August 2020

Industry News
DO YOU KNOW A
HERO ROOFER?
More news, updates and interviews at www.total-contractor.co.uk
NFRC BACKS SAMARITANS’ NEW CAMPAIGN
The NFRC is backing the Samaritans’ Real People
Real Stories campaign which aims to use real life
stories to reach men struggling to cope and
encourage them to seek help before reaching
crisis point.
To nominate your Local Hero simply visit
www.sigroofing.co.uk or ask for more details at your local
SIG Roofing Branch.
SIG Roofing has issued a call for people to
nominate their ‘Local Hero’, an award
which shines a spotlight on the fantastic
work being carried out by UK roofers.
The Local Hero award can be won by someone
who has gone the extra mile on a roofing job for
a client. Or equally, it could be awarded in
recognition of a charitable act or some
inspirational volunteering, particularly
important in these unprecedented times as the
country continues to manage the Coronavirus
outbreak.
Nominations are open until Monday 31st
August, and are open to roofing contractors
working at businesses with 15 or less
employees.
The nominations will be judged by a panel of
SIG Roofing and NFRC representatives and the
winner will be announced on Monday 14th
September. The winner will be awarded
attendance for two people to the 2020/21 UK
Roofing Awards in May.
Richard Kendrick, Marketing Manager at SIG
Roofing, added: “There have been some truly
inspirational stories of roofers going above and
beyond for clients and the community in
amongst the pandemic, and we can’t wait to
shine a spotlight on them. Putting the final
shortlist together is often difficult, but it’s a real
privilege to be able to hear about some of the
amazing work carried out in the name of
roofing, and to give hard-working professionals
a little something back.”
As part of the campaign, Samaritans are sharing
new research about the impact of lockdown
measures on the mental health of working-age
(18-59) men, which showed two-in-five (42%)
men felt that the Covid-19 restrictions had had a
negative impact on their mental health.
Almost half (47%) of respondents had felt
feelings of anxiety, a similar number experienced
loneliness and/or isolation (42%), and just over a
third (34%) said lockdown put a strain on their
relationships.
However, 40% of respondents said that talking to
others helped with the concerns and worries they
had during lockdown, showing the importance of
seeking help and getting support when they
needed it. Real People, Real Stories runs from
11th August to 27th September and aims to reach
men aged 18-59 years and above who are feeling
low and struggling to cope.
Men who have found life tough, experienced
depression or suicidal thoughts, have written
words of support to other men, and these will
feature in films, shared across social media,
radio, buses and TV.
NFRC, Head of Technical, Bob Richardson,
commented: “We strongly welcome Samaritans’
Real People, Real Stories campaign. This new
research paints a troubling picture of the affect
that lockdown has had on the mental health of
working-age men, such as loneliness, anxiety and
financial worries. Samaritans want to use this
campaign to reach anyone who is struggling
during this pandemic, to prevent them from
reaching crisis point, and show the importance of
seeking help.”
He added: “Sadly, suicide is still one of the
biggest killers in construction, taking on average
You can support by following the campaign
@samaritanscharity on Instagram or on Twitter
@samaritans or Facebook, using the hashtag
#RealPeopleRealStories.
two lives a day, with roofing being one of the
occupations with the highest risk – almost three
times more than the average. That is why NFRC
are working with the Samaritans to explore different
ways of supporting tradesmen in construction who
may be struggling, and welcome this initiative”
He concluded: “This campaign offers a positive
alternative, by showing real life stories of men
who have sought help and overcome tough times.
If you know someone who is finding things
difficult at the moment, then encourage them to
seek help. Anyone can call the Samaritans for free
on 116 123, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year or
visit Samaritans.org to explore their self-help
tools and information.”
Paul McDonald, Samaritans’ Executive Director of
External Affairs, commented: “This pandemic has
brought unexpected change and uncertainty,
which will have a lasting impact on everyone’s
mental health and wellbeing. At Samaritans we
know that less well off, middle-aged men have
remained the highest risk group for suicide in the
UK for decades, and that the restrictions put in
place during lockdown, such as isolation and
disconnection, will have exacerbated problems for
these men. We understand the value of listening
and the power of human connection, particularly at
this time when so many people are dealing with
overwhelming thoughts and feelings. We know that
sharing stories of recovery does encourage men to
seek help, so we hope that our Real People, Real
Stories campaign can help other men to see that
they can do it too, and know that Samaritans is
always there when they want to talk.”
6 TC AUGUST 2020