Beyond Housing

03/02/22

Beyond Housing has achieved a silver level Better Health at Work award following a year of campaigns to support the physical and mental wellbeing of its staff.

The Better Health at Work awards encourage employers in the North East to put their colleagues’ health at the core of their values, and demonstrate how they are developing year on year.

There are five levels to the award – bronze, silver, gold, continuing excellence and maintaining excellence, with appropriate criteria at each stage to build into an award portfolio.

The submission was completed by Beyond Housing’s ‘health advocates’, a group of colleagues from across the business who are passionate about health and wellbeing and have been instrumental in developing the organisation’s positive wellbeing culture.

Activities and campaigns cited in the submission included step challenges to encourage colleagues to increase their step count, Samaritans Brew Monday, mindfulness sessions, provision of a free Pilates app, breast cancer awareness month, menopause awareness, financial wellbeing, men's health, drug and alcohol awareness week and diabetes consultations.

Beyond Housing’s Kelly Lees and Rachel Docherty, who collaborated on the report, were commended by the assessor, who said: “Rachel and Kelly have been amazing to work with, so proactive and enthusiastic about the support work they have been providing within their workplace. This is a great silver application. Congratulations.”

Beyond Housing will use the feedback from the report to apply for the Better Health at Work gold award in 2023.

Joanne Morten, Events Assistant at Beyond Housing said: “I have been a health advocate for three years and part of the team since we started out on our journey to achieve the bronze Better Health at Work award in 2019.

“Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors either walking my dogs, horse riding, yoga, and if the weather is good enough, a sea dip! I enjoy encouraging others to find the activity or hobby that will help them to feel better and improve their health and wellbeing, whether that is a 5-minute meditation, a 30-minute walk or a HIIT class.

“Finding something you enjoy and making the time to do it can have a great impact on your mental and physical health and after the challenges we have all faced throughout the pandemic, this is more important than ever.”

Catherine Clennett, Head of HRat Beyond Housing, said: “The past two years have been tough for everyone, so we are delighted that our focus on colleague health and wellbeing has once again been recognised by the Better Health at Work awards.

“We’ve demonstrated a holistic approach to health, offering regular opportunities for people to talk, encouraging mindfulness and relaxation, and supporting national health awareness campaigns. We intend to build on this over the next year.

“Huge thanks to all of our health advocates, who have worked so hard to lead our Better Health at Work initiatives. They are so passionate about improving wellbeing and they have set an amazing example to everyone. I have no doubt that they will submit something very special for our gold award next year.”

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF BEYOND HOUSING

CONTACT: Josh Mason on 01325 363436

Notes to editors:

Beyond Housing is one of the largest registered housing providers in the North East and North Yorkshire. With its regional offices in Redcar and Scarborough, the organisation is responsible for the letting, management and maintenance of over 15,000 homes across the North East and North Yorkshire.

Beyond Housing is committed to going beyond the bricks and mortar to help its communities and region thrive. By providing quality homes people want to live in alongside valuable additional services delivered by passionate people who want to help, Beyond Housing contributes to the prosperity, wider regeneration and sustainability of its communities, creating neighbourhoods that will flourish well into the future.

Beyond Housing is a Community Benefit Society registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and regulated by both the Homes and Communities Agency and the Financial Conduct Authority.

For more information visit beyondhousing.co.uk.

Find Beyond Housing on social media:

Facebook: BeyondHousingUK

Twitter: @beyondhousinguk