THE LIGHTHOUSE CHARITY AND CICES
Construction is an industry built on capability, pace and pressure. We deal with risk, deadlines and responsibility every day. But too often, mental health is treated as something to push through quietly, until it becomes a crisis. The scale is clear in national reporting. The HSE estimates that 964,000 workers experienced work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2024/25, contributing to 22.1 million working days lost. ONS provisional data also recorded 1,433 suicides registered in England in Q2 2025 alone. Construction remains a high-risk occupational group, with 355 deaths by suicide recorded among people working in skilled construction and building trades in England and Wales in 2024 (provisional).
That is why the work of the Lighthouse Charity matters and why CICES is proud to support it as a bronze member. We highly value what Lighthouse provides to our industry and we want every member to know the support is there, it is confidential and it is designed for the realities of construction life. CICES has also supported Lighthouse through member fundraising activity at events, helping raise both awareness and vital funds for the charity’s work. Lighthouse’s own reporting shows the demand and impact of that support, including thousands of families reaching out for help and thousands of counselling sessions delivered in a single year.
The Lighthouse Charity provides free, confidential support for construction workers and their families, with access routes that work whether you are on site, in a van, between meetings or at home.
- A 24/7 helpline: UK: 0345 605 1956 | ROI: 1800 939 122
- Live web chat via: lighthousecharity.org
- A text service for those who find it easier to write than talk: Text HARDHAT to 85258 (UK) or 50808 (ROI)
CICES CEO Simon Hamlyn said:
“CICES membership of the Lighthouse Charity is important to the institution as it means that we can contribute to the essential support that provides free emotional, physical and financial wellbeing services to the construction community, globally. CICES is rightly proud of our golden threads and offering free mental health training and resources to promote a healthier, safer industry for workers and their families is very much aligned with our EDI commitments. Bronze membership provides the institution with networking opportunities, exclusive event access, venue hire discounts and marketing perks such as social media posts and website presence to support the charity. At our recent Burns supper, we raised over £1,500, half of which went to the Lighthouse Charity. We would recommend that all our members donate to the Lighthouse Charity when they have an opportunity”.
Genna Rourke
I am sharing this because it is personal. Last year, I used the Lighthouse Charity after going through a very difficult personal situation at home. From the first phone call, the support was professional, compassionate and immediate. The counsellor I was matched with was excellent and I can honestly say the support from the charity was second to none. I recommend it without hesitation. This year, I am taking on 12 challenges in 12 months to raise money for Lighthouse. The events range from 35-mile hikes, Snowdon 6, National 3 peaks and the Ultimate 3 peaks, covering National 3 peaks, Yorkshire 3 peaks, Welsh 3 peaks (N3P, Y3P and W3P) (in three days).
I am doing this for two reasons. First, it is a personal challenge to push my boundaries. Second, it is a way to give back to a charity that genuinely supports our people when they need it most. It will be tough at points, but it is already forcing me to focus on the basics I often forget; structured training, eating properly, protecting my mental health, not drinking, prioritising rest and treating self-care as nonnegotiable rather than optional.
Self-care is not a luxury in construction. We are brilliant at delivering for everyone else but we are far worse at protecting ourselves. Self-care does not have to mean big gestures. It can be small, consistent choices; taking a proper break where possible, getting outside, speaking to someone early rather than late, sleeping, eating properly and setting boundaries when your head is already full. These sound simple, but in our industry, simple is often what gets dropped first. If you are struggling, or you know someone who is, do not wait for it to get worse. Reaching out early is always better than reaching out at crisis point.
Sandy Powell
Sandy Powell, chair of the institution’s Education, Professional Development and Memberhsip Committee, is also taking on a fundraising challenge for the Lighthouse Charity, cycling 296km (184mi) as part of the Dragon Ride, to complete the Dragon Devil route. This is a truly demanding route that not only covers over 180 miles but also involves climbing over 4,430m in elevation or, in layman’s terms, half the height of Everest, all within one day.
Sandy Powell said: “I am taking on this ride as a personal challenge, a way of proving to myself and to others, that physical limitations do not have to define what we can strive for or achieve. Training for the Dragon Devil will push me far outside my comfort zone, but that is exactly the point. I want people to see that determination, adaptability and self-belief can carry us into spaces that once felt out of reach.
Self-care is not a luxury in construction. We are brilliant at delivering for everyone else but we are far worse at protecting ourselves.
But this isn’t just about me. Hidden disabilities are a very real part of my life and the lives of so many colleagues across our industry. These conditions often require constant management, quiet resilience and a level of strength that isn’t always visible. Too often, those living with hidden disabilities feel they must mask them, not because they want to, but because misunderstanding, stigma and lack of awareness make openness feel risky.
By taking on something as demanding as the Dragon Devil, I want to challenge assumptions about what disability looks like and what people with hidden conditions are capable of. I also want to start a wider conversation about how we, as leaders, employers and colleagues, can create environments where people feel safe to be themselves without fear of judgement.
We need leaders who don’t wait for someone to ask for support, but who are proactive in offering flexibility, compassion and understanding. We need workplaces where people are encouraged to talk openly about what they need and where those needs are met with empathy rather than suspicion. Most importantly, we need to shift the conversation from ‘limitations’ to ‘potential’, recognising the enormous value that people with hidden disabilities bring; creativity, problem solving, emotional intelligence and resilience born from navigating challenges most never see.
This ride is my way of saying we can do more, we can understand more and we can lead better. If even one employer thinks differently because of this challenge, or one person with a hidden disability feels more seen and valued, then every kilometre and every climb will have been worth it”.
If you are planning your own fundraiser, whether it is a walk, cycle, team challenge, site collection, bake sale or company event, please let CICES know so we can share it, support it and build momentum across the membership.
Lighthouse exists because construction needs it. The support is confidential, accessible and built for our industry. Save the details, share them with your teams and use them if you need them. Just as importantly, if you’re in a position to lead, don’t keep this as a quiet wellbeing message. Make support visible, make self-care normal and back it up with action.
To donate to Genna’s fundraising page: justgiving.com/page/genna-rourke-3