Did you know, Monday, 11 April marks National Pet Day?

Many of us will have spotted dogs, cats, rabbits, budgies and all sorts of wonderful pets in the background of a Teams call now and again. 

To celebrate National Pet Day, we'd love to hear from Hounslow's much loved pet community - it's their time to shine in the spotlight!

If your pet has the X-Factor, why not send us over a photo and a few words about them and we'll share a short profile of each wonderful pet in the next Colleague Update later this week, and on our intranet page. 

We'd love to hear from you, so please drop liz.carey@hounslow.gov.uk a line to take part. 

Congratulations to our colleagues in the Housing, Planning and Economic Regeneration Directorate, who have been shortlisted for an incredible five Planning Awards. 

Hounslow reached the final in the following categories;

• Great West Corridor Masterplan
• HAD and HIT Tools
• Affordable Housing
• Fostering a Healthy Town Centre
• Local Authority Planning Team of the Year

In addition, the Affordable Housing team has been shortlisted in the Constructing Excellence Awards. 

Both award ceremonies take place in June, so watch this space and keep your fingers crossed for Hounslow.

Do you want to play your part in helping the Organisational Development, Leadership and Learning (ODLL) team build a positive workplace culture where everyone at Hounslow is able to flourish?

We know that every one of our people have skills, talents and strengths to offer, and we want to tap into them to create of a cohort of supporters from all departments, levels and roles across the Council. As a supporter, you’ll act as an ambassador for the ODLL team, driven by your desire to make Hounslow the best it can be for everyone.

If you’re interested in getting involved, please complete a short form via the link below.

Would you like to help oversee the governance of your pension? Think you have what it takes to ask questions and make sure the board is following pension rules and regulations?

If you answered yes, and yes, then you’ll be interested to know your local pension board is recruiting for a new Employee Representative.

Our pensions and how they work have changed. We want to ‘pass on the power’ and give you the opportunity to be more involved.

Find out more and how to take part here: Employee Representative role - pension board.

We can all experience a certain amount of stress in every day life. Sometimes stress can cause you to take action to make a positive change but prolonged high levels of stress can be harmful to your health.

Check out the latest information sheets from our Employee Assistance Programme provider, Validium, for top tips on how to cope with stress and how to get better sleep:

Dealing with stress at work - download

Getting better sleep - download

You can also find lot's more resources and support here: Validium newsletters.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Mayor's Easter charity raffle, raising funds for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA).

You can find out who our winners are in a video here: live raffle draw with Mayor of Hounslow. 

Connected Futures Young Leaders is a nine month mentoring programme for 18-24 year olds to support them in starting or continuing their careers.

The programme is looking for new mentors from Hounslow to work with mentees each month, helping them to reach their goals and objectives. 

If you'd like to help out, you'll need to commit one to two hours a month, predominantly online, but there are plenty of opportunities to meet face to face. You'll be provided training and support from the Connected Futures Programme team throughout the nine month period. 

If you'd like to get involved, sign up here. For more information contact Bea Angier on bea.hounslowspromise@gmail.com.

Menopausal women are the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce according to the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM). The menopausal transition causes serious symptoms for one in four women and has contributed to over 900,000 women leaving the workforce. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Jon this webinar on Thursday, 28 April from 1pm to hear more about how we can put in place the right tools for support to menopausal women. 

Sign up here: menopause matters.

With spring in swing, Kaarp have some great benefits for all colleagues on offer. Check out their site to save on family days out, Easter gifts and holidays, home and garden products and much more.

Simply visit the website here: Kaarp benefits and use login = HOUNSLOW / password = BENEFITS.

Are you looking to give back to your local community through volunteering? Do you want to offer your skilled support, or would you like try something completely new?

Ealing and Hounslow Volunteer Centre is promoting a range of skilled volunteering roles, within different voluntary and community organisations in Hounslow. Check out the latest roles on offer below:

• Trustee PA at Hounslow Pensioners Forum
• PA/Researcher (Major Donors Fundraising) at The Mulberry Centre

Find out more and apply: skilled volunteering roles.

No one understands the local area better than our colleagues and residents. We want your feedback on our character and design study to help us co-create Hounslow's future built environment. 

To take part, visit the consultation portal: character and design study. here.

Project Search is a transition to work programme for young adults with Learning Disabilities and Autism. Hounslow has proudly hosted the initiative since 2015 with great success.

To support this year's Project Search, we're looking to connect with departments from across the council who can offer our young people work experience.

If you'd like to get involved, or find out more, please contact mica.hutton@hounslow.gov.uk (Programme Tutor and Co-ordinator) or nicky.bitar@hounslow.gov.uk (Host Business Liaison).

With the school holidays upon us, why not visit inHounslow.com to check out what's going on in and around the borough. 

From Easter fun at the Water and Steam Museum to spring crafts at Hogarth's House - there is plenty to see and do in our beautiful borough. 

Take a look here: what's on in Hounslow April 2022.

Regular exercise has huge benefits to not just our physical health, but also our mental health. As we step into spring it’s a great time to venture out for that lunchtime walk, bike ride, run or whatever physical activity you enjoy.

Through BetterPoints, colleagues can earn rewards for every physical activity they take part in. Each time you’re active, you'll be awarded a point and entered into the monthly prize draw. 

For more information and detailed instructions on how to download the app, please visit our BetterPoints page: get active with BetterPoints.