Lighthouse Charity, Willmott Dixon and artist Rob Fenton have unveiled a mural at the University Staffordshire鈥檚 new Student Village in support of men's mental health. The mural depicts a lighthouse shining a beacon, to represent hope.
Willmott Dixon is building new halls of residence on Staffordshire鈥檚 main Stoke-on-Trent campus, joining forces in a DBFO (design, build, finance, operate) consortium with Hochtief PPP Solutions, Plenary, Pinnacle Group and the University of Staffordshire.
The unveiling of the mural, by University of Staffordshire alumnus and local artist Rob Fenton, was part of a site-wide safety stand-down focusing on mental health, facilitated by a team from the Lighthouse Charity.
鈥淭he artwork is important because it creates a visible, public moment for a conversation that is usually hidden 鈥� especially in the construction industry, where strength is often associated with silence,鈥� Fenton explained. 鈥淢en in this environment are expected to 鈥榞et on with it,鈥� even when they鈥檙e struggling, and that pressure can make it harder to ask for help.
It represents the quiet, everyday moments where support actually happens 鈥� a hand on a shoulder, standing side by side, being present for someone without needing the right words. Those small gestures can be lifesaving, yet they鈥檙e rarely acknowledged or valued in male-dominated industries.鈥�
For Rob, returning to campus was about more than showcasing his work, adding: 鈥淭o return with a piece of work that has social purpose, rather than purely aesthetic value, makes it even more special. Being on campus in this capacity feels like a full-circle moment.鈥�
Willmott Dixon information officer Jessica Greig said: 鈥淩ob鈥檚 work is a visible and lasting reminder that behind every hard hat is first and foremost a human being, and a simple check-in with each other on site can save a life. This mural sends a clear message that empathy, connection and checking in with each other are part of how we work. It has been a real privilege to work with Rob on a piece that carries such meaning for us and leaves a positive legacy for the project and the wider community, and we are already seeing the valuable impact it is having on our workforce.鈥�
University vice-chancellor Martin Jones said: 鈥淲e hope this mural will spark more conversations around mental health and resonate with current students, particularly those who may be navigating similar pressures themselves.鈥