Growbiz deliver mental health workshops to support rural businesses

GrowBiz, Scotland’s rural enterprise organisation, has helped provide a boost to the wellbeing of Perthshire business owners with a series of specialised mental health workshops delivered over the past twelve months.

Five WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) workshops have taken place in community venues across a number of the region’s rural locations.  Funding for the workshops was provided by the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, delivered by Perth & Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS).

GrowBiz delivered the 2-day WRAP workshop to 44 people, including many small and micro business owners. In addition, 10 self-employed people have completed immersive 5-day facilitator training., resulting in a significantly increased capacity in rural areas across Perth and Kinross to deliver accredited, high quality mental health and wellbeing training.

Hayley Gardiner, GrowBiz Care & Wellbeing Co-ordinator said; “During 2022, GrowBiz conducted research amongst our clients - who are small and micro business owners - to assess the impact of the cost of living crisis on rural communities.  We were concerned to see that 44% of respondents listed general wellbeing issues such as exhaustion, strain and mental health concerns as an anticipated problem in the near future.

She continued; “GrowBiz wants to do all it can to support business owners as well as other members of local, rural communities so we were delighted to be successful in gaining funding to deliver much needed WRAP training across the region.”

Since being developed in the USA in 1997, WRAP training has been delivered to thousands of people all over the world and it is widely used within the NHS. It is both an education programme and a personal plan for wellbeing, rooted in the principle of self-determination. The preventative tools and techniques which are covered can help to decrease and prevent intrusive or troubling feelings and behaviours, increase personal empowerment and improve quality of life.

Perthshire yoga teacher Susie Murphy is based near Kirkmichael and took part in the WRAP training earlier this year. She is studying for a BSc in Psychology with Counselling and has two teenage children. She commented; “The training has helped in my approach to life, my studies and my work as a yoga teacher. It has opened up doors to becoming a co-facilitator and has given me the skills and tools to look at situations that I found tricky in my life.”

Clair Smith, GrowBiz Deputy Chief Executive, concluded; “GrowBiz has delivered award-winning, innovative community-based support for more than 16 years. Supporting the wellbeing and mental health of business owners and other members of local, rural communities is simply another part of the GrowBiz toolkit as we work to give Scotland’s rural enterprises the help they need to start up and thrive.”

Businesses and organisations interested in finding out more about WRAP training can contact connect@growbiz.co.uk