Rugby foundation leads the way in championing employee health

Employees at one of the country’s leading rugby community foundations have committed their support to the health and wellbeing of employees by being the first rugby-based organisation in Lancashire to have their own ‘workplace health champions’.

Across February, five members of the team completed the level 3 European Union funded course with Business Health Matters. Delivered locally by Fylde Council, the course empowers employees in Lancashire-based businesses with the skills and knowledge to improve workplace wellbeing including topics on nutrition and mental health, and ways to increase physical activity levels during the working day.

Speaking about the training, Fylde Rugby Community Foundation manager Phill Mills explained: “As a team that is constantly out and about working across the Fylde coast, we wanted to find ways to bring colleagues together whilst also looking after themselves and improving their own health and wellbeing.

"The training was delivered in a way that worked for us at the club and has given us tangible ways to embed more healthy practices into our own working days.

"As we bring the team close together and increase the opportunities for collaborative working in the ways we have planned, we know this will result in increased productivity and success for the organisation.”

Sarah Salthouse, the lead for Business Health Matters at Fylde Council added: “It’s fantastic to get the foundation on board here in Fylde, adding to our growing number of Workplace Health Champions across the area. The team at The Fylde Rugby Community Foundation are working across the district to get more people active and playing rugby across all ages but they also recognise that their own health and wellbeing is just as important so they can continue to do a great job across their many programmes.”

“Developing self-care is a really important message within the training and is it great to hear that Phill will empower his colleagues in his role, as well as using what he has learnt to improving his own wellbeing. This outcome of the training is crucial for sustaining the longer-term positive behaviour change we need to see from workplaces across the county.”

Advocating for other businesses to get on board with the fully-funded training, Phill reflected: “I think it’s essential that as many businesses across Lancashire make the most of this free opportunity to upskill employees before the December 2023 funding deadline. Not only are we going to see positive changes in our own workplaces and improved productivity as a result of this training but as leaders of organisations, we also know that we are contributing to future wellbeing of the people in our teams too.”

European Social Fund support for both the Level 2 and Level 3 training ends in December 2023 and businesses are encouraged to reserve their place by registering at www.businesshealthmatters.org.uk or calling 01772 299838.