About the theme: Moving more for our mental health
Being active is important for our mental fitness, but we can often struggle to get enough exercise.
We know there are many different reasons for this, so this Mental Health Awareness Week (13th – 19th May), we want to help colleagues to find moments for movement in their daily routines. Going for a walk in your neighbourhood, putting on your favourite music and dancing around the living room, chair exercises when you’re watching television – it all counts!
Why GC are taking part
Moments of movement can break up the day, help to alleviate stress, and ensure you are getting some form of exercise and mental health wellbeing. We’re hoping that you’ll see the benefits from moving more, and even carry on with it once the week is over.
In support of the Mental Health Foundation, and organised by the Health and Wellbeing EDI Network, our activities throughout the week will highlight the support the network and its mental health champions can provide.
Details of our colleague events
We have three events which you can take part in across Mental Health Awareness Week. Full details of each of these events are detailed further down this page. You’ll also receive calendar invitations for each event.
Download our eMail signature
Show your support and commitment to your colleagues’ mental fitness by downloading this email signature (right click and 'save as' the image) and displaying in on your emails throughout Mental Health Awareness Week (13th – 19th May).
Take part on our Bingo Card competition
Why not enter our competition with a chance to win a £50 Hive voucher?
All you need to do to enter the competition is email the health and wellbeing mailbox by Monday 20th May with either a photo or a brief description of what you have done that week to engage with our campaign and incorporate movement into your daily routine.
You can use our Bingo Card resource if you’re looking for inspiration (click on the Bingo Card image above to 'save as' and download it). The two winners of a £50 voucher will be randomly selected the following week.
NOTE: We’d like to include some of the photos in a short video following the campaign to share internally, on our website and social media, so please state if you do not want your photo to be included.
Virtual Bolly-fit Bitesize session (Monday 13th May: 09:30 – 10:30am)
Format: Zoom Meeting
Get ready to kick off Mental Health Awareness Week with our first-ever Bolly-fit session!
Bolly-fit comes from the term ‘Bollywood’, which is a unique blend of traditional music and culture with Western musical styles and storytelling techniques. It originated from the Indian film industry. It'll be hosted by our GC colleagues Anushka, who is a Bollywood dancer and teacher, and Jyoti who has a love for Bollywood dancing.
There's no prior dance experience required – just bring your enthusiasm! We welcome all colleagues, to come and experience the fun and amazing energy Bollywood dance has to bring.
What to expect:
- An introduction to bolly-fit followed by a beginner-level workout to a series of different Bollywood songs
- A safe and inclusive space for all
- Ability to dance at your own pace
- Have fun, embrace openness and a different culture
- Cameras on where possible
- Bring the energy!
Here are some resources if you’d like to have a look beforehand:
- Sharing one of the songs that we’ll be doing - What Jhumka? -Video | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | Ranveer, Alia, Arijit, Jonita, Pritam,Amitabh (youtube.com)
- What is Bollywood dancing? - What is Bollywood Dance? (youtube.com)
- Easy Dance Steps - Bollywood | Vicky and Aakanksha (youtube.com)
The calendar invite for the session has been published to all colleagues.
Podiatrist virtual session (Tuesday 14th May: 12:30 – 13:30pm)
Format: Teams Meeting
To increase awareness on the importance of movement and the impact this has on our mental fitness, the Health and Wellbeing EDI Network have invited an experienced Musculoskeletal Podiatrist to facilitate a bitesize session.
Podiatrists (sometimes called chiropodists), help people deal with a range of mobility issues, relieve pain and treat infections of the feet and lower legs.
During this bitesize session, we aim to cover the following key topics:
- Why regular movement is so important
- What happens when we stop moving
- The key barriers to movement and when to seek professional support
- Top tips on how to prevent injury and maintain movement
- Q&A
Using this anonymous survey, let us know if you have a question that you'd like to ask the Podiatrist, or if you have any suggestions on what would be useful to hear about (and for them to cover in the session).
The calendar invite for the session has been published to all colleagues.
'Let’s Talk Andysmanclub and Men’s Mental Fitness virtual' bitesize session (Friday 17th May: 10am -11am)
Format: Teams Meeting
We’ll highlight to all colleagues the support available through Andysmanclub – a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online.
Attend if you want to:
- End the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation.
- Help colleagues make the time to educate themselves and make informed choices about what they can do to make changes in their lives – both at work and at home to support and protect their mental fitness.
- Chris Jones, Executive Director for Centre for Assessment, and our SMT Sponsor for the Health & Wellbeing EDI Network, will be opening-up the session, and handing over to a representative from Andysmanclub who’ll will be running the main part of the session. Chris will also take part in the Q&A at the end of the session and share his reflections.
The calendar invite for the session has been published to all colleagues.
Read this colleague blog on the importance of movement
Click here to read a blog post by Emma Connolly, Health & Wellbeing Specialist – Business Growth Hub who encourages everyone to find a way to move for both their body and mind, in a way that suits them to benefit their mental health.
Here are some suggested walks from a few of our key offices provided by our Mental Health Champion – Mike Carroll-Owen:
Doncaster – Lakeside (suggested walk approximately 30/40 mins)
Rotherham – Clifton Park (suggested walk approximately 30-45 mins)
Sheffield Weston Park - (suggested walk approximately 20/30 mins)
Leeds – Wellbeing Walk (Canal) A4WALKwebdownld-LEEDS copy (canalrivertrust.org.uk)
Bradford – We have the Lister park Circular (The park is 5/10 minutes car journey from the city centre near Manningham) Lister Park Circular, West Yorkshire, England - 46 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
Barnsley – there are not really any central walks, but there are a number to choose from around the outskirts of the town - 10 Best Trails, Walks, and Paths in Barnsley | AllTrails.
Manchester – Here’s a link to a suggested walk to the Manchester Viaduct from Lee House: Castlefield Viaduct | Manchester | National Trust the website details further information in relation to visiting.
Mersyside –10 best Trails, Walks and Paths in Merseyside: 10 Best Trails, Walks, and Paths in Merseyside | AllTrails
Share your photos
As always, we’d love to see your photos and video clips from how you’ve celebrated and took part in Mental Health Awareness week. Please share them at HealthandWellbeingNetwork@growthco.uk
Some additional resources
31 days of Movement challenge
Mental Health Awareness Week - Colouring Page
Action for Happiness: Meaningful May calendar for daily inspiration
#ActiveSoles and #ActiveSouls – A new cultural norm is born | Greater Manchester Moving
Forget Exercise, Focus on Movement Poster
Family Walking Top Tips by Little Adventures North West
How to get started with Couch to 5K
Mental Health Foundation UK are running a virtual ‘Around the World’ challenge on Strava, if you’d like to get involved, you can find out more here
Details of GC Mental Health First Aiders
National walking routes:
Find a walking route - Ramblers
UK footpaths, bridleways and byways online map | FootPathMap.co.uk
Walking Route Planner - plotaroute.com
Find a walk near you | The Wildlife Trusts
Find your perfect trail, and discover the land of myths and legend - National TrailsThe Free Mindfulness Project - Free Resources
Yoga with Adrienne includes a range of videos for all abilities
Coming soon…
Hear from Chris Jones, Executive Director for Centre for Assessment, and SMT Sponsor for the GC Health & Wellbeing EDI Network as he shares his tips on exercise and movement in our May Monthly Blog Post in GC News.
Colleagues from across our EDI Networks and support groups share how they include some form of movement into their daily and/or regular routines.