As you will have noticed, the CFG (remote) office closed at the end of July as we paused for our summer wellbeing week. It was a time for staff to take a well earned break and spend some time recharging their batteries.
As you will have noticed, the CFG (remote) office closed at the end of July as we paused for our summer wellbeing week.
Whilst we still had a few members of the team on call for urgent enquiries, it was a time for staff to take a well earned break and spend some time recharging their batteries so we could come back ready to support our members and partners.
As mentioned in our article before the break, burnout is a major issue within all sectors and, with the charity sector often experiencing difficulties in recruitment and retention of staff, we know our staff really value this time to relax and focus on our mental health.
The survey our HR team conducted after wellbeing week showed this to be true, with our staff reporting strong support for the week and the benefits it provides.
We hope that the success of our wellbeing week can inspire other charities to develop similar initiatives to support their staff and, as such, we want to highlight some stories about how beneficial this week was for the wellbeing of our team.
With that in mind, our Deputy CEO Clare Mills shared that she uses the five ways to wellbeing (connecting with others, getting active, taking notice, learning and giving) as a useful checklist to ensure that sufficient time and effort was afforded to wellness throughout the week.
Connecting
For Clare, connecting included attending a friend’s wedding and she described how: “to be a part of a celebration of love and the future, alongside my dear friend, his new husband and my smashing boyfriend, and to see so much happiness, was lovely”.
Clare was not the only member of the team who celebrated during the week as Will, CFG's Corporate Partnerships Manager, was the Best Man at his friend’s wedding. He explained: “Wellness week allowed me to spend Thursday and Friday helping set up for the wedding, while also spending time with my sister and my new niece, and I absolutely loved it”.
For other members of the team, wellbeing week was a great chance to spend some extra quality time with their families during the start of the school holidays, meeting up with friends and deepening connections with loved ones.
Clare's week included a swimming in the sea in Plymouth
Getting active
Many of our team certainly found the time to get active during the break, and this included Head of Membership Milly Durrant swimming in the sea in Falmouth, Clare completing a mini triathlon with some running, swimming and cycling, Communications Manager Emma Abbott taking part in some kite flying on the beach with her children and CEO Caron Bradshaw walking 43 miles in preparation for a walking marathon for Walk the Walk!
Discussing her upcoming challenge, Caron said: “I've been walking the Moonwalk for the last decade with a fantastic group. Sadly, we lost our wonderful walking buddy, Joy, and walked in her honour ever since. We've all been touched by breast cancer and it's that impact that keeps us walking.”
“I'm inspired by the work of Walk the Walk and wanted to support them by raising money through my own challenge.”
To support Caron in her challenge, and the work of Walk the Walk, please donate what you can.
Caron and her walking group on their Moonwalk last year
Taking notice
Another key part of wellbeing is taking notice, as paying more attention to the present moment can help us all to get more enjoyment from our lives, and positively affect how we approach challenges.
As such, Clare used her time off to take in the feeling of the sea on her legs whilst swimming in Plymouth and Emma noted the enjoyment felt from just spending time in her garden, adding: “every day I’m thankful I have this space where my wellbeing is always at its best and I can get into my flow”.
Emma spent some time enjoying the peace of her garden
Learning
The team also managed to learn some new skills during the week, with Gift Aid Project Officer Dionne Sturdy-Clow riding a quad bike, Clare developing her crocheting skills and Emma joining a yoga class and mastering some new poses.
Giving
Finally, giving to others is another essential facet of personal wellness as studies have shown that people who help others are more likely to be happier as a result. As people who work in the charity sector, we are constantly reminded of the need to give what we can to support others.
It can be difficult for some to talk openly about giving, but it is important to highlight those times when we give, as it can encourage others to do the same. For our staff, this involved giving time to their children and loved ones or volunteering at a local Pride event.
Prioritising yourself
Emma said of her week that: “it was the first time I felt legitimately able to take time out for myself and choose to do nothing.”
“Wellbeing week gave me the permission I felt I needed to simply say ‘I'm not doing it because this is time that's for me, right now.’ I realised I don’t need to justify looking after myself.”
As for me, whilst my week may sound a bit boring in comparison to some of my colleagues - mostly spending time relaxing with my five pets, visiting some of Newcastle’s brilliant parks and catching up on some oft forgotten chores – it was certainly no less valuable.
The week allowed me time to recuperate after a busy start to my CFG career, enabling me to reflect on my learning throughout the past month and providing a renewed sense of energy when returning to work.
For future wellbeing weeks, I intend to use the ‘five ways to wellness’ to really focus on the areas where I can improve my mental and physical health. It’s clear from the experiences shared by our team that wellbeing week has been an invaluable opportunity to recharge, reconnect and rejuvenate.
As Head of HR Laura Millar concluded: “by prioritising the wellbeing of our staff, we are investing in the long-term success of our charity and the sector, and we hope to create a happier, healthier, and more productive space for everyone.”