The Lighthouse Charity has reportedly set new records by reaching more people and delivering more support than ever before in 2024.
Last year the charity’s helpline advisors and caseworkers delivered a £4.98m of charitable support to 5,695 families who reached out for help through the charity’s free and confidential helpline and live web chat service.
The charity also supplied 5,712 meals and provided 5,756 counselling sessions to its workforce.
Furthermore, their #MakeItVisible tour team continued to reach some of our industry’s most vulnerable workers, sharing the message of support with frontline trades. Last year the charity’s team visited 572 sites and started conversations with over 28,000 site workers.
This initiative introduced 88 workers expressing suicidal thoughts to the #MakeItVisible team. But through starting a conversation, those suicides have been prevented.
Reflecting on a year of positive impact, Sarah Bolton, CEO of the Lighthouse Charity, said: “This support was delivered against another challenging year with the construction sector being one of the worst hit for company insolvencies. This, alongside continued increases in the cost of materials and the cost of living, has added pressure on our construction community.
“The important thing is that people know about us and are reaching out for help. Whether it’s supporting someone through illness or injury, making sure there’s a meal on the table for the family or simply offering a listening ear, the message is simple. If you’re struggling, help is here.
“To ensure that we are meeting the industry’s needs, we are continually improving and growing our charitable services, listening to our communities and extending our message of support beyond the boundaries of the workplace.
“But our work is only possible thanks to the support of the people in our construction community. Whether it’s organising fundraising days, becoming a company supporter, attending events, or helping us spread the message of support through their supply chains, all of this contributes to us being able to make a life changing and lifesaving impact. Our work is continuous, and we are looking forward to extending our services and the support we offer even further in 2025.”
