters its 50th year of operation, we are delighted to be working in partnership with the CIOB to support those working in the construction industry affected by anxiety, stress and anxiety-based depression.”

In order to be eligible to apply for the new CIOB Benevolent Fund service, an applicant will simply need to be, or at some point have been, a CIOB member. Eligibility also extends to the dependant family of the member. The service available via Anxiety UK is available to CIOB members worldwide. Referral to Anxiety UK will be the same for all applicants, regardless of where they are based.

To access the Anxiety UK service for CIOB members, please contact: +44 (0)1344 630877. This dedicated UK number will lead enquirers to a member of the CIOB Team, who will in turn facilitate referral to Anxiety UK.

For service users with specific access needs, practitioners delivering CBT and counselling can also be reached via telephone and webcam.

Take-up of the service for CIOB members will be monitored and members will be encouraged to provide feedback to help the CIOB ensure that consistent and useful support is being delivered and that member needs are being met.