Wellbeing specialist offers mental health workshops to SMEs

Teesside-based, wellbeing specialist, Bethany Ainsley, has stepped up to support the Open North Foundation, by offering a series of wellbeing workshops to SMEs recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and targeted mental health and wellbeing assistance to qualifiying beneficiaries.

Award winning, Bethany, will run the workshops, on the topic areas of combatting stress, mindfulness and self-confidence for success, through her business, OptiMe.

Established in 2019, OptiMe is dedicated to optimising the wellbeing of employees through a confidential digital platform that focuses on proactive and preventative support, whilst assisting HR with practical training and ensuring essential policies are in place.

The business-led, not for profit, Open North Foundation, provides grant aid and support to small firms in the North East hit by Covid-19 from donations generously provided by fellow businesses based in the region.

Bethany has supported organisations throughout the pandemic in a wide range of sectors including manufacturing, engineering, logistics, retail, leisure, education and professional services.

Bethany, said: “Like the rest of the business community, I have watched the Open North Foundation with great admiration. Its ethos and social values align with OptiMe and we felt that, by offering our services, we can make a real difference to employees who may be struggling against the backdrop of the pandemic.

“With employees adapting to ongoing transitions including furlough, a move back to an office environment and self-isolation, wellbeing and mental health is at the forefront of all of our activity.

“The workshops provide a number of tools and techniques which can be integrated into day-to-day life and can also help individuals to assess areas they feel they are struggling with.”

Richard Swart, chair of Open North Foundation, said: “This partnership provides a very valuable service that we recognise companies and their staff could benefit from. Mental health in the workplace is an area all employers must address.

“Over the last few months organisations have been placed under a great deal of stress, particularly with employees being sent into self-isolation with little warning and this has brought added worry.

“We hope that our new service will be of benefit to organisations in need.”