A bricklaying apprentice at South Hampshire College Group is set to take to the skies in a charity skydive to support Mental Health UK.
Brandon, 24, is in the second year of his Level 2 bricklaying apprenticeship and is on a mission to raise awareness of the intense pressures within the construction industry and the impact this can have on mental wellbeing.
Early starts, long commutes and physically demanding workdays are often simply part of the job. For many in the industry these challenges can take a serious toll.
Brandon said: “It’s not unusual to wake up for work at 5AM every morning and have working days up to 16 hours depending on how long the commute to the site is. Under such tough conditions it can be easy for mental health to suffer. I have seen this with a close colleague of mine and the impact it’s had on both his work life and his family life. It’s a national crisis and people don’t talk about it enough – I want to change that.”
Brandon will complete the skydive with his friend and colleague, Tyler, a hod carrier who supports bricklayers by supplying bricks, mortar and blocks on site. Their skydive will take place on Monday 13 April in Salisbury. Through online campaigning, word of mouth and even car boot sales, the pair have already raised over £800 for Mental Health UK.
Jon Smith, Professional Brickwork Trainer at South Hampshire College Group, said: “I like to call Brandon our poster boy here in Brickwork. He has done nothing but win during his time at college, winning the Guild of Bricklayers south region competition, the ‘Rising Star’ award at the college’s Student Awards and representing the college in a televised DIY SOS episode. He has shown how college can help you improve and how that can be a two-way street.”
To support Brandon’s fundraiser please visit the following link here.
