Better Health at Work Award recognises South Lakes Housings work in creating a healthier workplace

South Lakes Housing has achieved a Bronze Award in the Better Health at Work scheme which helps promote a healthy lifestyle to colleagues and shows we are committed to improving our colleagues’ health and wellbeing.

The Better Health at Work Award recognises the efforts of employers in the North East and Cumbria in addressing health issues within the workplace. There are 4 levels to the Award Bronze, Silver, Gold and Continuing Excellence, with appropriate criteria at each stage to build into an Award Portfolio and organisations are given up to a year per level.

Sue Boulton HR Manager at South Lakes Housing said It has been a difficult year for everyone but working towards the Bronze Award has brought colleagues together in such a positive way. As well as learning about better health, we have focused on having some fun during this difficult time and we believe that happy colleagues results in better experience for our customers. The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a major focus for our People Strategy and the BHAW framework supports our aims and is helping us to ensure that we offer a safe and supportive working environment for our colleagues.

South Lakes Housing was supported throughout the process by Health & Wellbeing Support Officer, Ken Gyles from Northern TUC. He said It has been great to see that South Lakes Housing support their staff when it comes to looking after their health and wellbeing, they have shown in the previous twelve months a commitment to reach all standards and criteria set out by the Better Health & Wellbeing Award. In awarding them the bronze standard of the award it has been a pleasure to work and support them and the TUC look forward to their continued success on embedding health and wellbeing within their organisation..

We have six enthusiastic Health Advocates who are passionate about improving the health of South Lakes Housing colleagues. They have worked extremely hard to involve and motivate colleagues to actively participate.

The Health Advocates are there to support South Lakes Housing in achieving our Better Health at Work award and they are the key to us achieving our goal. Health Advocates promote continual improvement to the health and wellbeing of their colleagues by organising and championing health initiatives/activities within their workplace and running health campaigns and events that link in with national campaigns.

Our Health Advocates undertook a series of campaigns, activities and events both before the pandemic took place and adapted to digital methods during the pandemic for our employees to take part:

  • Tea and Talk event for World Mental Health Day
  • Healthy Bake Off Competition
  • Mocktail Making Masterclass
  • Fitness Visits from local gyms
  • Three Peaks Challenge
  • Stoptober
  • Workplace Netball Tournament
  • Yoga Classes
  • Health Checks
  • Football Tournaments
  • Rounders Match
  • Cookbook Swap
  • Weigh-Ins

The Health Advocates have also set up a Fit Club where they run regular competitions such as Fitness Fanatic and Wellness Warrior with prizes being donated from local businesses for the winners.

As part of the Fit Club, the Health Advocates also provide tools and trackers for our employees to seek advice and also to monitor their progress with improving their health and wellbeing. They also signpost employees to healthy recipe websites, health apps, fitness challenges and offer prizes that encourage the continued improvement of their health including gym passes, spa vouchers and healthy snack boxes.

We know we can all benefit from becoming more active and leading a healthier lifestyle and we want to encourage a healthier workforce.

You can find out more about the Better Health at Work Award here: http://www.betterhealthatworkne.org

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