Virgin East Coast loco aims to highlight mental health issues

VIRGIN Trains East Coast (VTEC) has signed up to the Time to Change pledge, a national campaign that tackles the stigma around mental health discrimination.

To promote awareness in the issue, VTEC will invest more than £700,000 a year to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of its staff.

As part of this investment, the train operator will commit to educate more than 3,000 employees in recognising and taking on mental health issues in both colleagues and customers.

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VTEC has appointed two mental health ‘champions’ – board members Clare Burles (people director) and commercial director Suzanne Donnelly.

Sue Baker, director of Time to Change, said: “We know it can be hard to talk about mental health, which is why we’re supporting employers.

“One in six British workers experiences mental illness and it’s time for businesses to make a change and start creating more mentally healthy workplaces.”

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To raise awareness, VTEC has branded No. 91132 with special vinyls, the loco being pictured at King’s Cross.

PICTURE: Jamie Squibbs


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