Gold HWL accolade for Onthank ECC

The accolade recognises their continuous efforts to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone in the workplace and builds on their previous work that has already earned them HWL Silver and Bronze awards

The ECC looked at ways they could create a healthier and more motivated workforce by promoting a better work-life balance.

Healthy living, healthy eating and physical fitness were a core part of the approach, which even extended to growing and cultivating fruit and vegetables for staff use.

Team members also undertook Mental Health First Aid Training to support staff within the Centre, with Mindfulness Training, Suicide Prevention and Safe Talk also forming part of a wide range of different health and wellbeing courses offered.

Additional support was given to awareness campaigns, which included: asthma, cancer, alcohol, world health, smoking and arthritis, backed by activities such as quizzes, pamper sessions, counselling, complementary therapies and pet therapy walks with a delighted Daisy the dog!

Councillor Fiona Campbell, East Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Skills and Learning said: “The team at Onthank deserves huge credit for achieving this significant award.

“As well as a wide range of awareness campaigns, activities and courses, the team has created an ethos where staff have been encouraged to notice and offer early support when a colleague’s wellbeing might be under threat.

"A work culture where everyone is looking out for each other is superb and the results show that staff absences are better supported with early referrals to Occupational Health for services which include counselling, physiotherapy and stress management.

"It's helped create an environment of motivated staff working in atmosphere of kindness, fairness and can-do teamwork and is a brilliant and well deserved award!”