Staff from some of Bristol’s largest hotels are to take part in a sponsored charity walk to highlight mental health issues in the hospitality sector.
Members of Bristol Hoteliers Association (BHA) – which represents 40 hotels in and around the city with around 4,000 rooms between them – are teaming up with their counterparts in Bath to raise thousands of pounds to support Hospitality Action.
Now in its fourth year, Hospitality Action’s Walk for Wellbeing supports people who work in the hospitality sector who are facing challenging times and mental health issues.
It is the first time the BHA has taken part in Walk for Wellbeing. Which this year takes place on Sunday 8 October, two days before World Mental Health Day.
Scores of BHA members will walk the 20km walk between the DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol City Centre to Bath’s Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa alongside the Bristol and Bath Railway Path.
Bath hotel workers will walk the same route in the opposite direction.
More than £120,000 has been raised by Walk for Wellbeing events in other UK cities over the past few years.
DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol City Centre Manager Ahad Vahabzadeh said the BHA hopes more than 100 people will take part in the event, with a target of raising £10,000 towards promoting wellbeing within the hospitality sector.
“Over half of the people who currently contact Hospitality Action for support reference mental health issues,” he said.
“The overwhelming majority are also struggling with household debts, with some even facing the threat of eviction. Nearly half are working in front-facing roles, such as bar staff, waiting teams and baristas.
“Hospitality roles can be challenging at times in terms of pace, hours and volume of work, so the responsibility to promote wellbeing is something we should all take on.
“We do such a great job looking after our guests and customers but we also need to make sure we look after ourselves and each other.”
The Walk for Wellbeing, the first to take place in the South West, will be mainly along a flat, traffic-free route lined with greenery.”
To find out more about the event, and how to support it, visit www.walkforwellbeing.org/bath-bristol
