Workplace Wellbeing in 2025

Healthy Workplaces Derbyshire, (part of Live Life Better Derbyshire), has been working with Chesterfield Borough Council to help improve their staff health by delivering Health Checks and wellbeing advice to various Council staff, from office-based to housing repair workers.

Wendy Blunt is a Health and Wellbeing Officer at Chesterfield Borough Council. Wendy said:

“We’ve had a few health checks delivered in the past, and I knew how staff here at the Council really benefitted from having them done. It makes our staff feel really valued, and it has shown us how important it is to value an employee's health and their needs. The support we have received from the advisers has been excellent.”

Workplace sessions were offered in several accessible locations for the Council’s staff.

Here’s what some of them said about the health and wellbeing support they received:

"I found it very helpful, especially the blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol tests, as it can be difficult to get into the doctors for these things or fit them around work."

"I found it very useful; they picked up I had a few issues, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. They reported it through to my doctors, and I’m now on medication for both, so really pleased I went."

If your workplace is interested in FREE Health Checks, please visit our official webpage 🔗 for further information and complete our 'Register of Interest' Form 🔗 by selecting Health Checks and Body MOTs on question 15. 

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2024 – Building a Smokefree Future for All

Directors of Public Health have a statutory requirement to write an annual independent report on the health of their population. The report aims to raise awareness and understanding of local health issues, highlighting areas of specific concern, and making recommendations for change.

The focus of this year's Director of Public Health Annual Report 🔗 is smoking and tobacco control. Despite our best efforts over many years, tobacco smoking is still the leading cause of preventable deaths in Derbyshire. The report sets out a Derbyshire-wide call to action to help make smoking a thing of the past in our county and to free our communities of the harm it causes.

The report is split into five key sections to help tell our story about why building a smokefree future for all in Derbyshire is so important.

The top 10 key messages are:

1. We are striving towards a smokefree generation by 2030 (less than 5% smoking prevalence).
2. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in Derbyshire.
3. We celebrate the success of people who have stopped smoking – quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to improve your health. No matter how many times you have tried to quit smoking, it is always worth another go.
4. Using a local stop-smoking service can make you 3 times more likely to quit than using willpower alone.
5. 1 in 7 adults still smoke in Derbyshire.
6. Smoking causes over 1,000 deaths each year and costs Derbyshire £749m.
7. 700+ people still smoke at the time of giving birth.
8. Around 30% of sudden infant deaths could be avoided by stopping smoking during pregnancy.
9. Children and young people are more likely to start smoking if parents/carers or siblings smoke.
10. Vaping: if you smoke, vaping is less harmful; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape.

‘Worrying About Money?’ Cash First Leaflet

The Independent Food Aid Network has supported partners within Derbyshire Dales Financial Inclusion Group and South Derbyshire Financial Inclusion Group to develop a ‘Worrying About Money?’ Cash First leaflet for each area.  

‘Worrying About Money?' Cash First referral leaflets are co-designed as straightforward resources both for people facing money worries and support workers. The step-by-step guides identify which local support services are best placed to help people maximise income and access any existing financial entitlements.

The leaflets are available online and as PDF documents.

• 'Worrying About Money' Leaflet - Derbyshire Dales - PDF 🔗 / Online 🔗
• 'Worrying About Money' Leaflet - South Derbyshire - PDF 🔗 / Online 🔗

Launch of the New 'Your Sexual Health Matters' Website

The Integrated Sexual Health Service in Derby and Derbyshire are thrilled to introduce their brand-new website, designed to make accessing information and support easier than ever. The site features an updated design, enhanced accessibility, and completely refreshed content, all crafted to give users the best experience.

Your Sexual Health Matters, (delivered by Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust), provides sexual health information, clinical services, and practical advice and support to people living in Derby and Derbyshire. This includes free and confidential sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV testing, contraception, and PrEP.

