College scoops Bronze award for health and wellbeing initiatives

Gower College Swansea has achieved a Corporate Health Standard Bronze Award for its dedication to providing health and wellbeing initiatives for its staff.

The Corporate Health Standard is part of the Healthy Working Wales programme and is the national mark of quality for health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Over the last academic year, there has been a range of staff-centred events such as a long service awards ceremony for those who have worked at the College for more than 20 years, and a celebration party to acknowledge a positive Estyn inspection.

There have also been cross-college fundraising events such as Christmas Jumper Day and Get GB Standing, in which all staff members have been encouraged to take part and have fun.

At a recent health and wellbeing day, approximately 300 members of staff enjoyed free activities including a climbing wall, table tennis, swingball, hula hoop, walks, dance lessons and make-up tutorials.

During a series of visits to the College, the Corporate Health Standard assessors were very impressed not only with the level of engagement of managers and staff in these activities but also the passion and vision of the steering group who have been responsible for driving this initiative forward.

“Their feedback was very complimentary,” says Director of HR Sarah King. “They felt the College had a very warm, family feel to it. One of the assessors even said that they would like to work here themselves, which we took as a great compliment. We are really delighted to have been awarded a Bronze and, in the coming academic year, we will look to develop our success even further with a view to going for the Silver in the not too distant future.”

Photos: Peter Price Media