This morning I had the privilege of chairing a breakfast briefing in County Hall London (where I took the picture above) to launch research that shows using workplace champions can improve the health and wellbeing of employees. 'All Work and No Play' is a report on the 'Workplace Activator' pilot funded by the government and run by Central London YMCA. The research was done by the University of Westminster. Among the speakers today was Dame Carol Black, national director of health and work.
The year-long pilot tested the impact of specially individuals who encouraged employees to adopt healthier lifestyles while their employers, SMEs in London, to support this, for example by offering flexible working, subsidised gym memebership or access to healthier foods.
At the end of the first six months participants were asked whether their pyysical activity had increased, decreased or remained the same and 60% said it had increased. When a preriod of free gym membership ended one in threee began to pay to use it. Participants also reported a statisticaly significant reduction in depression, perceived stress and negative mood.
An elearning module is now being made available (for a fee) nationally to help other people become workplace activators. Contact Robin Gargrave, director of the Central YMCA, for more details at r.gargrave@centralymca.org.uk for more information
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