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LATEST NEWS
Today is World Mental Health Day 2022
Today marks World Mental Health Day, and while the theme for this year is ‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’ it is important that we look out for each other as work colleagues.
We have put together a list of resources designed to help signpost colleagues to helpful advice and services that can help.
Our mental health first aiders are on hand to assist any colleagues who are struggling with their mental health. You can find a list of all the MHFA’s on the intranet. Please drop them an email, start a Teams chat or give them a call.
If you are concerned about your mental health you should seek the advice and support of your GP as a matter of priority. If you are in distress and need immediate help and are unable to see a GP, you should visit your local A&E.
The Mental Health Foundation is a charity specialising in research and policy development, with a focus on preventing mental health problems. They have put together a comprehensive list of services and organisations that offer help and support directly to people with mental health problems.
The Council also subscribes to an Employee Assistance Programme that all employees have free and confidential access to. Amica is an NHS based staff counselling service, who provide confidential telephone, online and face to face support to more than 60,000 public sector employees. They offer a number of services including counselling, legal advice, debt management/advice and a series of free online wellbeing programmes.
For more information about Amica and its services go to the Amica website.
If you are struggling, there is always someone out there to talk to, whether it’s an organisation, a family member, a friend or a colleague.
Please reach out, because there are many people out there who care, and can help.
Doing the mental health mile at Loughborough Wellbeing Centre
Loughborough Wellbeing Centre held an event for World Mental Health Day (and to celebrate their seventh birthday) which saw lots of residents come down to help raise funds and promote the benefits of exercise for your mental health and wellbeing.
The Active Charnwood team were on hand to host a couple of wellbeing walks around Loughborough, which a few staff members (including neighbourhood development officer Louise Millington and democratic services manager Karen Widdowson) join in.
Many thanks to Active Charnwood's Samantha Balram, Andrew Doodson, Mat Richardson, Roy Porter and Krystian Klonowski for all their help running the stall, organising and hosting the walks, and getting visitors onto the stationary bike and motivating them to complete their mental health mile!
The Active Charnwood team (and neighbourhood development officer Louise Millington) on their stall at the Loughborough Wellbeing Centre.
Staff members and local residents shortly before the wellbeing walk got underway.
Message from Councillor Robin Popley, Council Champion for Disabilities
"Mental health is a top priority and has been something I have been vocal about for several years. An unseen illness, it shouldn't be taken lightly, and it is imperative that more and more monies is targeted towards helping combat the matter.
"Proper investment in any area of health is necessary, but especially in something which affects so many of us, daily. The height of the pandemic showed why giving these matters the respect it deserves is of upmost importance and, whilst life returns to some semblance of normality, those same problems do not fade away.
"It is my hope that Charnwood will continue to be a leader in prioritising mental health and reaches out to those who have, and continue to struggle, within society."
Cllr Popley and Cllr Ted Parton discussed their own struggles with mental health for last year's Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme of the week was nature, so the video was made in the Outwoods in Loughborough. You can watch the video by clicking on the image.
Click on the image to watch the video.
Links to mental wellbeing support
NHS Mental wellbeing audio guides
A series of wellbeing audio guides, each lasting 10 mins or under, coveing topics on low mood, anxiety control, sleep problems, low confidence, unhelpful thinking.
Mental health at work
Contains a number of resources, toolkits, stories and blogs related to work and mental health. This includes a toolkit on supporting yourself and your colleagues through Coronavirus and isolation.
Five steps to mental wellbeing
Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
Breathing exercises for stress
This calming breathing technique for stress, anxiety and panic takes just a few minutes and can be done anywhere.
The importance of self care
A selection of short Ted Talks.
Tips on how to start a conversation about mental health
Three minute video.
Mental health, in our own words
A six-minute video from Mind.
Movember Conversations
A free interactive online tool that offers practical guidance on how to start a difficult conversation, how to be a good listener and how to create a setting of trust and openness with someone who might be struggling.
Managers guidance and toolkit on mental health and supporting employees
Wellness Support Action Plan
Auseful tool to start having conversations around general wellbeing.
How to be happier while working from home
Top tips from the BBC.
Mental health and money advice
The Office of National Statistics discovered that 77% of British adults have reported feeling stressed as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. This trend is set to continue particularly into the winter months, when some may face the unimaginable decision of choosing between heating their homes or eating.
Many people are feeling the strain as the cost of living continues to increase. Check out some resources which could help you:
Podcasts about mental health
There are some great mental health podcasts out there. Some can be found at the following link: www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/podcasts.
Good Housekeeping recently issued their top 15 best mental health podcasts of 2022. Links to each of these can be found below:
Every Mind Matters
Most of us understand the benefits of looking after our physical health, however it’s easy to forget about our mental health too.
Staying on top of our mental wellbeing is good for us now, but also helps us deal with difficult times in the future. Over time, it can also reduce our risk of physical health problems!
For some tips on how to look after your mental health this World Mental Health Day, visit the NHS Every Mind Matters website.
Start a conversation and get the ball rolling
Starting a conversation with someone you trust can be the first step in reaching out for support.
