I am honoured to be an Ambassador to the ABS, it is my opportunity to be able to give back to my profession and others that have experienced mental health problems and face/faced hardship in there lives.

I am a Chartered Architectural Technologist, based in the North West, at Mott Macdonald a worldwide, multidisciplinary company. I am also the current NW aspirATion group chair and work closely with CIAT.

The aspirATion group, part of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, is an initiative aim at the younger generation (students and recent graduates) of upcoming AT professionals. I am proud that ABS offer support to students on what can be a highly stressful program and I can ensure the North West Region of aspirATion will do the part to raise awareness and educate on ABS and what they offer.

I myself suffered from the effects of mental illness and unfortunately at the time, did not know anything about ABS. As soon as I heard about the charity I knew I could not say no to representing them. There are so many people that keep their head down about suffering with a problem and don’t want to speak up and get help. I want to be able to help people have the confidence and the chance to become known and get the support they need.

The construction industry can be a very high pressure/stressful environment to be in and companies often forget the person behind the screen, creating the work and do not think about (or see) what is happening with the person and their life and wellbeing.

I am looking forward to working with ABS and helping spread the message that help is there and all you need to do is ask.

I am an Associate Architect working for an international practice in Hampshire and I also lecture part-time in Professional Practice for the University of Portsmouth.

Being an Ambassador for the Architect’s Benevolent Society and raising awareness for them is an invaluable alliance that helps support my colleagues in practice and my students at the university, as well as others within the wider architectural industry.

I first got involved with ABS when both my colleagues in practice and my students were affected in their personal lives and the work place, with mental health or other issues, and I felt like I could do more to assist.  I have of course felt the pressures of the business, and life, and this only allows me to relate better to those I want to help.  I have a passion for mentoring and believe that education and awareness is the principle way to break stigma.

It is important to know that ABS is not limited to mental health and their assistance and knowledge goes much further.  Their work with Anxiety UK however proves an incredible resource. I am very excited to see collaboration and change.

I first gained knowledge of the Architects Benevolent Society when, during my masters, they hosted an event at the Sheffield School of Architecture. In collaboration with the RIBA, ABS sought to raise awareness of mental wellbeing among architecture students and practitioners, and presented the services they could offer those experiencing hardship. Subsequently I used their services to deal with my own mental health needs, and was incredibly impressed with the support ABS staff offered, and the pace with which I was able to access appropriate mental health provision. I believe the intensity of the profession often leads to the neglect of the mental health of its practitioners. Without the work of ABS I know many within the profession would be suffering.

As an Ambassador I have used my role to promote the work of the charity, including hosting a virtual event for Sheffield School of Architecture students (with support from the University’s mental health services). I have also fundraised for the organisation.

ABS is a fantastic charity, providing essential support to architectural practitioners and their families, and I am excited to continue to work in partnership with the organisation.

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Hi I’m James and I’m a dad, husband, dog-owner and architect. I am the director at a small, award-winning architectural practice that focusses on domestic, small commercial and community projects across North Somerset & the South West. As well as designing lovely places to live, work & play, I also engage with academic institutions at all levels; ranging from STEM/STEAM workshops at primary schools, careers advice and work experience at secondary school & academies, right up to university level where I help and mentor undergrad and masters students.

I have been involved in the architecture industry in some capacity for the best part of 20 years, and throughout both the long-haul of education and then working from micro to global scales, I have witnessed an epidemic of poor mental health. This results in people really suffering with stress, anxiety and depression, which as an industry of highly-skilled, professional problem solvers, always puzzled me as to why this continued to go unaddressed.

In seeking out answers I discovered the ABS, and having witnessed the incredible support they offer to our industry, I endeavoured to be involved in the sharing of the invaluable resources they can provide to both our profession and student cohorts. Being a proud ambassador empowers me to share awareness of the support available, learn and continue to champion the changing attitudes towards mental health, and I’m looking forward to stimulating positive, open conversations with students, academics and professionals, as well as enjoying some social fundraising at every opportunity!

Abigail is an Architect currently working within the residential team at Buttress Architects, she joined the team in 2019 after graduating with a Distinction in her Masters of Architecture from the University of Manchester.

A keen advocate for the profession, Abigail has been involved with the RIBA since 2015 and has previously held roles on the RIBA National Council as Student Representative (2017-2019) and Co-Vice President of Students and Associates (2019), she maintains a role working within the RIBA Education Development Group involving assessing bursary applications for various funds.

Abigail has recently joined the teaching staff at The Manchester School of Architecture to tutor Masters students within atelier PRAXXIS on a weekly basis. Abigail is interested in researching and writing around the topic of the gender gap in the architectural industry and discussions this brings about equality, diversity and inclusion. Since beginning her journey as an architecture student, Abigail has also been particularly interested in discussing and researching around the topic of mental health and wellbeing within the industry; a passion that is supported by her role as ambassador for the Architects Benevolent Society, a charity dedicated to those working within the profession.

In 2019, she was named on the Northern Power Women’s Future List. The Future List recognises the influencers and change makers of the future who are already making a difference in their environment and communities.

She says, “It’s safe to say that the work ABS do is invaluable for students, graduates, professions- or anyone working within the architectural industry. I wish I had known about the charity during my time studying my undergraduate, when my struggles with anxiety were at their worst. Luckily I have incredible family and friends who helped me through very difficult times, but now I want to be able to give something back and help those who might be in a similar situation and use my own experiences to support others.”

Working with the ABS is an opportunity to give back to a community of people, friends and colleagues who give so much to me.  I love my job and as an Architect and employer. The interactions I have with people and the positive energy that is created throughout our industry makes each day enjoyable…  Ok, makes most days enjoyable…  But if I were to lose that, if illness or injury were to take the tools of my trade away and make it impossible to work, it would break my heart.  Beyond that, the fiscal burden would just be salt in the wound.

Being able to offer support during such difficult time helps to lighten the load and frees the mind of worry and that is why I jumped at the chance to spread the good word…  Oh, and they wanted to call me an Ambassador which made me feel very important, and kind of swung it for me really!

I am an Architect based in the North West. I have been an Ambassador for around 3 years – I decided to get involved with the ABS after hearing about how they helped a friend. I wasn’t aware of the support they can provide or the breadth of professions they can reach out to, but when I did, I couldn’t not get involved.

I myself have struggled in the last few years; with being unable to work due to illness, which in turn implicates you financially, redundancy and then the aftermath of mental health struggles coming to terms with what had happened.  I feel really passionate about helping others know that they can have confidence in the fact that they are not alone, there is help out there and they do not need to suffer in silence.

I would love to be able to help others by spreading the word of the architects benevolent society and give back to the profession I enjoy so much.  It is so so important that people know there is always help, there is always someone to talk to or listen and all they need to do is ask!

The main motivation for becoming involved in ABS, has been due to the amazing support they have given to some of the students that I have taught recently, who have been struggle with different aspects of mental health.

I believe, those of us, who are in a position, to give back to the profession, should see it as our duty, to help and assist the next generation, therefore I see ABS, in playing a significant part of the future of the architectural profession.