Clarke Willmott LLP has launched a brilliant new wellbeing initiative in partnership with Elephant in the Room (EIR), a movement dedicated to encouraging open conversations about mental health in the workplace.
As part of the initiative, Clarke Willmott invited colleagues from across the firm to suggest a name and design for the elephant – a representation of the idea of openly talking about mental health and mindfulness. The result is “Tula”, a vibrant creation brought to life by EIR’s artists.
Tula’s name was suggested by one of Clarke Willmott’s employees, who explained that Tula means ‘balance’ in Sanskrit. As well as representing strength, harmony, equilibrium and equity it is also a great nod to the imagery of the scales of justice.
Tula made her debut at a special event near Clarke Willmott’s Bristol headquarters, where colleagues gathered for the big reveal. The event featured a talk from Brent Pope, founder of Elephant in the Room, who shared his personal reflections on mental health and why he established the movement.
Brent, a professional sportsman and media personality, explained that each hand-painted elephant represents a step towards breaking stigma and bringing the “elephant in the room” into the open.
Over the coming months, Tula will embark on a tour of Clarke Willmott’s regional offices across the UK, encouraging open dialogue and connection around mental health and wellbeing. In each office she’ll help draw attention to a range of events and learning experiences curated to open minds, stay curious about colleagues, help people connect with each other and show they care.
“Our people are at the heart of everything we do,” said Peter Swinburn, CEO of Clarke Willmott. “Supporting mental health is central to our values, and initiatives like this help us create a culture where everyone feels able to speak openly, support one another and know that it’s okay not to be okay.”
The partnership with Elephant in the Room forms part of Clarke Willmott’s broader commitment to colleague wellbeing, aligning with the firm’s core values.
The firm’s commitment to helping support colleagues’ mental health includes resources available online 24/7, a team of mental health first aiders available in every office and free confidential support available for all from external specialists. It is also a member of the Mindful Business Charter, Mindful Employer Charter and has signed the Menopause at Work Pledge and Mental Health at Work Commitment.
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