Many services are free and available to access online for residents of Derby and Derbyshire. These include:

• Free condoms 🔗 by post
• Free self-test, STI and HIV testing 🔗, delivered by post
• Free contraception 🔗 including emergency contraception, delivered by post

The site showcases many ways of accessing sexual health support locally. Use the service finder 🔗 to find clinics, pharmacies and community settings that provide sexual health services.

From streamlined navigation to new pages under Sexual Health and Wellbeing, everything you need is just a click away. Visit now to explore the improved site!

Are Financial Worries Impacting Your Employees?

One in five adults in the UK have less than £100 in savings.

Debt and money worries can have a knock-on effect on people’s wellbeing, including increased stress, lack of sleep, lower productivity at work and an increased risk of mental health problems and suicide.

• Community banks 🔗, (also known as credit unions), are local banks that are not for profit and benefit local people, offering loans at lower costs than some forms of borrowing, such as payday lenders or “buy to own” shops. Many also offer payroll savings schemes, which have been shown to be effective in encouraging low- and middle-income workers to start saving.
• The Money and Pensions Service has information on how employers can promote financial wellbeing in the workplace 🔗
• There is also free, impartial guidance on a range of topics at moneyhelper.org.uk 🔗. The MoneyHelper Helpline: 0800 138 7777.
• Derbyshire County Council have advice about Managing your money or debts 🔗 including information on local services that can help.

For a confidential chat about all things financial wellbeing, please contact affordable.credit@derbyshire.gov.uk

Could Your Workplace Be the Next Derbyshire Safe Place?

Safe Places are public buildings in towns and communities across Derbyshire where people aged 11+ can go to get support or call for assistance if they feel scared, are lost, or need help when they are out and about. Any building that is open to the public can be a Safe Place - this includes libraries, cafes, pharmacies, and shops.

All Safe Places are featured on the free Safe Places app and have stickers on their windows so people can see that they are part of the scheme and know they can go in and ask for help if they need to.

The type of support Safe Places are asked to provide can be calling an emergency contact from the details on someone’s Keep Safe Card, or maybe looking up a bus time or just letting someone sit quietly for 10 minutes.

We want to make sure that there is always a Safe Place nearby if anyone is in need of help, so we are inviting any eligible workplaces to sign up to offer this support to their community. 

For more details or to sign up as a 'Safe Place' please visit the official webpage below.

Derbyshire County Council’s 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' Award

Derbyshire County Council celebrated the inclusion of one of its own premises - County Hall, last month, and we would like to invite your workplace to do the same.

Breastfeeding has many positive impacts on the health of those breastfeeding and their babies. It's important to make sure that families feel comfortable to feed while out and about. This can help reduce feelings of loneliness, improve mental health, and reduce stigma.

That’s why we run the Breastfeeding Welcome Here Award - a FREE accreditation scheme to show registered venues supporting families to breastfeed. And we’re proud to announce County Hall has signed up for the scheme.

The Breastfeeding Welcome Here Award aims to:

• help community venues show they actively welcome and support breastfeeding
• support new families to feel confident breastfeeding when out and about
• improve awareness about the lifelong benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child
• remove any barriers that may prevent people from breastfeeding in public.

Over 320 businesses and community organisations have already signed up across Derbyshire. If your workplace has a venue that is partially or fully open to the public and would like to apply, please complete the short application process 🔗. You don’t need to create an account to register - click ‘continue without an account’ if you wish.

Provided you meet all the essential criteria, you will receive a Breastfeeding Welcome Here Award sticker and certificate to display. You will also be listed on our health visiting service 🔗 so families can view 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' venues in their area.

For any queries, please contact the Start Well Team via email at breastfeedingwelcomeaward@derbyshire.gov.uk 

Baton-Bearer Applications Open for 2025!

Be a Baton-Bearer for the 2025 Baton of Hope Tour!

Applications are open, and we’re so honoured to be hosting the Derbyshire/Derby leg on 13^th September 2025. This promises to be a powerful day, bringing people together to spread hope, remembrance, and resilience.

