It partners with a Wolverhampton-based charity to conduct the training sessions
Specialist lending bank OSB Group has announced plans to enhance support for employees by introducing domestic abuse awareness training during Mental Health Awareness Week 2024.
The initiative expands the company’s commitment to employee welfare beyond mental health to also encompass safety and support in personal crisis situations.
In the UK, where an estimated 2.4 million people experienced domestic abuse in 2023, the training aims to equip employees to recognise, respond, and connect colleagues to local support systems.
The Wolverhampton-based charity, The Haven, will conduct the training sessions. The Haven has collaborated with OSB Group through The Purple Pledge — a programme that aids employers in creating supportive workplace environments.
Earlier this year, OSB Group also facilitated Mental Health First Aid training for Demelza, a children’s hospice in Kent. The programme provided skills for non-judgmental listening and effective referral to professional and charitable support networks, emphasizing the role of personal relationships in mental health recovery.
“The Mental Health First Aider course was so valuable,” said Oliver Spencer, marketing and comms storytelling officer at Demelza. “My role at Demelza means I spend a lot of time with different teams across the whole organisation, so I’m really well-placed to recognise someone who might be struggling with poor mental health. Having completed my qualification, I now genuinely feel like I have the tools to support others.”
Neil Richardson, chief sustainability officer at OSB Group, highlighted the reciprocal nature of their community engagements.
“The strong partnerships we hold within our local communities is something we are immensely proud of here at OSB Group,” he said. “To be able to knowledge and training share is really valuable to all involved.
“Not only have we been able to gift training to charity partners, but we are also going to receive training from charity partners too. This demonstrates the importance of partnerships going deeper than monetary funding, although that too is key to the support we provide.”
Want to be regularly updated with mortgage news and features? Get exclusive interviews, breaking news, and industry events in your inbox – subscribe to our FREE daily newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.
