Thrive at Work Newsletter September 2020

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workplace wellbeing

Improving health in the workplace newsletter

This edition lists some of the forthcoming national campaigns you could consider supporting along with local opportunities to get active in and outside of the workplace to promote to your employees.

You are receiving this email because you either subscribed to our free newsletter or you are a member of the distribution list for the Thrive at Work Awards. 


In this issue


Smoking, vaping and COVID

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The evidence of the effects of smoking and the chances of contracting coronavirus, and on the progression of the virus if contracted, appear unclear and often contradictory.

A helpful, ongoing review of the latest research has been carried out by the team at University College London and it will be regularly updated. A summary of the latest review for health and social care professionals is available as well as and the full evidence review

PHE has also published guidance on smoking and Covid -19. 

You may already be aware of this excellent resource encouraging and supporting smokers to quit now: Today is the Day

Finally, a recording of a recent clinical webinar on providing behavioural support remotely, hosted by Smokefree Action and featuring NCSCT consultants Louise Ross and Yvonne Hermonm is available on YouTube.


Stoptober

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Stoptober is back for 2020, encouraging smokers to make a quit attempt throughout the month of October and beyond.

Stop smoking for 28 days and you are 5 times more likely to quit for good.

For more info please visit the Public Health England - Stoptober page.


Sober October

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This October, how sober will you go?

Have a Sober October or try a Sober(ish) October, and raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

By going Sober this October, you will be raising vital funds for Macmillan, so we can continue providing much needed physical, financial and emotional support to the millions of people living with cancer, at a time when they need it most.

For more info please visit the Macmillan Cancer Support - Sober October page.


Are you an organic lover?

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Organic September is a month-long campaign which aims to raise awareness of Organic products, and the brands, producers and farmers who bring them to us in the UK.

Foods labelled as organic must meet strict regulations on how they have been grown and produced. All organic food companies and farms are inspected yearly to ensure that they meet the high standards required for organic food under European law.

For more info please visit the Organic September page.


Healthy breakfast

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Get into the habit of eating a morning meal with these simple breakfasts, designed to whet the appetite of even the most habitual breakfast-skipper.

For the delicious recipes please visit the NHS - Healthy breakfasts page. 


GO Parks

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Go parks is a project giving the residents of Coventry new and exciting ways to use parks and green spaces in the city.

With an increasing number of people now using parks and greenspaces for activity as a result of COVID-19, we’re promoting ways to be active in parks that are fun, simple and safe.

For more info please visit the Go Parks - Coventry page.


Love to Ride West Midlands

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Love to Ride West Midlands is an online community to help you set goals and keep track of your riding, find answers and resources to help you ride more confidently and win prizes for riding and encouraging others to ride.

We’re committed to creating a West Midlands that supports healthy, greener and safer travel. So, get your roll on - make this your Big Summer of Cycling and Walking by getting involved with Cycle September!

For more info please visit the Love to ride West Midlands page.


Top tips for staying active

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With the world currently in the throes of a pandemic, it can be difficult to feel motivated and optimistic for what the rest of the year brings.  However, one positive change you can make both for your physical health, and mental health is increasing physical activity levels. Now, more than ever, more people have started to improve lifestyle behaviours to make sure they are feeling fit and healthy, and it’s definitely not too late to start!

Healthy Lifestyle Coventry has published the top 10 tips for staying active.


National Fitness Day

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National Fitness Day, 23 September 2020, is a chance to highlight the role physical activity plays across the UK, helping us raise awareness of its importance in helping us lead healthier and active lifestyles.

National Fitness Day sees a huge range of activity options enjoyed by participants of all ages, such as ‘plank offs’, yoga and pilates classes, treadmill challenges, high-street HIIT classes, dance-offs, mass walks and many more.

For more info please visit National Fitness Day page.


Migraine Awareness Week 2020

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Migraine is the third most common disease in the world, with an estimated global prevalence of one in seven people.

Despite being recognised as one of the most disabling lifetime conditions, awareness and understanding is low.

For more info please visit the Migraine Trust page.


Recycle Week 2020

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Sustainability is firmly on the national agenda and the public is looking to organisations to help solve major environmental issues. That makes Recycle Week a greater opportunity than ever to change people’s recycling behaviours while gaining positive publicity and building your organisation’s reputation.
Now in its 18th year, Recycle Week is a celebration of recycling, organised by WRAP under the Recycle Now brand. The aim of the week is to encourage the public to recycle more, by demonstrating the benefits of recycling items from all around the home.
This year’s theme will be: Recycling. We do. Because it matters.’
The theme is designed to capture attention and put across simple but important messages about why recycling matters. Partners will have the opportunity to bust myths and demonstrate why recycling is beneficial – keeping it in use, and out of our environment. Recycle Week 2019 is going to be our biggest yet! Recycle Now would love to have you involved.
Take a look at our short film and get inspired to support Recycle Week 2019. If you are an organisation and are interested in getting involved, please email: PartnerEnquiries@wrap.org.uk and we will get in touch with you to discuss how we can work together.
You can also download a one-page introduction from the WRAP Resource Library.


