In the latest in our series of blogs to mark Speak Up Month, we spoke with Tina Harrison about her role as one of the group’s 40+ Freedom to Speak Up Champions.
“I’ve been working with Elysium for almost 18 months and my role is Office Manager and Receptionist at our recruitment hub in Luton. I’m proud to be one of the organisation’s 40 Speak Up Champions.
“My manager saw the email asking for volunteers and said they wanted to put me forward for the role of Speak Up Champion. I am already the Wellbeing Champion for the Hub and that’s a role I love doing and really, the two feel like they go hand-in-hand.
“The Speak Up Champion should be someone who is approachable and it’s just part of my nature to check in on people, see how they are doing.
“At the Recruitment Hub we’re very lucky because we all get on amazingly well. I want that to continue and I want people to think they have someone they can talk to about anything and that they have someone they can trust to speak to.
“When people do speak with me, they can do so in complete confidence. If need be, I can escalate to Paul Elms, our Speak Up Guardian but if people just want to ‘off load” they can do that too!
“I think a big part of the role is being observant, picking up when someone is not themselves. It’s also acting on that, asking if they are ok and letting them know someone cares.
“During Speak Up Month we have been holding quizzes and awareness raising events and people have been really engaged, which is great to see. The role is really rewarding and I enjoy being able to be there to support people when they need me.
“I would highly recommend the role of Speak Up Champion. This office is so lovely and I want to do all I can to help maintain that. It has a lovely atmosphere and if I could bottle it and pass it round, I would!”