Our wellbeing strategy

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Championing health and wellbeing at Support Cambridgeshire

We all know how important it is to look after our health and wellbeing, both physical and mental. We all have days when it feels harder to do so when we lack motivation, and even though we know what we could do to make ourselves feel better, we just can’t bring ourselves to do it.

Our wellbeing strategy helps our aim to have a healthy workplace

A healthy workplace is one where everyone feels able to share that they’re having a bad day, with no feeling of stigma, where spending time away from a desk for self-care is an investment in wellbeing, which will enhance work in the long run.

A workplace where the team spend time together, if they feel comfortable doing so, taking part in occasional activities to benefit wellbeing and build strength as a healthy team.

Agreement

We agree to:

Be non-judgmental
Respect confidentiality
Be respectful
Feel or exert no pressure to join in/share

Red flag day

If you’re having a particularly bad day – for whatever reason – waive a red flag in a way that feels comfortable to you, to let colleagues know so that they can be sensitive to that, provide additional support if needed, and relax deadlines.

Suggested ways to let the team know

Depending on how you feel, add to the Teams channel, email your line manager or one of the mental health first aiders, or another team member, informing them that it’s a bad day for you and you’ll be working differently that day. We will inform the rest of the team discreetly and confidentially, as appropriate.

Activity wellbeing ideas to consider individually, or as a team:

Meditation/focused breathing
Physical activity such as going for a walk, run or bike ride, simple yoga stretches, individually or in a group
Walking meetings
Walk and litter pick
Reading
Craft activities
Make a point of taking time to make a nice lunch and mindfully eat it
Activities/events at local venues such as Milton Country Park or CambridgePPF

Quick ways to enhance your wellbeing

15-minute challenge:

Sit outside and listen. Pick out 10 sounds
Sit outside and look for 20 things
Pick up a book and read for 15 minutes
Write down what has gone well for you this week
Do 15 minutes of exercise
Listen to music for 15 minutes – dance if you feel like it
Mindfully make and drink a hot drink
Spend 15 minutes with your pet
Alternate nostril breathing: Alternate Nostril Breathing – Yoga Technique

Quick tips

Focus on your breathing
Take 5 minutes
Drink water
Close your laptop for a few minutes
Freethought writing – spend 5 minutes scribbling down everything that comes into your head, empty your thoughts onto paper.

Volunteer days

The team may consider taking part in occasional one-off volunteer days or sessions. Examples: conservation activities or helping one of our member organisations with a one-off project. We are mindful that these should be specifically organised, or activities specifically needed by organisations. We do not want to place pressure on our organisations to have to sort out an activity for us just for this purpose, as this creates additional work and pressure on the organisation.

All staff can suggest opportunities. Staff involvement will be at the Senior Leadership Team’s discretion and dependent upon work schedules.