Health and Wellbeing Needs It would be all too easy to tick a few wellbeing boxes and Though there are some clear regional differences - social introduce some token activities to show that we are “doing events, healthy food/snack initiatives, flexible working wellbeing”. But to set an effective, targeted strategy we opportunities and additional annual leave are the most need to understand where we are right now. That means favoured initiatives related to wellbeing. These were also benchmarking our current reality, spending time auditing the most popular initiatives last year. Looking forward, staff what we already offer, as well as considering what we are most interested in further opportunities for flexible could offer. To continue supporting staff in this area we working, physical activity and stretching/yoga sessions, need first to understand what matters to them in terms subsidised gym membership and activities that focus of their own wellbeing, and the kind of support that most on promoting good mental health (e.g. meditation and appeals to them. In this section of the survey we sought mindfulness). Crucially, 75% of staff perceive being too to evaluate both how staff have felt about our health and busy/lacking available time as the key barrier to accessing wellbeing initiatives to-date, and what they would like to such activities (this is an increase on 60% last year). If we see from such initiatives in future. are serious about supporting the health and wellbeing of our people, we need to ensure their participation is both The responses from this section show us that while our encouraged and facilitated. Mental Health First Aiders are visible and their purpose is understood, just 18% of people believe they would utilise this service if they had a concern about their own mental health and wellbeing. 53% of people would feel comfortable raising such concerns with their line manager (this is an increase on 43% last year). Survey comments suggest that many people would prefer to talk to family and friends about their wellbeing, which is not unexpected however it is important that other options exist for those who would prefer to speak to someone outside of their family/friend circle. Health and Wellbeing Report 2021 17