WHO WE ARE
Johnny Pankhurst
Johnny is a senior construction manager, mental health first aider, wellbeing ambassador and keen runner. But his priority is being a great dad and husband to his beautiful family. Claire, George, and Harry. Oh, and Mabel (British Bulldog).
He believes that not just in construction, but in the world, there is a pandemic with regards to poor mental health and the lack of care afforded those who suffer. He believes, with the correct education we can combat the rise in mental health related illness.
Matt Collings
Matt Collings is an experienced construction industry health, safety & wellbeing manager, dad, husband, son, brother, aspiring entrepreneur, mental health first aider, wellbeing ambassador and animal lover. He has extensive experience of the construction industry having worked at numerous levels. From labourer to fit out company owner. From site supervisor to senior construction manager on £100M+ projects. Whether it’s having the craic in the trenches or behaving himself at Directors meetings, Matt’s got the t-shirts.
Matt believes in breaking down, and destroying the mental health stigma, which is all too evident today, particularly within the construction industry where mental health is all too often pushed aside or treated as a corporate ‘tick box nice to have’.
ORIGIN
“Bout ye” is one of the most common phrases you’ll hear in Northern Ireland, particularly in areas such as Belfast and surrounding regions. It’s a casual greeting or acknowledgement, like “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?”
The original What About Ye? concept was Johnny’s idea. Growing up in Belfast “What about ye?” was a well used phrase by Johnny, one of our founders. He had a vision to help support those who were trying to support others, particularly youngsters suffering from poor mental health. He felt inadequate in his ability to provide support but couldn’t find any support for himself. This was the catalyst – in effect, a support service for those providing support. Similarly to how caregivers get respite care.
Around this time Matt was setting up a Health, Safety and Wellbeing consultancy. Matt had decided to concentrate on Health and Safety with a view to bringing the Wellbeing element to the consultancy once the health and safety elements were established.
IN THE BEGINNING
MAY 2024
Both Johnny and Matt attended a Health, Safety and Wellbeing communications presentation in May 2024. One of the speakers at the event was Peter Waddingham. Peter is a Programme Director at Heathrow Airport with a portfolio of projects worth several billion pounds. Peter spoke passionately about caring for one another in the workplace and the importance of building a ‘family’ team spirit on site where every worker feels valued, supported and listened too.
Johnny and Matt left the presentation inspired. Johnny, inspired to move forward with his vision of What About Ye? and Matt to incorporate wellbeing into his consultancy now rather than in the future. Coincidentally, Johnny and Matt were working in the same office. Over a brew they shared their thoughts about Peter’s inspiring presentation and discussed ideas. That’s when the penny dropped. “Why don’t we do something together?” one of them asked. Neither can remember who asked the question originally, but the seed was sewn and What About Ye? was born on May 16th , 2024.
Soups / smoothies and ginger shots…
Understanding nutrition plays a vital role in the overall health and wellbeing of an individual. We purchased a soup and smoothie maker for the site office. Regular trips to local fruit wholesalers and distributors became part of the What About Ye? week. From day one we agreed all fruit and veg had to be organic and sustainably sourced.
Supermarket fruit and vegetables were banned from our food. It wasn’t long before site operatives attending the office started commenting on how good the food we were making looked and smelled. We were able to demonstrate that producing and consuming good wholesome food was possible on the nightshift with basic facilities. ‘Dinner’ didn’t have to be pre-packed or purchased form a petrol station on the way to work.
JUNE 2024
We understood the importance of brand identity. After much brainstorming and doodling we decided on the black of night with the calming properties of orange. The font was discovered at a Noel Gallagher concert. A simple, almost childlike quality whilst bold and in your face. Obviously, the inspiring story of three Cambridge University Students battling the odds to set up a smoothie company influenced our logo.
JULY 2024
We designed our first piece of ‘merch’ in June 2024. Our first garment was the classic black t-shirt. Due to customers noticing them on our Instagram platform, which also launched in June 2024 asking for merch we have gone on to produce sweatshirts, hoodies, softshell jackets, gilets and hats. All of which are available in our MERCH section.
