On your marks...‘On-Footse’ all set to promote wellbeing in the workplace

ENERGETIC employees, representing businesses and organisations from across the region, are set to take part in the annual ‘On-Footse’ Top 100 race again this year — to raise money for a ground-breaking Wellbeing in the Workplace project being developed by local mental health charity Cam-mind.

The On-Footse event, supported by Cambridge News, is being held at the Cambridge University Athletics Track on Sunday, 26 June. The event offers 100 men and women, representing up to 100 employers, the opportunity to race one mile each to compete for a top place on the On-Footse Top 100 Index.

This is the third year for this event which attracts both serious competitors and fun runners.

“This is a unique event which taps into the good-natured competitive spirit of local businesses as they compete for their place in the On-Footse listing,” says Cam-mind president Charles Hewitson, Senior Partner at Hewitsons, who has been the first to sign up for the race.

“This year's event will raise funds towards the invaluable work that Cam-mind is doing to raise awareness of mental health problems at work — and to help local employers tackle the issues of stress, depression and anxiety within their staff teams.”

“This is an issue that all employers need to put high on their agenda,” he adds. “More working days are lost due to stress, depression and anxiety than any other work-related illness, with at least one in five employees affected.”

“The personal cost of this for those concerned can be enormous, added to which there is the vast financial cost to UK businesses — currently estimated at around £26 billion per year.”

Aly Anderson, Development Manager at Cam-mind adds: “Persistent ongoing stress, matched by poor support, will result in ill-health for some, together with lower productivity and/or profits for the employer. A greater attention to the health and wellbeing of staff members, coupled with a more open and understanding attitude to mental health issues, can help to reduce these risks.”

Cam-mind is looking to tackle this issue in the Cambridge area via a project that will develop Wellbeing in the Workplace resources/training for local employers.

“We already offer the highly regarded Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course locally and will shortly be launching our stress-busting, team-building Laughter W☺rksh☺p!,” adds Aly Anderson.

“We now want to develop a range of other services and resources to support the wellbeing of local employees — and to help managers and HR professionals in their roles. These services will help to prevent mental ill-health as well as provide support/signposting for those already affected.”

The £10,000 target includes funding for the following:

• a portable Wellbeing in the Workplace resource for businesses and organisation to access FREE of charge.
• a new training room facility, as part of an exciting refurbishment that is currently underway at Cam-mind’s Chesterton Road premises. This will enable us to offer cost-effective Mental Health First Aid training, stress management, Laughter W☺rksh☺p! and support groups to local employees.
• a self help library of recommended books and resources at Cam-mind's Chesterton Road premises for people who are experiencing difficulties such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.
• development of specific resources for line managers and HR managers.

Entry fee for the event is just £30 per business/organisation. No sponsorship is required, but entrants are asked to hold a small fundraising activity — ie a dress up or down day — in aid of the charity. All On-Footse employers who raise £250 or more for this project will be offered a FREE stress-busting, team-building Laughter W☺rksh☺p!

• For more information and to check out the 2010 event log on to www.footse100.org — or contact Wendy Von Niebel on 01638 661820.