Thrive at Work West of England
Encouraging and supporting businesses to improve employees' mental health and wellbeing
The West of England Combined Authority has developed the Thrive at Work programme in collaboration with employers and partners to give small to medium enterprises (SMEs) like you the interactive tools and training resources needed to help you embed good mental health practice in your business and support your employees.
Help your employees stay mentally and physically well during and beyond the coronavirus outbreak
Changing working conditions, societal, economic and environmental factors can all have a huge impact on your employees’ mental health, and in turn, significantly impact performance and productivity. The West of England Combined Authority recognises the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on businesses and their people and has developed the Thrive at Work West of England programme in response.
Our offer
The Thrive at Work programme offers mental health and wellbeing e-learning and resources aimed at businesses and staff, in one place.
Mental Health at Work Commitment
Make a genuine, long-term impact on your staff's wellbeing by signing the Mental health at Work Commitment today. Join hundreds of businesses who have made a positive change.
Mental Health at Work Commitment webinars
Mind ran a series of webinars, in collaboration with expert partners, to help bring to life the different standards that form the Mental Health at Work Commitment. Listen here on-demand.
Mental Health at Work Standards
You can also implement the Mental Health at Work Standards - a simple framework and set of 6 standards that any business can follow to improve and support the mental health of your people.
Support for SMEs
The Federation of Small Businesses provides lots of advice and guidance for small businesses and the self-employed.
Free mental health e-Learning
Complete our e-Learning module and equip yourself with the confidence and skills to have supportive conversations with your direct reports about mental health and wellbeing. And then you and your staff can start using Wellness Action Plans.
'This course has been funded by WECA to support SMEs of 0-250 staff.
Wellness Action Plans
Wellness Actions Plans (WAPs) are an easy, practical way of helping your colleagues and direct reports to support their own mental health at work. Click through to our guides and templates.
Suicide awareness training
This training gives you a better understanding of the signs to look out for and skills are required to approach someone you think is struggling. Take it today, it can take as little as 5 minutes and you could save a life.
COVID-19 Psychological First Aid
Get psychological first aid training and help people with different needs to cope with the emotional impact of COVID-19.
24/7 Support & Connect
An immediate emotional and practical support helpline provided by the NHs. It's a free, confidential 24/7 line for people who live in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
Call 0800 0126549.
Our Frontline - mental health support for frontline workers
Our Frontline offers round-the-clock one-to-one mental health support, by call or text, from trained volunteers, plus resources, tips and ideas to look after your mental health.
Physical activity
Active workplaces are healthier, happier and more productive, with less stress, lower absence and better performance. Now more than ever, being active is vital for the health of your people and your business.
Sign up to Workplace Movement to receive support from your local Active Partnership, Wesport.
Be the Business Spark sessions - wellbeing
Join Be the Business's newly-developed sessions on wellbeing. You can join four 90-minute online sessions – every two weeks over an eight-week period.
Building on the insight of a subject specialist and with the guidance of a session facilitator, you’ll be part of a small group who’ll discuss topics such as:
- Managing your own wellbeing
- Looking after employee wellbeing
- Balancing wellbeing and performance
- Promoting a wellbeing culture
Resource Library
Mental Health at Work
Mental Health at Work provides lots of resources and tools, including support for line managers, colleagues and staff, ideas on how to improve workplace culture and help to develop policy and practice.
'How to' guides
‘How to’ guides for workplace mental health and wellbeing, shared by local employers. This section includes a framework for a health and wellbeing policy and examples of interventions to support mental health in the workplace.
Time to change
Here you'll get guidance for having safe and supportive conversations, how to start a conversation about mental health and suggestions that help you demonstrate appreciation for your staff.
Happiness Pulse
The Happiness Pulse helps you measure, understand and improve wellbeing with a simple online survey. It's a practical wellbeing measurement for thriving people, teams, organisations, communities.
Taking care of yourself at work
Mind supply information, advice and simple steps to taking care of yourself at work.
Talk Club
The Talk Club is a talking and listening community for men. It's a support network to keep mentally fit and healthy. Talk Club is now meeting virtually - join now and start sharing.
Building your resilience
South Gloucestershire Council has produced an on-demand webinar about building resilience. Click to view the slides and listen here.
Understanding responses to change
South Gloucestershire Council have produced an on-demand webinar about understanding different responses to change. Click to view the slides and listen here.
Local authorities and the public's mental health
Centre for Mental Health article, August 2020
Mental health and employers; refreshing the case for investment
Deloitte report, January 2020
Mental health at work
Business in the Community report, September 2019
Thrive at Work West of England survey
We're encouraging SMEs to take our survey to help us understand what mental health in the workplace looks like across our region. Help us build a better picture by completing our questions.
You can access the survey through this clickable link.
Did you know?
Additional support
Click on the links below for national help and advice
Click on the links below for regional help and advice
Maintaining mental wellbeing
A change in routine and being forced to work in isolation during these unprecedented times can have a negative impact on mental wellbeing. Support and guidance for supporting your employees’ mental wellbeing is available here, or visit these resources:
- Click through to the Mental Health Foundation which has information on how you can support yourself and colleagues.
- Mind has published some useful advice and guidance available here suggesting some simple things individuals can do to look after their mental health and wellbeing at this time.
- Visit the Health and Safety Executive Guidance on working from home
- The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has produced a list of great desk-based exercises which you can find on this live link.
- You can also find information on supporting your staff to stay active here. Visit the NHS One You website for home exercises and an app to download for advice on physical activity and healthy lifestyles.
Sign up to our fortnightly Growth Hub newsletter
Be the first to hear about bespoke initiatives to help your business succeed. Sign up using our online form.
Our partners
The Thrive at Work West of England programme is delivered by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) in partnership with Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, South Gloucestershire Council and Bath & North East Somerset Council. Thanks also to the contribution from the businesses involved in the Thriving at Work Bristol programme and the Covid-19 Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Group.