In the last 3 years death by suicide in males has increased in England by more than 3%. It's time to start a conversation about mental health.
Get the ball rolling today. For more information, visit the Start a Conversation website.
Farewell to Helen after 19 years of service
Colleagues across a number of services got together (in-person and via Teams) in Committee Room 2 on Thursday to say their goodbyes to team leader planning enforcement Helen Robinson, who is leaving CBC after around 19 years’ service at Charnwood to take early retirement.
Helen was presented with a card, flowers and gifts to remember everyone by, and to wish Helen a happy retirement.
Several colleagues said that they we will miss Helen’s bubbly character and how much she was willing to help out her team members.
Everyone at CBC wishes Helen all the best for the future and a happy retirement.
World Menopause Day on Tuesday October 18
It’s World Menopause Day on Tuesday October 18 and the theme this year is cognition and mood.
Changes in your hormones during menopause can impact your mental health as well as your physical health. Menopausal symptoms include:
- anger and irritability
- anxiety
- forgetfulness
- loss of self-esteem
- loss of confidence
- low mood and feelings of sadness or depression
- poor concentration – often described as 'brain fog' and/or lost words.
If you are interested in increasing your awareness of the menopause, why not visit MyLearning and view the e-learning course titled - Menopause Awareness at Work.
Did you also know that the council has a policy: Menopause Guidance Advice and Support for Employees and Managers. This can be found in the HR A-Z on the intranet.
Circus comes to town this week!
Thrills, spills and plenty of laughter is heading for Loughborough as the town gets ready to welcome Circus Cortex. Southfields Park will host Circus Cortex from Thursday October 13 to Monday October 17.
The circus will be running two shows a day and crowds can expect performances from acrobats skilled in parkour, tightrope and much more.
The circus includes several Ukrainian performers, some of whom fled the country after the war started.
For information and to book tickets for the performances, visit the Circus Cortex website.
Mayor of Charnwood's Christmas card competition
A competition is being held to find artwork that will become the Mayor of Charnwood’s Christmas card for 2022.
Children aged 11 and under and living in Charnwood can enter the competition.
Entrants have total creative freedom as long as the design is Christmas themed, and by entering the winner is agreeing that the artwork can become the Mayor’s Christmas Card for 2022.
Raising funds for the Mayor's charity in style
Councillor Paul Baines has been supporting the Mayor of Charnwood Jennifer Tillotson's chosen charity Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People by abseilling down Derby Cathedral at the weekend.
The impressive feat was achieved by 'Team Tillotson', consisting of Cllr Baines, two of his friends, and his brother. Congratulations on a job well done!
Cllr Baines said: "It was an exhilarating experience for all. I first abseiled 30 years ago but never went down 202ft! Please do give generously to support the Mayor's chosen charity."
If you would like to donate to Cllr Baines' Just Giving fundraising page for Rainbows, you can do so at the link below.
 Left: The Mayor of Charnwood with Cllr Baines and the rest of Team Tillotson. Right: Cllr Baines in action.
Loughborough Market featured in trade magazine
A fantastic piece on Loughborough Market and its 800th year anniversary features in this month's Markets Matter magazine.
Read all about it here. The piece is on pages 36-39. Well done to the markets team and all the traders who featured in the article. It's a great showcase of our famous market!
Beautiful hanging baskets awarded in Charnwood
Charnwood residents have been recognised for their gardening work in a hanging basket competition.
CBC’s open spaces partner, idverde teamed up with the Loughborough in Bloom board to find the best hanging basket in the borough as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
They received 19 entries and had the difficult task of picking two runners-up and the winner.
Could you put up a panto cast member?
Little Wolf Entertainment, the pantomime production company who have worked with Loughborough Town Hall for years on producing our famous panto every festive season, is looking for temporary lodgings for a cast member.
The lodgings will be required for a few weeks, starting from late November until just before Christmas.
If you live close to Loughborough Town Hall and would like to assist, please email Alan from Little Wolf on team@littlewolf.co.uk or give him a call on 07919342693 to discuss the details.
REGULAR FEATURES
Information on cost of living support and advice
The Council has put together a web page to signpost people to the support available to help with the rising cost of living. Staff may also be interested in viewing the webpage.
We know some staff live outside the borough so we have put together some links to web pages created by other councils in different areas. The links can be found on the intranet.
Staff compliments and feedback
We have received some lovely messages from customers. You can view them on this webpage.
Email communications@charnwood.gov.uk if you have received feedback from customers or would like to compliment one of your colleagues on the compliments webpage.
Jobs at CBC
All available jobs at Charnwood Borough Council can be found at www.charnwood.gov.uk/jobs.
Online Training Portal
The Charnwood Online Training Portal is a one-stop shop for training resources related to Office 365, Teams and SharePoint so that all staff can get the best out of the programmes.
Check out the online training portal on the intranet here: https://charnwoodbc.sharepoint.com/sites/O365CL.
The training portal will be updated regularly. Keep coming back and please feel free to leave feedback via the site, or email the ICS Helpdesk if you would like to make a suggestion for the site.
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