Visitors to the BIGGA stand in BTME’s Blue Zone will be able to access a Member Wellness Area, with practitioners on hand to advise on skin damage, hearing issues, mental health and more.
Stuart Green, head of member development at BIGGA, said: “Membership of BIGGA isn’t just about developing your greenkeeping abilities. It’s also a community where members can share ideas and provide support to each other. Greenkeeping can be a stressful and at times dangerous occupation, so staying healthy, both physically and mentally, is just as important as working towards your career goals.
“That’s why BIGGA has introduced the Member Wellness Area and we hope that anyone who has any questions are concerns comes along for a chat at any point during the exhibition.”
Returning to BTME after their tremendous success at the exhibition over the last two years will be Skcin, the skin cancer charity (pictured above)
By welcoming them into the Member Wellness Area, more BTME attendees will be able to access their expertise and knowledge as they seek to raise awareness of the dangers of prolonged, unprotected exposure to the sun’s rays, experienced by many greenkeepers on a regular basis.
Skcin’s Steve Boothroyd, explaining that 80% of skin cancers are preventable, said: “Men are twice as likely to develop skin cancer due to the amount of time they spend outside working and they often don’t recognise the risks.
“We can’t force people to do things, but we hope that through education and awareness, people will protect themselves and reduce the risk.”
The mental health element of the stand will expand upon work that began at BTME 2018, when BIGGA worked alongside Turf Business and Perennial to produce a document discussing mental health within the turfcare industry.
The document, which is available to download from the BIGGA website, seeks to raise awareness of stress and other mental health pressures that greenkeepers and other turfcare professionals may find themselves under.
Specialists will be on hand in the Member Wellness Area throughout BTME. The area will feature a private consultation room, to provide advice and discuss any concerns BTME attendees may have relating to mental health and other matters.