We’re looking for Baton-Bearers who:

• Have lost someone to suicide—whether a loved one, friend, or colleague.
• Are survivors of a suicide attempt.
• Special exceptions may also be considered.

There is a £20 application fee, but if finances feel like a barrier, please don’t let that stop you. If your application is selected and you’re concerned about costs or fundraising, message any of the admins in the Derbyshire/Derby Facebook group 🔗, and we’ll be here to help.

Please note applications for this event will close on Friday 31^st January 2025.

To apply and for further information, please visit the official Baton of Hope webpage below.

Veganuary

Veganuary, a UK-based not-for-profit organisation, launched the global movement back in 2014. Veganuary takes place every year across January and encourages individuals and workplaces to take a pledge to explore vegan (plant-based) food throughout the month. 

Millions of individuals have participated since the initiative started; last year, over 2,000+ brand-new vegan-based products were added to restaurant/café menus and for purchase at supermarkets as part of Veganuary.

Taking part in the challenge and adopting a vegan diet for the month can offer various health-related benefits. The increase in fruits, vegetables and legumes can improve digestion, lower your cholesterol, and reduce the chances of developing heart disease. 

Benefits aren't limited to health either. Taking part in Veganuary also helps to lead to an improved environment, with most vegan-based products contributing to less greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to meat and dairy-based products.

To participate in Veganuary and receive your copies of FREE digital resources (including nutrition guides, meal plans and a celebrity e-cookbook), register your interest by visiting the official website for the campaign below.

Time To Talk Day - Derbyshire

This year, Time To Talk Day will take place on Thursday 6^th February 2025.

Mental health forms a core part of our everyday lives and can be a battle for many. Last year's 'Time To Talk Day' uncovered almost 2/3 of the UK appear cheerful to avoid discussing personal worries; just under 50% feel less compelled to discuss mental health challenges if close ones are already under pressure with personal circumstances.

The event is one of England's leading campaigns to drive open discussions regarding mental health amongst families, friends, and co-workers. By creating a supportive environment where people feel safe to 'open up', we can all help to eliminate the stigma often associated with mental health - the main goal of 'Time of Talk Day'.

To raise awareness of the campaign, Derbyshire County Council's Mental Health & Suicide Prevention (DCCMHSP) Team will be sharing posts across the week - Monday 3^rd - Friday 7^th February 2025 on their official social media, including Facebook 🔗, X (formerly Twitter) 🔗 & Instagram 🔗.

You can get involved in the campaign and tag the team at @DCCMHSP with your social media posts.

Finally, be sure to access and download local Derbyshire resources (incl. posters, images, templates, etc.) from the DCCMHSP Team's official toolkit for the campaign by visiting the link below.

Walk All Over Cancer Month

The 'Walk All Over Cancer' campaign, (hosted by the Cancer Research UK charity) takes place yearly each March.

It's currently estimated almost 1 out of every 2 adults will get cancer at some point during their lives. To help fight the battle, Cancer Research UK have launched the 'Walk All Over Cancer Challenge'. Individuals can register for FREE to walk 10,000 steps each day all through March to raise funds to back long-term research into cancer to help save lives.

People taking part can face the challenge on their own or as part of a team with family, friends or even work colleagues. Further information on how to register as a team is available here 🔗.

You can also find like-minded individuals and become part of the wider walking community by joining the official Facebook Group for the event via the following link 🔗. 

To sign up for the challenge and receive your FREE Cancer Research UK t-shirt, fundraising resources, and online donations webpage, make sure to visit the official webpage below.

Stay Connected With HWD 

Want to get in touch? You can contact us via email at healthy.workplaces@derbyshire.gov.uk for general enquiries and/or to submit an article for the next edition of our newsletter (April - June 2025). A member of our team will get back to you shortly.

Finally, for further information on how Healthy Workplaces Derbyshire can support you and your workplace, be sure to visit our official website 🔗 and complete our 'Register of Interest' Form 🔗.