Mental health first aid added to East Midlands Chamber training portfolio for businesses

The East Midlands Chamber has partnered up provide mental health courses, accredited by MHFA England. 

The collaboration, launched during Mental Health Awareness Week, will provide businesses with access to mental health first-aider training, either in person or online.

The courses help delegates gain the knowledge and skills spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health, be confident enough to start a conversation and signpost a person to appropriate support. 

The initiative reinforces East Midlands Chamber’s CSR commitment as courses are provided in partnership with regional charities across the East Midlands. 

Since 2022, Loates has provided complimentary MHFA training for Derby County Community Trust, Nottinghamshire Hospice and from 2024, Rainbows Hospice in Leicestershire. 

East Midlands Chamber Head of Leadership and Training Programmes Vicki Thompson said: "We see this as a natural extension to the broad training programme we already offer. The mental health first aider courses can also be booked by businesses as an in-house course."

Loates spokesperson Annie Litchfield said: “The charity partnerships foster a culture of wellbeing in the workplace while raising awareness of the valuable work and vital services each charity undertakes.”

Nottinghamshire Hospice Communications and Marketing Manager Hollie Anderson said: "The collaboration has enabled us to raise the profile of Nottinghamshire Hospice among a wider group of organisations. By offering their Mental Health First Aid courses in our training room, we provide essential training to our team and showcase the hospice's vital work to a broader audience."