Ayrshire College takes steps to improve staff health
Ayrshire College has been awarded the ‘Walk at Work Award’ which recognises workplaces in Scotland creating healthy and active workforces.
Staff at Ayrshire College have been encouraged to complete a daily mile route mapped out at each campus. Ayrshire College is the only FE college to have achieved the Award across 3 campuses.
By promoting walking as an easy way to get to and from work and meetings, Ayrshire College is reducing their carbon footprint and helping to reduce congestion and emissions in Ayrshire.
Health Safety and Wellbeing Advisor Lisa Little is pleased that the College has been recognised for their efforts to support staff wellbeing.
Lisa said: “It’s great to get this recognition because we are passionate about promoting the health benefits of walking to our staff and students.
“In the new academic year we will continue to encourage staff and students to become more active and further promote health and wellbeing initiatives taking place at the College.”
Recent findings from UK workplaces reveal that half of all employees experience poor mental health at work, including stress, anxiety and depression. Regular walking can reduce the effects of poor mental health, particularly walking in greenspace.
Scotland’s walking charity Paths for All set up the award to help tackle poor health in the workplace and reverse the trend of inactive workplaces where staff sit for up to 9 hours a day. The charity provided Ayrshire College with one-to-one support to set up activities to get their workforce walking.
Ian Findlay, Paths for All’s Chief Officer, urges all Scottish workplaces to take their employee’s health seriously.
Ian said: “Congratulations to Ayrshire College for achieving our Walk at Work Award. It’s brilliant to see Scottish workplaces take the lead in creating a work-based walking culture and making improvements to staff health and wellbeing.
“Research shows that employees who are physically active in and around the working day take fewer sick days, are more motivated and productive, and are more able to concentrate, so walking is not just good for us, it’s good for business.
“I would urge any Scottish workplace to follow Ayrshire College’s lead and use Paths for All’s support to take small steps to a healthier workforce.”
9 July 2019
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