Funding up for grabs for Stoke businesses promoting well-being

BUSINESSES in Stoke-on-Trent are set to benefit from a new funding scheme designed to enhance employee health and well-being.
 
Delivered by North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, the Stoke-on-Trent healthy workplace grant fund can offer up to £500 for local businesses to support sustainable well-being programmes.
 
Sarah Colclough, programme administrator at North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Thanks to Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we currently have a funding stream of £20,000 to offer to eligible city businesses. The grant funding is specifically for innovative initiatives that help create a healthy, happy workforce.”
 
According to government research, there are five ways to well-being – connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give.
 
Colclough aded: “Projects that receive this grant funding must incorporate one of the five ways to well-being.

“We’ve found that these five steps are all simple, everyday activities that can make a huge difference to health and happiness. For example, investing time in personal connections, keeping physically active, taking notice of what is around you, learning new things and giving back to the community are all achievable and proven to boost well-being.
 
“We’re looking for city businesses which can encourage employees to recognise and engage in the five ways to well-being to help increase the workforce morale and ultimately make this a better city in which to work. 

“In a business climate where employers lose an estimated £26 billion per year on absences attributed to workplace stress, this funding exists to improve employee well-being across the city.”