26 October 2026

A campaign launch with the help of some animals!

On 13 October, NFRC launched its third campaign as part of its Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy at Pets Corner in Harlow, bringing members together to kick-start Weather the Storm, a campaign that puts wellbeing firmly where it belongs: part and parcel of health and safety.

At the heart of the campaign is helping people recognise and acknowledge the link between wellbeing and safety. Tiredness, stress, distraction or feeling overwhelmed can affect concentration, communication, balance, judgement and decision-making. In safety-critical work, particularly when working at height, one lapse can have serious, and sometimes fatal, consequences.

The campaign takes something familiar to roofers – the weather – and applies it to how we feel, using a simple Weather the Storm check-in scale. It encourages everyone to check in with themselves and their colleagues, recognise the signs and take action before things reach stormy conditions.

Pets Corner was the perfect setting, bringing together the wellbeing benefits of being outdoors and around animals with a roofing connection too, thanks to Contour Roofing’s work on the meerkat and tortoise enclosure!

Attendees heard from Recheal Welsford of Mates in Mind, whose engaging presentation got everyone thinking and actively participating. The highlight was a Q&A with Jonathan Woods of Contour Roofing, who kindly shared a contractor’s perspective on mental health and wellbeing. Jonathan’s openness and honesty really struck a chord with the room, and NFRC would like to thank him for sharing his experiences and the fantastic work Contour Roofing is doing to support its staff’s wellbeing. To find out more, visit Contour Roofing’s wellbeing webpage.

The morning sparked some brilliant conversations and ideas, with attendees becoming our first official Weather the Storm campaign champions. There was even a little friendly competition, as Bob Richardson challenged everyone to find the animal most like Gary Walpole – with Jonathan taking the crown for his match with Graham, the giant gourami!

Our thanks to our campaign champions: Abbey Roofing (EU) Ltd; Belmont Roofing Ltd; Contour Roofing (Essex) Ltd; Everlast Group Ltd; Industrial Construction Sussex (ICS) Ltd; JPR Roofing & Flooring Ltd; Karl Austerfield Roofing Ltd; Lura Construction Ltd; Precision Projects (South East) Ltd; Richard Soan Roofing Services, and Roof-Link Industrial & Commercial Ltd.

Anyone can pledge its support to the campaign, whether you work for yourself, work with others or employ a team and receive a campaign kit containing a certificate, poster and practical guidance resources. Visit nfrc.co.uk/weather-the-storm to make your pledge and help make wellbeing part of everyday conversations on site.

What is your organisation doing to support wellbeing?

NFRC would love to hear from members about the initiatives, ideas and practical steps they are taking to support their teams, so we can share good practice across the roofing industry. Please send your ideas and stories to [email protected].