Taking Action for Mental Health: The Workshop Aberfeldy
Posted: 13 May 2026, in News
This Mental Health Awareness Week we’ve been talking to our members about how they are taking action to support mental health.
We spoke to Hazel Donaldson, Office and Operations Manager at The Workshop Aberfeldy, a social enterprise that creates a bridge between education and employment for young people in Highland Perthshire.
Can you give us a short description of your social enterprise?
The Workshop Aberfeldy is a community-based social enterprise, passionate about helping people develop self confidence and learn craft and design skills, overcoming challenges and gaining the knowledge and competences they need to succeed in employment and life. We do this through offering free training, work experience and volunteering in our small-scale manufacturing charity, based in Aberfeldy in Highland Perthshire.
What does community mean to you in the context of taking action on mental health?
We believe that community is a key factor in looking after one’s mental health. We are lucky to live in a really beautiful part of the country, with an incredible and supportive community of people. There are lots of opportunities throughout our local community for people to get involved in activities that will support their mental health, and The Workshop is just one of these. But we work closely with lots of other organisations and businesses throughout our community that can support individuals, making connections and encouraging people to keep looking until they find somewhere they feel comfortable and will be able to thrive.
How does your social enterprise take action to support mental health in the community?
The Workshop Aberfeldy is open to everyone in our community to come and learn skills or volunteer with us. We have a particular focus on supporting specific groups of individuals which includes those people facing mental health challenges. We recognise that many people have periods of their lives where they need a little extra support and understanding from those around them, and particularly for those individuals looking to enter or re-enter the workplace, we can offer a supportive environment for people to gain skills and gain confidence, exploring possible work areas and becoming comfortable in this environment. Our volunteers and trainees are able to take the time they need to grow their self-esteem, and we will work alongside other support agencies. All our staff are trained Mental Health First Aiders, which ensures that we’re supporting individuals consistently across the organisation, and are comfortable about where else to signpost them on to for additional support if required.
How do you take action to look after your own mental health?
I’m a great believer in the role of nature and physical activity for mental health- anything from a quick jog after work with the dog to a long day in the hills at the weekend to riding my bike with friends.
Have you faced any challenges when taking action around mental health in your work?
Our workplace is a really supportive environment around mental health, I think this approach has helped us avoid any significant challenges. We understand that everyone has ups and downs, good days and bad and always hope that shows through our empathy with everyone we work with.
What recommendations do you have for how communities and organisations can take more effective action to support mental health?
I think one of our key success factors in supporting mental health is in recognising how it can impact every aspect of a person’s life. Embedding that understanding and support throughout the whole organisation, and always starting from a standpoint of curiosity is a great place; always assume that people are doing the best they can, and that that might vary from day to day.