Today, KnowledgeBrief hosted a day dedicated to Well-being in support of our Charity Partner of the year, Young Lives Vs Cancer. Through this well-being day, the KnowledgeBrief team hopes to raise essential funds for this amazing charity.
A variety of workshops were delivered throughout the day. Jane Savage, a Skills Coach at KnowledgeBrief, led a session on Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace. Jane’s session equipped participants with various resources and underscored the significance of having internal advocates for mental well-being within the workplace. She introduced the role of Mental Health First Aiders and aided participants in recognising both overt and subtle signs of mental health challenges. Given the substantial amount of time spent at work, honing these skills emerges as a crucial means to support colleagues effectively.
The next session was led by Chris Jones, our Coaching Professional Team Leader. Chris commenced his session by sharing his personal connection with Young Lives vs Cancer, a charity that supported his 16-year-old nephew following a Leukaemia diagnosis. His personal testament shed light on the impactful work of the charity, underscoring the importance of our partnership. Chris’s session considered the barriers to active listening, such as pre-conceived responses, aggressive listening, and technological distractions. Furthermore, he facilitated exercises on empathic listening and provided participants with an active listening checklist for fostering effective communication.
Midday welcomed Dr. Andrew Davies, a regular speaker in our Guest Speaker program. Dr. Davies drew upon his extensive clinical and leadership experience to deliver a session on measuring health in the workplace. His session encompassed defining health and well-being in the workplace, grasping the extent of the challenge, and identifying factors that either bolster or impede good health, including cultural nuances, psychological safety, nutrition, hydration, and team dynamics. Dr. Davies also shared recent statistics on health issues in the UK and explored business strategies aimed at addressing them, including methodologies for gauging health and well-being in the workplace. Practically, Dr. Davies provided resources such as the Gallup Survey, tailored for assessing employee engagement, and a Harvard Business Review article delineating strategies to enhance employee health and well-being. Additionally, we had the pleasure of introducing a volunteer closely affiliated with Young Lives vs Cancer. David recounted the journey of his nephew Josh, who benefited from the charity’s intervention, serving as an inspiration for why this day is so important.
The latter part of the day concentrated on practical well-being techniques, including meditation and desktop yoga. Hattie O’Driscoll, a Skills Coach at KnowledgeBrief, introduced participants to mindfulness and its advantages in fostering present-moment awareness. She guided attendees through establishing a regular mindfulness practice and led a live meditation session. Following this, Amani, a certified yoga practitioner, delivered practical desktop yoga exercises aimed at alleviating tension for individuals enduring long hours at their desks.
The final session of the day, led by Becki Houlston, a therapist and stress and anxiety coach delivered a session on resilience. Becki debunked common myths surrounding resilience and drew from personal experiences to underscore the importance of self-belief and seeking support. She guided participants through exercises designed to fortify their nervous systems under pressure and dispelled the notion that resilience equates to merely “getting over it.” Instead, she emphasised the pillars of resilience, including self-belief, self-support, and the willingness to seek assistance.
The day concluded with Luke, a former recipient of support from Young Lives vs Cancer. Luke courageously recounted his own battle with leukaemia at the tender age of 9 and the profound impact it had on his family. He underscored the invaluable assistance provided by Young Lives vs Cancer throughout the UK, shedding light on the experiences of numerous families. Luke emphasised the challenges some families face, with journeys of over 2 hours to reach specialised cancer centres for their child’s treatment. Young Lives vs Cancer steps in to offer aid through grants to ease travel expenses and through their successful “Homes from Home” program, which establishes residences near treatment centres, enhancing the overall experience for children undergoing treatment.
“It was truly wonderful to witness such a significant turnout of our learners and clients engaging in our sessions throughout the day. I genuinely hope this sheds light on the remarkable efforts undertaken by Young Lives vs Cancer and equips participants with practical skills and tools to enhance not only their own well-being in the workplace, but also that of their colleagues. Thank you to all our speakers for their fantastic contributions. It was an outstanding day”
To donate to Young Lives vs Cancer – https://www.justgiving.com/page/knowledgebriefcharity
To learn more about Young Lives vs Cancer – https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/donate-to-children-cancer/