Wellbeing at Work open morning
On a very wet and windy Thursday morning in December, over 40 delegates braved the wintery weather and joined us at the Welcome building in Eastbourne for a morning of everything workplace wellbeing!
It was lovely to welcome new faces and those already familiar to the programme, with engaging content on show to pique the interest of everyone in attendance.
The value in being present and connecting with others face to face is not to be underestimated!
Speaking of connection, what a perfect segue into the overarching theme of the event.
- Connecting through humour
We were priv
ileged to welcome Jason Rawding, an expert speaker in creating psychological safety in the workplace through inclusive humour and human connection.
Why is this so important you may ask? Humour has been proven to improve:
- Trust
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Psychological Safety
- Mental Health & Wellbeing
- Sense of belonging
Jason provided a whistle stop tour of humour theory, human psychology and provided us with activities to engage with humour in a safe, fun and slightly absurd way.
The sense of curiosity and fascination in the room was palpable! We look forward to revisiting this in the future to establish just how attendees were able to incorporate these methods into their working environment.
If you would like to know more about Jason’s work or contact him directly, please follow on LinkedIn or visit his website.
5 ways to wellbeing wellbeing
One of the activities included in the day was based around the 5 ways to wellbeing. These are a set of actions that are designed to encourage a sense of positive wellbeing within an individual (here at the wellbeing at work team, we stretch that a little further). Why not take an organisational approach to the 5 ways to wellbeing?
- Connect
Face to face meetings, team lunches, car shares, talk to someone new!
- Get Active
Incentivise physical activity, cycle schemes, provide standing desks, walking breaks.
- Take notice
Clear out the clutter! Bring plants into the environment.
- Learn
Shadowing opportunities, mentoring, team activities, set up social groups.
- Give
Pair employees together to share skills and knowledge, shared lunches, provide volunteering opportunities.
All of these suggestions align with the Wellbeing at Work award criteria, so if you’re looking to implement a new initiative or gather evidence, look no further!
The 5 ways to wellbeing activity included many of us choosing to explore the local area, including the Towner gallery. It was fantastic to see so many of our wellbeing champions connecting with new people, learning from their surroundings, and each other, and indulging in the beauty Eastbourne has to offer. Albeit a very wet Eastbourne!
Programme overview
Our very own Matt Ellis delivered a thorough and insightful presentation on the Wellbeing at Work programme. Matt did a great job of explaining the programme to those new to the concept and provided information for existing members to progress with the next stages of their awards.
If you want to find out more about the accreditation journey please click the following link: Accreditation Journey – East Sussex Wellbeing At Work
Sharing stories
W
e were very privileged to receive presentations from 2 of our Wellbeing at Work employers who discussed their journeys on reaching gold accreditation. Jenny Carter-Vaughan was first up with an inspiring look at her organisation, Affinity Select. Jenny was inspirational in her explanation of supporting young people in their local community to access apprenticeships and work-based training. Affinity Select are also passionate about empowering women in their local community by teaching ‘finances for females’ at local school and education settings. It was a joy to listen to Jenny speak with such conviction and knowledge.
Servomex, a manufacturing company in Crowborough also shared their accreditation with us. Much like Affinity select, Servomex have been on a mission to provide opportunities to work for members of their community who may not otherwise be in a position or have the skills to do so.
Round up.
A successful morning all round! We are grateful for all our speakers and those who attended on the day. If you were unable to make it, then we hope that you will join us in the future. If nothing else, to enjoy a small part of your day connecting with others on a shared passion for the health and wellbeing of people.
Training.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the Wellbeing at Work Training offer, please click the follow link: Events – East Sussex Wellbeing At Work