GETTING SERIOUS
Because of our long association with the Mace Group, it was an obvious choice to present the concept to them first. A meeting was scheduled with the Mace Group Aviation Wellbeing Lead and Mace Group Aviation Health, Safety and Wellbeing Business Unit Lead.
Despite being rough around the edges, the presentation went well. We were given the chance to present to the Mace Groups Construct Health and Wellbeing Operations Director.
One of the slides used in the presentation is pictured. The slide is titled ‘Shout about safety, whisper about health’. Little did we know how fortunate it would be to have used this slide…
AUGUST 2024
The second meeting with Mace also went well. We say that because they didn’t say “No!” This meeting involved the Mace Group Aviation Wellbeing Lead, Mace Group Aviation Health, Safety and Wellbeing Business Unit Lead and the Mace Group Construct Health and Wellbeing Operations Director. This meeting involved putting a little more ‘meat on the bones’ around the What About Ye? business case and what benefits Mace would see if they engaged with us.
We left the meeting enthusiastic that we’d made a good impression with the Mace Group Construct Health and Wellbeing Operations Director. The “Shout about safety, whisper about health” slide we mentioned previously was a slide that she’d put together for one of her own presentations. A third meeting was discussed but never confirmed.
Tragically, an event on 30th October 2024 completely changed the direction and product / service offer of What About Ye?
OCTOBER 2024
When it changed
On the morning of Wednesday 30th October 2024, we received some devastating news. A young man who we’d worked with at Heathrow Airport had tragically completed suicide. To say we, and the entire Heathrow construction family were shocked is an understatement. The news hit us all hard.
Adam Taylor was a 34-year-old dad of three young children. None of Adam’s colleagues were aware he was suffering from such poor mental health. It was a complete shock. Adam’s funeral was a very moving service and seemed unthinkable to us that it was even taking place. The atmosphere was numb. What About Ye? provided emotional support to Adam’s mum and dad and several colleagues who were struggling to come to terms with the sad passing of a well-liked young man.
NOVEMBER 2024
Following the death of Adam, we realised a change in priorities and direction was required. Wishing to start small, our original service offer was aimed at the Mace Group Aviation nightshift management team. What we realised post Adam’s death was nightshift support services (particularly mental health) were required across the whole construction spectrum at Heathrow. With our knowledge, experience and skills it was apparent our services were required on a much grander scale.
It was coincidence that the Mace Group Aviation Business Unit had planned to start delivering the ‘Mates in Mind – Start the Conversation’ presentation to all those working on its projects at Heathrow Airport on 30th October 2024 – The day that Adam tragically passed away.
Mates in Mind is a leading UK charity that raises awareness and addresses the stigma of poor mental health. They work across industries, with a focus on construction and related sectors, to promote positive mental wellbeing within the workplace. Delivery of the sessions was delayed until 8th November 2024. On this day, Matt commenced delivery of the sessions to those working nightshifts on Mace projects at Heathrow Airport.
Understanding the urgent need for the sessions, Matt devised a plan to deliver the presentation to as many workers as possible. From 8th November 2024 to 19th December 2024 the presentation was made to 450 nightshift workers working on Mace projects at Heathrow Airport.
Matt’s passionate presentation was well received by those who attended. He deviated slightly from the scripted presentation to talk about his own struggles with poor mental health and depression. This was the first time Matt had spoken publicly about his own struggles.
As 2024 ended, both Johnny and Matt took a well-deserved break. With Johnny at home in Northern Ireland, and Matt at home in Northern Cyprus, plans were developed and ideas expanded over Teams calls in readiness for 2025.
2025 was going to be a massive year for What About Ye? and we needed to be ready…
JAN-JUNE 2025
Building the website you’re looking at now!
NOW
OUR MISSION
Poor mental health is a deeply personal matter. Behind every case lies a unique human story – stories of grief, pain, suffering, isolation, healing, resilience, love, recovery and so much more.
It’s our mission to not only break down the stigma around poor mental health, but stamp on it, put it in a choke hold and make it ‘tap out’ whilst educating workers to improved ways of family time, work life balance, health and wellbeing.