Group aims to help boost workers' health

A group which was set up to help boost the health of workers in South Tyneside is going from strength to strength.

Since its creation in 2013, The South Tyneside Workplace Health Alliance (STWHA) has continued to grow with more organisations getting on board.

It now has 34 members from all three sectors including public, private, community and voluntary - and represents a workforce of 10,000 people.

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The alliance aims to highlight the benefits to encourage employees to practice better self-care through balanced diets, regular exercise and maintaining a sensible work/life balance.

It’s work is based on the Better Health at Work Awards (BHAWA) scheme, which is backed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and commissioned by South Tyneside Council Public Health team.

Members to date include Port of Tyne, BT South Tyneside, Ford Aerospace, Saft Batteries, Legal Aid Agency, South Tyneside Council, Bliss=Ability and St. Wilfrid’s RC College.

Geoff Ford MBE, chairman of the Ford Engineering Group and chair of the STWHA said: “South Tyneside continues to feature in health statistics for all the wrong reasons, particularly in relation to obesity, heart conditions and substance misuse.

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“We are trying to improve South Tyneside’s poor health figures by helping employers throughout the borough to redress the balance by encouraging their staff to take on greater responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.”

Membership of the STWHA and BHAWA is free. Benefits include access to NHS Health Checks, Smoking Cessation, Mental Health advice, and Sexual Health guidance.

Any organisation interested in joining the STWHA or finding out more about the BHAWA call Caroline Hall at the council on 424 6510 or Mary Gargett at Ford Aerospace on 454 0141.