Scottish contractors team up for mental health initiative | Project Scotland

KIER GRAHAM Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has teamed up with Men Matter Scotland to provide mental health support to employees and sub-contractors at His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde.

Kier GRAHAM DIO is a joint venture between contractors GRAHAM and Kier. Employees and sub-contractors will benefit from a monthly schedule of on-site workshops and drop-in sessions across the base as part of the new partnership.

Glasgow-based Men Matter Scotland has helped more than 2,500 men with positive physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing support since it launched in 2019. The team uses the lived experience of its members, volunteers and staff to deliver peer to peer support.

Kier GRAHAM DIO, which was established in 2018 and is delivering the £750 million Clyde Commercial Framework, aims to reduce the stigma around seeking help and the workshops will supplement existing wellbeing provision offered to employees.

The partnership is part of GRAHAM’s relationship with the charity, which to date has included the donation of a new kitchen and furniture for its outreach centre in Drumchapel.

Fraser Devine, operations lead at Men Matter Scotland, said, “We have developed a brilliant working relationship with GRAHAM to deliver mental health services across its sites and it’s encouraging to see Kier GRAHAM DIO roll these out further. Having launched Men Matter Scotland just over four years ago, we did not expect our network to grow so quickly.

“We pride ourselves on providing individualised assistance and we always have an open door policy for those who need our help, as well as their families. We look forward to building our relationship with staff across the Coulport and Faslane sites of HMNB Clyde.”

Commodore Sharon Malkin, Naval Base Commander, added, “We understand the difficulties men have in talking about their mental health, so I’m delighted that we are able to offer these valuable services to people of the One Clyde network.”