“If I can stop one person from taking their own life, that to me is worth its weight in gold and why I give my time” - Jason Titterington, Network Supervisor, Cadent
It is
#VolunteersWeek and in the latest in our series of case studies about the fantastic team at Cadent who also volunteer, today we touch on a subject that just has to be spoken about more - men’s mental health.
Jason, who works in our North West network, is a volunteer facilitator for the Preston branch of Andy’s Man Club, a free, supportive and confidential support group.
This club meets weekly, but is available to members at all times, because at any time of day or night it really is okay to talk about things.
Jason, 36, speaks openly about his own journey with mental health issues, which last year drove him to seek out the support of the Andy’s Man Club network.
Up and down the country, men meet in groups and are helped by volunteer facilitators like Jason to open up and share their feelings, in turn helping each other.
“The main thing is really that people need to talk. If you are feeling depressed or anxious, the right thing to do is talk.
“At first, I didn’t think it was for me. Like most people at their first meeting, I sat in the car park and almost bottled it. But I didn’t.
“It was a lightbulb moment - I realised that night that I was not alone and, after a few weeks, I really started to feel at ease.”
The club recently moved from its home at a cricket club to new facilities at Preston North End Football Club. The Championship team’s players recently wore Andy’s Man Club T-shirts during a pre match warm-up to show their support for a club that now shares their home ground.
Jason, who has 18 direct reports, and supervises teams who repair our gas network in Preston, Blackburn, Leyland, Chorley and surrounding areas, explains that he’s been able to open up more to colleagues at work and provide much-needed support to those struggling with mental health.
Jason encourages people to speak out if they are struggling with mental health. He adds: “Never be ashamed to reach out for a helping hand. More importantly if a colleague doesn’t seem to be their self, ask them if they are ok.”
Take a look at
www.andysmanclub.co.uk and share this among your own network of colleagues, family and friends.
Cadent and volunteering
Volunteering matters to us here at Cadent. We want to be a force for good within the communities that we serve. Providing opportunities for colleagues to volunteer can provide a range of real benefits to our customers and our teams. Follow our social media channels for more #VolunteersWeek case studies.