New funding stream to improve workplace wellbeing in Stoke-on-Trent…
Businesses in Stoke-on-Trent are set to benefit from a new funding scheme designed to enhance employee health and wellbeing.
Delivered by North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, the Stoke-on-Trent healthy workplace grant fund can offer up to £500 for local businesses to support sustainable wellbeing programmes.
Sarah Colclough, Programme Administrator at North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, explains: “Thanks to Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we currently have a funding stream of £20,000 to offer to eligible city businesses. The grant funding is specifically for innovative initiatives that help create a healthy, happy workforce.”
According to government research, there are ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ – a set of evidence-based actions which promote people’s wellbeing. These five ways to wellbeing are: connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give.
Sarah comments: “Projects that receive this grant funding must incorporate one of the five ways to wellbeing. We’ve found that these five steps are all simple, everyday activities that can make a huge difference to health and happiness. For example, investing time in personal connections, keeping physically active, taking notice of what is around you, learning new things and giving back to the community are all achievable and proven to boost wellbeing.
“We’re looking for city businesses who can encourage employees to recognise and engage in the Five Ways to Wellbeing to help increase the workforce morale and ultimately make this a better city in which to work. In a business climate where employers lose an estimated £26 billion per year on absences attributed to workplace stress, this funding exists to improve employee wellbeing across the city.”
Indeed, studies find that psychological issues account for around 50% of all sickness absence in the UK and that over one in six workers experience depression, anxiety or stress. “We’re doing something about this in Stoke-on-Trent”, says Sarah, “and this targeted funding will support health improvement in the workplace against at least one of the five ways to wellbeing.”
Councillor Adrian Knapper, Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said the authority was delighted to be able to support businesses in this way.
He adds: “The health and wellbeing of those who live and work in the city is of paramount importance to us, and we aim to do everything we can to enhance that.
“Workplaces can play an important role in the wellbeing of their employees by providing an environment which facilitates it. The workplace wellbeing grant fund aims to support businesses to encourage their employees to take part in the five ways to wellbeing programme.
“This fund will provide opportunities for workplaces to support the individual wellbeing of their employees, which can have a significant impact on a person’s life.
“Improved wellbeing can increase resilience – supporting people to deal with life’s ups and downs – and also has many benefits to a workplace, such as greater productivity and reduced sickness-related absences.
“We hope that by making this funding available we can work with businesses to make Stoke-on-Trent a healthy, happy city in which to work and live.”
A new and complementary arm of the workplace health programme, the Stoke-on-Trent healthy workplace grant fund will be accepting applications until July 2015. City businesses are invited to contact Sarah Colclough to access funding and find out what a difference five ways can make.
For further information and to access an application form, please contact Sarah Colclough on or .
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