SOUTH Lakes Housing has achieved a Bronze Award in the Better Health at Work scheme which helps promote a healthy lifestyle to colleagues and shows a commitment to improving health and wellbeing.

The Better Health at Work Award recognises the efforts of employers in the North East and Cumbria in addressing health issues within the workplace.

There are four levels to the Award –Bronze, Silver, Gold and Continuing Excellence, with appropriate criteria at each stage to build into an Award Portfolio and organisations are given up to a year per level.

Sue Boulton HR Manager at South Lakes Housing said: “It has been a difficult year for everyone but working towards the Bronze Award has brought colleagues together in such a positive way.

"As well as learning about better health, we have focused on having some fun during this difficult time and we believe that happy colleagues results in better experience for our customers.

"The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a major focus for our People Strategy and the BHAW framework supports our aims and is helping us to ensure that we offer a safe and supportive working environment for our colleagues.”

South Lakes Housing was supported throughout the process by Health & Wellbeing Support Officer, Ken Gyles from Northern TUC, he said: “It has been great to see that South Lakes Housing support their staff when it comes to looking after their health and wellbeing, they have shown in the previous twelve months a commitment to reach all standards and criteria set out by the Better Health & Wellbeing Award.

"In awarding them the bronze standard of the award it has been a pleasure to work and support them and the TUC look forward to their continued success on embedding health and wellbeing within their organisation."

The six health advocates are there to support South Lakes Housing in achieving their “Better Health at Work” award and they are the key to them achieving this goal.