SWINDON Mindful Employers Network is offering bosses training to handle stress among their workforce.

The free course will be laid on as part of the network’s ongoing mission to support the understanding of stress, depression and other mental illness in the workplace.

The course, held at the Swindon Marriott’s Uffington Suite aims to help managers recognise the symptoms of stress in their workforce and assist in developing strategies to reduce the impact of mental distress on individuals, teams and the business as a whole.

Trainers Geoff Windle of the Swindon Psychology Service and Adrian Embling of RF WorkLife will be running the workshop, with guest speakers, health and safety inspectors Emma Darvill and Stephan Axt-Simmonds.

David Latham of Mindful Employer partner, The Richmond Fellowship, said: “Feedback from employers who have engaged with the Swindon Mindful Employer Network indicates that training for line managers on handling stress among the workforce is becoming a priority for companies in both the private and public sector.

“But resources and budget can be a problem in difficult economic times so we’re delighted to be able to offer up to 60 places free of charge to our network of employers.”

The NHS Swindon-funded course will run between 9.15am and 1.30pm on Friday, May 28.

Meanwhile, BBC Points West presenter and reporter Ali Vowles will be hosting the Swindon Mindful Employer Network Conference 2010 on Monday, April 19 at the Swindon Marriott Hotel. It is the second conference by the group aiming to increase awareness of mental health and well-being at work.

This year’s event entitled Promoting Healthier Businesses will concentrate on three Rs – Resilience, Recovery, Reputation.

The keynote speech will be delivered by Dame Carol Black, national director for Health and Work.

Her review of the health of Britain’s working age population called Working for a Healthier Tomorrow is behind the new government agenda for the workplace.

Dame Carol said: “Not only is it our duty to safeguard the health and well-being of people of working age to enable them and their families to flourish, it is vital to the success of businesses and to the UK economy.

“I understand that the network has been a great success in the town and I look forward to learning more about this important initiative.”

Dame Carol will be joined by GP and occupational health expert Dr Liz Miller, who appeared in the Stephen Fry documentary The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive.

The Swindon Mindful Employer Network was formed in 2008 and meets every few months to hold discussions and hear from top speakers. Meetings are free for representatives of local employers. It is managed locally by Richmond Fellowship Wiltshire and supported by NHS Swindon.

For more details call the Richmond Fellowship on 01793 433571 or email wilts@richmondfellowship. org.uk