For International Women’s Day, Charley Roberts Health Improvement Practitioner and Wellbeing Champion Lead and Shawnie Lea Health Improvement Advisor, part of Wellbeing at Work and Wellbeing Champions, wanted to celebrate the female Wellbeing Champions who are making some amazing changes within their organisations for Wellbeing.
We caught up with several female champions from different organisations all doing a variety of things to ensure that wellbeing is at the forefront of their workplace. Here is our interview with Annette Davey, Designated Safeguarding Lead from Skills Group, read more to see what she has to say when it comes to being a Wellbeing Champion in her workplace…
Thank you for meeting with us today to celebrate International Women’s Day by recognising your efforts as a Wellbeing Champion in your workplace. With that, what made you want to become a Wellbeing Champion?
“So, I have always had a passion for helping people. I’ve always wanted to make a difference – in the office, I am known as the ‘positive fairy’ amongst the team! I think mostly it is because I just want help people and see smiles. I always say to my colleagues ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’, and with that, it really makes such a difference for people! You can make a difference from the moment you walk into a room to make someone feel better, you just know by being there you are doing it for the right reasons, listening and engaging with that person whatever the situation, and that’s why becoming a champion for Skills Group, was so important – we need someone here to have those chats, to boost morale and show everyone that they are valued in the organisation.”
That’s great, you and the other Wellbeing Champions have become a real asset for Skills Group as a whole. How do you think Wellbeing Champions have helped specifically for your organisation?
“We’ve created a Wellbeing Notice board which covers a variety of physical and mental health support, with fun things as well as the more serious stuff. This is in our communal kitchen, and we’ve also created one for our students in their eating space because at Skills Group, It’s not just about our staff wellbeing – we also want to help our student wellbeing, they are just as important! Our notice boards are both focal points in these areas; they are bright and colourful so when you are waiting for your food to cook or you’re eating your lunch, it is something to read and look at – it gets everyone thinking. We also send out the monthly action for happiness calendar and the wellbeing campaign calendar, with a few words to inspire others. It was ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ last week, so I came into work with some little chocolate love hearts from valentines’ day, to just make people feel welcomed and loved, because you might be having a bad day, we all still need to be kind each other. Doing the Wellbeing Champion Training, it also makes you realise that you must think about yourself as well, you can’t just do everything for everybody. I must make sure that my own wellbeing is looked after, I think the team around me is good for that. I think we are lucky in Skills Group because they are very helpful for you, giving you support in times of need, they are also flexible, so if you need a break or time to leave the office to go to the shops, no one questions you because that is how we work – we support each other always.”
Yes, it is very important that as you do your role as a Wellbeing Champion you are also supported. You have been a Wellbeing Champion at Skills Group for nearly 5 months now, what has been your highlight so far?
“When I think about it, I think it’s the small things that have been a highlight, because they’ve made the most impact. You got to think, what we have all been through as a workplace and in our communities, for the last 2 years – the coronavirus and now the cost of living crisis – sometimes someone just needs to know who the person is that they can talk to, having that positive reinforcement knowing that there are people in the workplace who are able to listen to you, as a champion, it also shows that the organisation as a whole is also open to allow those conversations to help employees. That why I always want to offer my help to others, because someone needs the help sometimes and if they don’t know where to go or who to talk to it will get worse for them. We regularly have talk’s here, and so my role as a champion is regularly used, from someone just wanting a small chit chat with a cup of tea and biscuit to someone needing support for their mental health – my office is always busy with people wanting to chat, which is just great!”
Oh, that’s amazing to hear that the organisation has really taken Wellbeing Champions on board and you are actively helping others through those small interactions! From all your hard work so far, do you have a wellbeing tip to share with others?
“Remember to take time for yourself, don’t just think about everyone else around you, you need to also think about yourself. You can’t fix everybody either, I have learnt that, but the ones you can help, do what you feel you can, whatever you feel comfortable and confident with. Don’t ever do more than what you need to do because you might not be in the right position to do that – that is what other organisations, professional support and referrals are there for. You can only signpost as much as you can”
Thank you for that Annette, such an important tip to share. Do you have any final words of encouragement for others to become Wellbeing Champions within their workplaces and/or communities?
“I would say, just do it! It is a good thing to do, not just for your CV, but to also help people around you. I think now more than ever we need that. You hear a lot of it in the news now, people just needing that extra bit of support. Through Covid I was also a compassionate carer, I did this with St Lukes, and I used to pick up an elderly ladies’ prescription and then drop it off to her house because she was vulnerable, she could leave her home. This made such a difference to her life. I know now from doing that, it made me realise that little things that you can give back or do for others, will do the world of good for them. You don’t have to go above and beyond; the little things are just as important”
Thank you, Annette, for meeting with us to celebrate International Women’s Day and share with other Wellbeing Champions and Workplaces what you are doing at Skills Group.
Skills Group are active within our Wellbeing Champion Programme as well as successfully achieving our Bronze Award for Wellbeing at Work Awards, implementing those important wellbeing initiatives into the organisation – we look forward to seeing more from you in the future!
Annette Davey will also be speaking at our upcoming Annual Awards Conference! If you are yet to book on, click here to save a space onto our virtual event for FREE now.
