B.U.D.I.E.S. training for good mental health
Millions of people every day face the reality of living with a mental health illness – an illness that others may not see, know about or understand. Whether it’s anxiety, stress, depression or low moods, to illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar or Alzheimer’s, these conditions can have a dramatic effect on a person’s life.
At Joseph Ash Galvanizing we believe we have a duty of care and a moral obligation to our employees to help them have good mental health, especially as the workplace – regardless of industry or type – can sometimes be a place of additional stress or anxiety.
The Mental Health Foundation says: “We believe in workplaces where everyone can thrive. We also believe in the role of employers, employees and businesses in creating thriving communities.”
We believe in this too, and it’s why we have recently engaged in B.U.D.I.E.S training for good mental health.
The Mental Wellbeing B.U.D.I.E.S. virtual classroom is a one-hour programme to initiate mental health support in the workplace. The virtual classroom course is helping to give our staff the listening skills and B.U.D.I.E.S. framework to support their colleagues throughout the year.
The B.U.D.I.E.S framework focuses on:
B – Build a helping relationship
U – Understand
D – Determine if your colleague is in crisis
I – Inform about self-help
E – Encourage professional help
S – Safety at all times
The course stresses the importance of listening skills and how to deal with a crisis. It also encourages people to have ‘Wellbeing B.U.D.I.E.S.’ at work – someone to talk to if you’re in need of a friendly ear.
Before COVID, we were due to complete some Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training courses, but as these were going to be face-to-face, we’re pleased to have found an alternative in the B.U.D.I.E.S. virtual classroom.
A number of our team have already taken the B.U.D.I.E.S. training, and we have two more sessions scheduled for this week.
Later this year, we will complete the MHFA training and we’ll also provide colleagues with full contact details for support including:
- Their local BUDIE (telephone, email, Whatsapp)
- Contact details for our Employee Assistance Programme
- Local support networks
The Mental Health Foundation says: “Mental health is something we all have. When we enjoy good mental health, we have a sense of purpose and direction, the energy to do the things we want to do, and the ability to deal with the challenges that happen in our lives.”
At Joseph Ash Galvanizing we aim to promote good mental health, and foster purpose, direction and the ability to successfully navigate through life.
Matt Green and Myles Durward from Joseph Ash nominated for In-Comm Training and Business Services Awards
On 7 June 2019 the annual In-Comm Training and Business Services Awards were held at the ICC in Birmingham. The Awards celebrate and reward young apprentices and adult learners across the West Midlands, and this year team members from Joseph Ash Chesterfield were there to celebrate their training achievements.
Matt Green and Myles Durward have both been completing JAC Level 2 of In-Comm’s BIT training. As part of this course they are learning new skills to take back to Joseph Ash Chesterfield. Skills include looking at ways to be more efficient (and remove wastage) in the following plant processes: Overproduction, Transportation, Waiting, Inventory, Defects, Motion and Process.
Myles and Matt were both nominated for the ‘Learner of the Year: Continuous Improvement’ award, and on the night, Matt walked away with a ‘Highly Commended’ accolade.
Six other team members from Joseph Ash Galvanizing have also completed their Level 2 training, and alongside Matt and Myles, will be moving onto Level 3. A new team from Joseph Ash will also start Level 2. (Back row left to right: James Crookes, Matthew Phillips, Dean Holland, Matt Green. Front row left to right: Mark Payne, Myles Durward, Dave Foster (In-comm trainer), Wayne Smith)
Congratulations to all our team members endeavouring to learn new skills, improve our plants and further their careers. The commitment to learning is great! A special congratulations to Matt and Myles too.
Thanks for such a great event In-Comm!
Ray Rubenis retires from Joseph Ash after 37 years
Whilst looking on a Birmingham history chat room a few days ago we came across some text about the origins of Joseph Ash Galvanizing. One of historians in the forum stated that in the 1950s people used to queue to try and get a job at Joseph Ash Galvanizing, and once they had a foot in the door, it was a job for life with good pay and good experiences. We think this still rings true in more modern times, as we’ve just celebrated the retirement of a valued member of staff – Ray Rubenis – who has left the Company after 37 years’ service.
Ray started working at Joseph Ash Telford in 1982, starting out on the shop floor. From then on for the next 21 years, the Telford branch allowed Ray the opportunity to work his way up through Jigging to Dipping. In 2003, Ray moved to the maintenance department where he could also put his excellent fabrication skills to use. He spent another 11/12 years in this department ensuring any improvements/repairs were completed to keep the plant up and running.
In mid-2012, due to the economic situation at the time across the UK, Ray was facing redundancy. He did not want to leave the Company and he said, “the Walsall Branch came to the rescue and offered me a vacant position within their team, where I was able to work happily until my retirement”.
During Ray’s time at Joseph Ash Walsall he fabricated, repaired and completed general maintenance for the plant working with great support from a fantastic team. He said: “I worked at Joseph Ash for the best years of my life, totalling 37 years. I was extremely lucky to have found a career and home at both their sites and leave with only my best wishes to all the colleagues that I worked with during this time.”
Ray is now looking forward to spending his retirement looking after his grandchildren more often, going away with his caravan in tow whenever (and as often!) as he can, and completing all the jobs he’d been putting off over the years in his home “and of course whatever my wife would like me to do!”.
Congratulations on your retirement Ray. It’s been great having you as part of the Joseph Ash family for nearly 40 years. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement and come back and see us sometime!
First photo left to right: Osmond Crosdale (Maintenance Manager), Charlie Singh (DM Walsall), Ray Rubenis, Sukwinder Singh (Deputy Divisional Manager)
Second photo left to right: Gerry Green (Group Operations Director) and Ray Rubenis