Last month, we hosted our first-ever face-to-face health, wellbeing, and networking event on October 18th in Plymouth. Plymouth Wellbeing Connections was a huge success, with over 160 attendees who connected, learned, and celebrated wellbeing.
We kicked off the event with our opening speaker, Cllr Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure, Customer Focus, HR, and OD, who is responsible for the Cost-of-Living Action Plan for Plymouth. Cllr Sue Dann gave an insightful and motivational speech on the current cost of living crisis within the city, how it is affecting individuals throughout the community, and what we as businesses and wellbeing champions can do to provide support to those in need. This set off a great atmosphere in the room, with it being the main talking point throughout the day on what more services can do and what attendees can gain to help themselves, their workplaces, and their communities.
“After listening to Councillor Sue Dann’s speech about the cost-of-living crisis, it became clear to me how crucial it is for communities and organisations to work together as a collective to support everyone in the city. Being present at the event, I felt that it was a promising starting point to move forward.”
“I’ve been able to make several connections with others, which I am now in the process of following up on as we speak”.
“There was a wealth of information about what is available locally from a grassroots level”.
Our Wellbeing at Work Team and the One You Plymouth Team had a productive day engaging in conversations with partners to discuss ways to connect and support each other. We also had meaningful interactions with networkers who were interested in learning more about our programs for healthier lifestyles and wellbeing at work. We shared information on what they can do to improve their workplaces and communities and had great discussions on the same.
“Several conversations made me realise how important it is to network and meet people – new and existing connections”
Throughout the day, we also had many productive conversations with partners and networkers. The room was abuzz with activity. Some individuals enjoyed wellness pampering, while others learned about mental health support and discovered ways to stay fit on our excellent nature paths.
“There is a strong wellbeing support in Plymouth, which is such an asset for the city!”
“The event is the start of something very interesting! And something I hope grows into something bigger and more inclusive”.
We also had sections dedicated to educating people about the importance of healthy eating, taking care of kidneys and livers, and connecting with others to reduce social isolation. Additionally, we provided support for a variety of other issues such as finances, advocacy, and overall wellbeing. We didn’t quite realise how successful the event would be until many people informed us afterward that we’d need a bigger room next time!
“I’ve gained several ideas on what to promote to our staff about wellbeing, signposting to help in different areas – the information and connections were brilliant!”
“For anyone that didn’t attend, I would say it is a diverse mixture of organisations, having a bit of a party, with rich and deep experiences and expertise, looking to collaborate and work together on the complex issues of health and other inequalities within the city – and if you didn’t attend, make sure you go next year!”
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our partners who showcased their services, as well as to all the networkers who attended. A special thanks is also due to the New Continental Hotel for providing us with a venue to launch Plymouth Wellbeing Connections. We are eagerly looking forward to planning for an even bigger and better event in Autumn 2024 – watch this space!
