Hampshire housebuilder champions mental health awareness
Foreman Homes has strengthened its commitment to employee wellbeing through a new partnership with SPEAK, delivering a dedicated mental health awareness session at its Portchester development.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for adults under 50 in the UK, and in construction the risk is around three times higher. SPEAK is tackling this head-on by partnering with construction companies to deliver culturally aware, accessible and proven approaches to workforce wellbeing.
Foreman Homes Health and Safety Manager, Chris Turner, kickstarted the initiative, reflecting a growing focus within the construction sector on supporting workers beyond physical safety and recognising the pressures that affect mental health on site.
Team members based on site, including those from DF Groundworks, came together for a candid session led by SPEAK representatives. Founder Alfie Ruffell spoke openly about common challenges faced by workers - long hours, tight deadlines, job insecurity and the physical intensity of day-to-day tasks - all of which can contribute to stress, anxiety and burnout.
SPEAK encourages people to recognise early warning signs, check in on colleagues and normalise conversations around mental health. During the session, Alfie and his team emphasised that seeking help is not a sign of weakness but an essential step in safeguarding both personal wellbeing and site safety. They also shared real-life experiences and practical strategies designed to support workers who may feel reluctant to speak up.
The response from the group was overwhelmingly positive with team members engaging directly with the speakers, raising questions, sharing experiences and reflecting on the importance of supporting one another. Several noted that the session helped break down barriers and opened the door to conversations that might not otherwise happen on a busy construction site.
Karl Handscombe, Construction Director at Foreman Homes, praised SPEAK’s approach and highlighted the importance of initiatives like this in an industry where mental health challenges often go unnoticed.
“Construction can be a demanding environment, and the pressure to deliver is real. This partnership with SPEAK shows exactly where our priorities lie, reinforcing the message that at Foreman Homes we put the health and wellbeing of our people above everything else. Giving our teams the tools and confidence to look after themselves and each other isn’t just the right thing to do - it’s fundamental to how we operate.”
Alfie Ruffell, founder of SPEAK, said “Growing up in Portsmouth, I’ve lost friends to suicide, good men who didn’t know where to turn. That’s why we built SPEAK. The old approach to mental health isn’t working for working-class men. What does work is community, real conversation, and natural holistic support that helps men take back control of their lives. We’re here to prove there’s a better way, and no man has to fight his battles alone.”
The partnership between Foreman Homes and SPEAK marks an important step toward embedding long-term mental health support across the business including a team of dedicated Mental Health First Aiders. By creating space for honest conversation and equipping teams with practical tools, the company is continuing to build a culture where wellbeing is openly prioritised and every worker feels seen, supported and valued.