How we support your wellbeing

Wellbeing champions are volunteers from across the organisation who promote and support a culture of wellbeing. They do this by raising awareness of wellbeing resources and activities and signposting others to support.

Wellbeing champions:

• champion and promote wellbeing-related messages
• engage colleagues in health and wellbeing activities
• raise awareness of the wellbeing services, tools, and activities available to employees
• proactively embed positive attitudes to wellbeing within their teams and work
• provide feedback to the wellbeing team on general wellbeing themes that they experience in their work and teams

How to find a wellbeing champion

Ask your manager if there is a wellbeing champion in your team. Our aim is for every team to have one.

What support wellbeing champions get

Champions are part of a virtual network on Microsoft Teams, supported by our wellbeing team. There are regular updates and events to keep in touch and share resources.

We offer support and development to help champions create a culture of wellbeing in the workplace.

Who can be a wellbeing champion

Any Essex County Council employee is eligible. We are looking for people who are:

• engaged, enthusiastic and interested in wellbeing and can get people talking about all aspects of health and wellbeing
• approachable and willing to share tools and ideas with colleagues
• keen to keep up to date with activities and to collaborate with others
• willing to participate and get involved in wider activities wherever possible

We want to make sure teams in all areas of the council have wellbeing champions, particularly where employees may not easily be able to access the intranet and corporate communications. 

How to become a wellbeing champion

Speak to your manager to make them aware of your interest and get their support.

Next, register your interest by completing the Wellbeing Champion application form. You will be asked a few simple questions about yourself and why you’d like to volunteer.

To access the form, you need to have an Essex County Council email address and password. If you work for us but cannot open the form, please email wellbeing@essex.gov.uk.

We will review all requests and invite people to join the virtual network.

What if I need to stop being a wellbeing champion?

When you sign up, we ask that you consider if you have the time and space to commit to this role. However, we know that life changes and you may move roles or have things going on in your own life that make it difficult to commit to be a champion, which is entirely understandable.

If you do find yourself unable to continue for whatever reason, let us know by contacting wellbeing@essex.gov.uk.