Westbank hosts annual Wellbeing Day to help staff tackle winter blues

Devon health charity Westbank Community Health and Care has held its second annual Wellbeing Day, offering staff a range of activities and workshops designed to combat the winter blues and promote healthy lifestyle habits.

The all-day event took place at the charity’s Healthy Living Centre in Exminster, a time of year organisers say can be particularly challenging for many people. The programme included sessions on resilience, stress management and healthy eating, alongside opportunities for staff to try yoga, experience a sound bath, receive a head and neck massage, and take part in individual health checks. A supportive session exploring body image and self-esteem was also offered, while team members were encouraged to explore new hobbies and approaches to staying active.

Westbank’s CEO Sarah Hicks said the initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to staff wellbeing. “It’s incredibly important that we prioritise looking after ourselves and each other. We held our first colleagues’ Wellbeing Day on ‘Blue Monday’ last year and received so much positive feedback that it is now an annual event in our calendar. The aim is to give our staff some valuable time out from their normal working day to embrace a comprehensive programme of new activities focusing on mindfulness, breathwork and good sleep and eating habits to help cope with all that daily life throws at us, not just challenges at work. This special day is part of our drive to make Westbank a ‘Great Place to Work’ and support our staff however we can.”

Feedback from staff attending the second event was strongly positive, with many highlighting the relaxation sessions and practical advice on health and wellbeing. Participants commented -

“I enjoyed all the activities, especially the breathworks. Brilliant to help with managing anxiety/understanding the importance of breathing correctly. The sound bath was a revelation and so relaxing and rejuvenating for mind and body, and the head/shoulder massage was brilliant - had so many knots and a lot of tension in my shoulders and she did an amazing job of getting rid of it all in 10 minutes!”

“The Sound bath, as I had never tried it before and it really benefited me. The health check was also really good, to get a chance to chat informally about health and wellbeing.”

“The ‘Eat Healthy’ session made me more aware of my food choices, reasons and how to be healthier.”

“The head and neck massage, because my shoulders were tense.”

“Sound Bath and Yoga... so simple but it makes you feel better very quickly.”

“I'd never experienced a Sound Bath before and probably wouldn't have ever tried it if I hadn't been given this opportunity. Breathworks was really good. All the activities I registered for were excellent, sound bath, yoga, head massage, breathworks - all were very relaxing.”

The event also showcased Westbank’s upgraded on-site facilities, including its Community Cookery School, events studio, treatment and activity rooms, the recently rebranded Community Hub, and Gymclusive, the charity’s inclusive and accessible gym.

Organisers say the Wellbeing Day will remain a fixture in the charity’s calendar as part of its ongoing effort to support staff health and foster a positive working environment.