Member Article

Optionis announce exclusive charity partnership with Samaritans

Warrington-based professional services provider Optionis has pledged its support to Samaritans through a new charity partnership designed to benefit its clients and more than 650 staff across the UK.

Through a range of brands, the firm provides accountancy services for freelancers, contractors and small to medium sized businesses as well as umbrella employment solutions, and as part of the charity link-up it will produce a series of guides and information designed to promote better mental health in the workplace. More information on the partnership can be found on the Optionis website.

A series of training sessions will also be coordinated by Samaritans across the Group’s 10 UK offices to help give staff the tools, knowledge and confidence to identify vulnerable people and engage with them sensitively.

In addition, employees across the Group are set to take part in a number of fundraising activities throughout the year to provide a funding boost for the Samaritans.

It’s hoped the company can top last year’s efforts where more than £10,000 was raised for two children’s charities after staff took on a series of challenges including long-distance bike treks, assault courses and fancy-dress competitions.

“We’re really pleased to have chosen the Samaritans as our exclusive charity partner for 2019”, said James Lawton-Hill, Director of Marketing at Optionis.

“As one of the leading accountancy, tax and umbrella solution employers across the country, we’re committed to providing our staff with a fantastic work environment and an important part of that is ensuring that their welfare and wellbeing is well looked after.

“Partnering with the Samaritans gives us access to industry-leading advice and information that will benefit our people, but we also find that having a charity to support through fundraising activities is something that staff really value.

“This partnership is also for the thousands of clients we work with day in day out – in particular our contractor and freelancer clients.

“Traditionally, these types of workers have less professional support around them as they’re not always plugged in to the services offered by the companies they work with, which can leave many vulnerable to workplace stress.

“We want to offer more support to them and promote better mental health in the workplace, and through this partnership we intend to provide access to tailored information and guides; more opportunities for face-to-face meetings with other self-employed workers to prevent isolation, and clearly signposted support for anyone that needs to speak with a Samaritan.”

A recent report by Business in the Community found that 60 per cent of people have experienced a mental health issue where work was a contributing factor.

The study also suggested that mental health issues such as stress, depression and anxiety contribute to around 15.8 million days of sickness absence each year, with work related mental ill health costing UK employers around £35billion each year.

Ruth Sutherland, Samaritans CEO, said, “We’re delighted and very excited that Optionis will be partnering with us for 2019.

“Self-employed workers in the UK can be under a lot of pressure – whether that’s through trying to impress in a contracting role, a freelance project or growing their own business – and often they may feel that they have no-one they can talk to about their professional worries.

“This can lead to stress and problems with mental health, so it’s vital that we try to look for ways to prevent that happening and ensure that effective, accessible and relevant support is available when people need it.

“That’s exactly what Optionis will be providing through this partnership with us and we’re very much looking forward to working closely with the Group to support its many clients and employees across the UK.”

The Samaritans was founded in 1953 in London and partners with organisations to support to those in need. They have 201 branches UK-wide and are contacted for help every six seconds.

Headquartered in Warrington, the Optionis Group has offices across the UK and encompasses seven brands, including SJD Accountancy, ClearSky Accounting, Parasol, First Freelance, Nixon Williams, ClearSky Business and Brian Alfred.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emily Craig .