Health in Mind are proud to announce that this week our wonderful Business Operations Manager, Collette Baigrie, received the prestigious Safety & Health Excellence Rising Star Award.
The Safety & Health Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding innovation and achievement in health and safety, and Collette was up against hundreds of other professionals from around the UK – we are all incredibly proud of her.
Collette said,
“Honestly, winning the award was never just about winning; it’s about what it represents.
“It’s a reminder of two things, firstly that I genuinely care about people and secondly, that I take great pride in doing my job well. Of course, hard work and passion come into it too, but when something you’ve poured your heart into doesn’t go unnoticed, you feel seen.
“It has given me an incredible amount of confidence; we’ve all had those moments when you question whether you’ve done enough or if you are making the impact you hoped you would.
“Winning an award doesn’t change who you are, it just reminds you of what you were capable of all along. It’s something that I’ll look back on whenever I need reminding that stepping outside my comfort zone, working hard, and believing in what I do is worth it. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll likely still overthink emails and presentations like everyone else, but this has definitely reminded me to have a little more faith in myself.
“I’m incredibly grateful to have been nominated, and to have won is something I’ll never take for granted. I feel very humbled, and I hope this is just the beginning of many, many more opportunities to make a difference.”
Collette’s recognition through this national award is not just an incredible achievement for her, but a testament to the importance of health and safety at Health in Mind. We asked her what her work on health and safety means for us as an organisation, and why it’s so vital:
“Health & Safety is often seen as paperwork, rules, and regulations, but to me it’s always been about people, and about protecting the moments that matter most in their lives.
“For Heath in Mind, prioritising Health & Safety means making it a core part of every decision we take, not an add-on or optional extra. It means actively choosing to protect people’s wellbeing.
“Our Sharing Hope strategy talks about putting people at the heart of all we do, and to me, Health & Safety is one of the most powerful ways we bring that to life every single day. Behind every policy, every risk assessment and every conversation is a simple aim: that people go home safely to the people who love them, whether that’s at the end of a busy day supporting people or a volunteer giving their all to conquer a challenge.
“When we invest in Health & Safety, we’re not just complying with legislation, we are sending a very profound message to our team, volunteers, supporters, and the people we work with; you matter. Your wellbeing matters. Your life matters. That commitment speaks a thousand words.
“It’s about creating an environment where people feel safe enough to show up, to grow and to thrive. I see my role as helping to create that safety and confidence, so people can focus on what they do best, supporting one another and making a difference.”
If we truly believe in putting people at the heart of all we do, then their health, safety and wellbeing cannot be an afterthought, it must be at the heart of every decision we make.
Find out more about how our values shape our work
Collette’s achievement is just one example of how Health in Mind live our values; find out more below.