International week of Happiness at Work 2020

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Everybody wants to be happy. Also at work. We spend a lot of time at work after all. Plus, when we are happy at work, we are likely to also be happier in the rest of our life. We believe that Happiness at Work should be on the list of top priorities of all organisations, big and small, national and international. That’s why we declared the week of September 21- 27, 2020 international Week of Happiness at Work.
Are you in?
Sign the manifesto! Do you want to make changes within your organisation? Join us. And organise an event, workshop, unconference, inspirational talk, company visit about Happiness at work.

For more info please visit the International Week of Happiness at work page.


World Mental Health Day 2020

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Presented by the World Federation of Mental Health, World Mental Health Day will be on October 10, 2020. The goal is to help raise mental health awareness. Each of us can make a contribution to ensure that people dealing with problems concerning mental health can live better lives with dignity.

Every year one adult in four, along with one child in ten, will have a mental health issue. These conditions can profoundly affect literally millions of lives, affecting the capability of these individuals to make it through the day, to sustain relationships, and to maintain work.

The stigma attached to mental health causes a damaging, albeit ill-informed, attitude, making it more difficult for those affected to pursue help. According to UK estimates, only about one-fourth of those with mental health problems undergo ongoing treatment. By stark contrast, the vast majority of those affected with these problems are faced with a variety of issues, ranging from isolation to uncertainty on where to get help or information, to relying on the informal support of family, friends or colleagues.

The best way to deal with this stigma is through facts and a better understanding of mental health problems. From identifying the causes, pinpointing solutions, and ultimately recognising that we are really dealing with medical issues. For your information, we have updated our Fundamental Facts Guide. Please review and help spread the news about World Mental Health Day 2019. 

For more info please visit the Mental Health page.


Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2020

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Breast cancer is a scary thought and all too many women assume that it won’t happen to them. The fact is though, every ten minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK. So, don’t be ignorant, during breast cancer awareness month 2020 go for a medical checkup, it might save your life.

Early signs of breast cancer can be a lump in a breast, a painful breast or armpit, or a discharge from the nipple. Even if none of these symptoms present themselves, a doctor should be visited to be sure. A doctor will most likely perform a manual exam and send you for a mammogram. A mammogram examination is painless and only takes about ten minutes. 

If any of these symptoms do present themselves there’s no need to panic. A lot of the time, pain or a lump in a breast can be perfectly harmless. The pain can be a sign of a cyst or the lump can be benign. It’s always better to be sure though.

If the mammogram shows a lump, your doctor will arrange for a biopsy. This test will show if the lump is benign (harmless) or malignant (cancerous). If the lump is cancerous there’s still no reason to panic. Early detection is a life saver. By way of a simple operation the lump is removed after which the doctor will discuss further options with you.

If you’ve never had a mammogram, make an appointment during breast cancer awareness month 2020. You can take a friend or family member with you and afterward you’ll have peace of mind.


Movember

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In the month formerly known as November, Mo Bros and Mo Sisters across the world Grow a Mo, Move for Movember or Host a Mo-ment to raise much-needed funds for men’s health.

For more info please visit the Movember page.


More coronavirus updates and guidance

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HSE has published a range of guidance and information, which you may find useful.

 

 

It includes:

For all the latest information and advice visit the HSE coronavirus pages.


Social distancing and making your workplace COVID-secure

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Social distancing means keeping people apart to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

You must ensure that workers and other people visiting your workplace understand and comply with the measures you put in place.

Visit the HSE social distancing webpage for more information on making your workplace COVID-secure.


Online support line launched to help businesses grow out of Coronavirus crisis

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A new online support line has been launched for start-up businesses, or those businesses looking for support to grow out of the Coronavirus crisis.

For more info please visit the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce News page.


Time to take advantage of free online training and development

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Now is the time to take advantage of free online training and development

When the country went into lockdown in March, for many organisations and employees, so too did training and development.

For more info please visit the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce News page.


Workplace mental health programme unveiled

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Going The Distance, a programme to support workplace mental health, has been launched.

For more info please visit the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce News page.


Contact us

For further information please contact the Thrive at Work Team:


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This activity forms part of the Coventry & Warwickshire Business Support Programme and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).