UK - Backup Tech has announced the latest Backup Ambassadors. Backup trustee, Koy Neminathan, has overseen the ambassador programme and is delighted to introduce Chris West, Lee House, Luke Edwards, Paul Jones and Amber Etra.
Ambassadors spread the word about what Backup does to the wider industry, encouraging companies to become Backup partners and helping individuals raise money for Backup through fundraising initiatives. Ambassadors also attend live activities, meetings and events, including the annual Backup Village Fete.
It is a great way to get involved with the charity and help get others involved, too. Chris, Lee, Luke and Amber explain why they decided to get involved with Backup and what they hope to achieve for the charity.
Chris West runs West Training Services and decided to become an ambassador to help ensure the future of the charity by raising awareness and supporting its work. He realised how well placed he was to spread the word day-to-day and wanted to play his part. “I meet a lot of people through my training courses, so it’s easy to spend a few minutes at the end of the session raising awareness of Backup,” he says.
“I know people that Backup has supported directly and people that benefited from the work it does, and I'd like to think that Backup would be there for me if I ever needed it. My feeling is, if you want it, you need to support it! There's a lot of taboo around mental health, and people don’t want to recognise the issues. Getting that information signposted is just as important as knowing about the financial support Backup offers.”
Lee House, managing director of Ambersphere Solutions, had a rough start in his teenage years when an argument at home left him in need of help from a local charity. The stigma of asking for help affected him at the time, but he knows it was a lifesaver for him. 30 years on he is keen to make sure others have a positive experience and fully understand the courage and determination asking for help entails.
“The challenges I’ve faced in my life have given me a unique insight. Stepping up to do more for Backup feels like the right thing to do,” he says. “I am at a management level now, so making sure my staff and the people around us know about the counselling, the financial help and all the good work Backup does is just a responsibility we have.”
Luke Edwards is founder of Bear Bright Studios and was a production manager for large-scale touring. Witnessing a tragic accident on tour made him realise how important mental health support can be. A brain tumour diagnosis followed a few years later, coupled with a worldwide pandemic, but Luke found the strength to get through it and now wants to give back by helping others get through the challenges they face.
“In 2018, our tour bus was involved in a fatal accident in America. As a first-aider and production manager, I was first on the scene and saw everything. Psychologically, that was tough,” Luke explains. “Music Support helped me through, and I’ve been a staunch supporter ever since. When I was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2020, I considered Backup’s support, but decided I didn’t need it. The industry knows about the resources the charity can offer, but there is still a lot of stigma around asking for help. I want to be part of de-stigmatising that and give something back to the industry that has supported me.”
Christie Lites’ Amber Etra has worked in the entertainment sector for almost 15 years and is a dedicated volunteer swimming teacher. She says being part of the community has been interwoven into her moral compass for as long as she can remember. She feels that everyone should have access to learning to swim. “It’s a life skill,” she says. “That’s how I feel about Backup. Everyone should have access to support when they need it – kindness and support should be at the heart of everything we do. Sometimes we have an excess to give and sometimes we need it ourselves. Backup helps that balance for people when they need it most.”
Paul Jones's company Ethix Management is run exclusively by freelancers, and Paul set up the ‘UK Live Event Freelancers Forum’ Facebook group right at the start of the pandemic, with the simple aim of offering a place where freelancers could go and get help and support during one of the most difficult times our industry has ever seen. “I never thought that something so simple would become one of the most respected places for freelancers to go and get information and help on a wealth of subjects,” he explains.
“Music Support stepped in to help me in the early days and after doing mental health first aid training, it changed me for the better and made me realise just how many freelancers don’t get the help they need. Supporting Backup was an absolute honour and so necessary to help ensure the freelance community receives continued support for its members, which now stands at 32,000 people.”
Ambassadors do vital work for Backup and there are many ways to help spread information throughout the industry. To find out more about how to get involved, visit www.backuptech.uk.
