Shropshire Council wins award for promoting healthy lifestyles in the workplace

Shropshire Council has been recognised for its work in promoting healthier lifestyles to staff at a recent awards ceremony.

The council received an Employer of the Year award at the 2014 Energize Awards on Thursday 6 November 2014.  The award recognises a local employer that actively encourages and enables their workforce to be able to be more physically active and lead an active lifestyle.

The council operates and supports various local and national schemes that encourage and enable staff to become more active, which include:

• Cycle to Work Scheme – This scheme enables employers to lease bicycles and associated cycling safety equipment to cycle to work and to and from meetings.  Applicants are also eligible to receive a Cycle Shropshire discount card which enables them to get 10% off at certain local cycle (and other) shops.
• Active@Work programme –  this is a series of activities such as running groups, walking groups and even rounders, organised during lunch breaks and after work for staff to take part in.
• Health@Work event – an annual event whereby staff can get their blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI checked and also receive advice on diet, nutrition and how to live a healthy lifestyle.
• Kick Racism Out of Football – an annual tournament, whereby council staff pull together a team to support and promote the important anti-racism messages, whilst getting fit at the same time.
• Workplace Challenge – When the Workplace Challenge was launched through the County Sports Partnership Network, Shropshire Council immediately jumped on board with the aim of generating lighthearted competition between staff, and inevitably getting more staff taking part in some form of exercise.  Staff from ICT, leisure, community enablement, Healthy Shropshire, graduates and many more signed up to the Workplace Challenge and are still logging their activity to date.

Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, libraries and culture, said:

“It is fantastic to be recognised for all the great work our staff do to promote a healthier workplace and lifestyle for our staff.  This is a great testament to the dedication of our staff who continue to deliver high quality and innovative health promotions, and services both to our staff and to the people of Shropshire.  The team should be proud of their efforts.”

Shrewsbury Park Run also won an award as best newcomer.  Shrewsbury Parkrun is a free weekly 5km event for runners of all standards, which takes place every Saturday at 9am in The Quarry.  It offers an opportunity for all the local community, male or female, young or old, to come together on a regular basis to enjoy this beautiful park and get physically active into the bargain.  The Park Run programme organised local volunteers was given match funding from Shropshire Council’s public health team to enable the project to go ahead.  Since its launch, Park Run has now an average of 300 people of all ages and abilities taking part.

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, and member of Shropshire’s Health and Well-being board, added:

“We are absolutely delighted to have received this award.  Staff health and wellness not only benefits our staff but our organisation as a whole.  It’s so important we provide our staff with the proper tools and opportunities where they can flourish and be healthy.  Our public health, leisure services and other teams within the council should be proud of their commitment to promoting and encouraging healthier lifestyles and I commend them on receiving this award.  I would also like to offer my congratulations to Shrewsbury Park Run for its achievement.”

For more information and advice on how to lead healthier lifestyles visit www.healthyshropshire.co.uk.

For information and to find out where your local sports club is, visit http://shropshire.gov.uk/leisure/.

For information about the Workplace Challenge, visit, http://www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/energizestw/.

Further information

Now in its eighth year, the Energize Awards recognise people that take part, work and volunteer in sport and physical activity across Shropshire, and Telford and Wrekin.

The awards are an opportunity for local people and organisations to be celebrated for their passion, dedication and commitment to grass-roots sport.

171 people took part in the evening event at Shrewsbury Town FC and were treated to an inspirational talk from former Olympian, and BBC presenter, Sharron Davies MBE.