There is now just over a month to go until the Worcestershire Ambassadors' Time to Change lunch on Thursday, September 26, at Hogarths Stone Manor.

The event will lead discussions regarding how we, the business community, can change the way we all think and act about mental health locally to improve attitudes and behaviour.

One in four British workers are affected by conditions like anxiety, depression and stress every year, with 95 per cent of those employees providing an alternative reason for their absence.

As you may well know, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is leading on the employer strand of Time to Change Worcestershire, and we have been working closely with both Members and Non-members to develop a culture where staff can talk openly about their mental health problems.

The Worcestershire Ambassadors event, in support of Time to Change Worcestershire, will welcome British Paralympian athlete Mel Nicholls to share her inspirational story. Mel competed in the 2012 Summer Paralympics, and was a silver medallist at the Athletics World Championships 2015.

It has also just been announced that former RAF Pilot and 1991 Gulf War Prisoner of War, John Peters, will also be attending the event which will raise funds for the Worcester Community Trust and St Paul’s Hostel.

September’s event is a brilliant chance for those interested to find out more about how we can all work together to help dispel the negative stereotypes associated with people experiencing mental health problems.

It is not too late to sign the Time to Change Employer Pledge and join a growing movement of more than 900 employers in England across all sectors from FTSE 100 companies and leading retailers to government departments.

To book your place, visit bit.ly/MelNichollsTTC