Car wash provides mental health support for staff

Mental health is on the agenda at The Ethical Car Wash Company

A car wash business is recruiting and supporting people with mental health issues.

Owen Jones, managing director of The Ethical Car Wash Company, in Northampton, said the business was born out of a desire to help people after he faced addiction problems himself.

The community interest company offers its staff one-to-one "emotional support" to help them cope with their mental health problems.

Mr Jones said his plan was to employ people "who find traditional working environments a struggle".

Managing director Owen Jones started the venture in January

'It's very therapuetic'

The business was started in January this year and it now has three staff.

One of the technicians taken on was Joshua Argent, 21, who has dyslexia and anxiety.

He said his mental health had "100% benefitted" from his new role.

"Sitting at an office desk all day is not my forte. It's not even just the work, it's the [support] from the bosses," he said.

"It's very therapeutic. I have got to go out and do things I've never done before."

Joshua Argent has learned to control his anxiety through the coaching the company provides

The ethical nature of the car wash extends to its products.

Mr Owen said he looked to reduce the impact on the environment through using fully biodegradable ingredients where possible.

The technicians try to cycle to their customers, too.

Business development manager Nigel Booth said the car wash was a "gamechanger", and the business planned to expand into other industries.

"We want to go into things like ethical gardening and ethical ironing," he said.