The WWG has published the results of this year’s annual survey of staff undertaken on behalf of the WWG by Dr Ashley Weinberg from Salford University.
You can find the results and the WWG response on the WWG Wellbeing Hub:
https://hopuk.sharepoint.com/sites/hct-wellbeinghub
All MPs’ staff should have received an email inviting them to complete the Wellness Working Group annual survey on wellbeing.
If you haven’t already completed this important survey, w4mp strongly encourages you to do so as soon as possible – the closing date is Friday 19 January 2024.
If you are a member of staff and have not received the invitation, please email mpsstaff-wwg@parliament.uk from your parliamentary network account and they will send you a link.
The Wellness Working Group is excited to once again share with you the now Annual WWG Survey of Staff working for Members of Parliament.
You may remember, the Wellness Working Group undertakes this an anonymous survey of MPs staff to better understand the pressures and effects that our jobs have on our wellbeing. We are delighted that Dr. Weinberg from Salford University has agreed to run the survey again for us this year . The survey is completely anonymous and a chance to be able to help us enact change and to help us all obtain better work places and practices. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete.
Please access the survey from the WWG Homepage here: https://hopuk.sharepoint.com/sites/hct-wellbeinghub
You must be logged into the Parliamentary network in order to be able to access it.
A Wellness Working Group event
Time: 11:00 – 12:00
Date: Monday 16 October 2023
Location: Online
Please join us to hear the British Liver Trust talk about the work they do, the huge rise in liver disease and liver cancer and the crisis in access to services. We will also learn about the risk factors of liver disease for ourselves, our family and our constituents.
The British Liver trust provide vital advice to help people improve their liver health. They provide the public and patients with up to date information and support, including a free nurse-led helpline and online community, as well as delivering awareness campaigns such as the Love Your Liver Campaign, which seeks to raise awareness of the major risk factors that can cause liver damage and encourage those who are at risk to get tested. It includes:
Estelle, Tom & Lisa
The Wellness Working Group
rsvp to mpsstaff-wwg@parliament.uk
The Wellness Working Group (WWG) will be publishing a monthly blog, written by Committee Member, Lisa Young, who not only works for an MP but is a trained counsellor. They hope that by publishing this blog, you might find some comfort as well as practical tips to help you through a difficult situation.
You can find the blog on the parliamentary intranet here: https://hopuk.sharepoint.com/sites/hct-wellbeinghub/SitePages/WWG-Blog.aspx
The August 2023 post relates to receiving calls from people who are struggling to cope, and contains a link to a useful template to guide you through such a call.
The Wellness Working Group‘s next guest speaker will be Oli Vikse from Andy’s Man Club.
Time: 11:00 – 12:00
Date: Thursday 29 June 2023
Location: Online via Teams
Oli Vikse – Project Development Champion, Andy Man Club
Please join us to hear Oli talk about ANDY’S MAN CLUB
Andy’s Man Club has over 120 free support groups nationwide, running every Monday from 7PM except bank holidays. In these groups, men can open up about the storms affecting their lives in a safe, judgement-free and non-clinical environment. The clubs are designed to be free of pressure, there is no obligation for men to speak, they can simply listen if they wish. With over 2800 men using the sessions every week, and an army of 900+ volunteers on board, the movement is continuing to grow week-by-week. Andy’s Man Club firmly believe in the power of talking and that #ItsOkayToTalk.
A Wellness Working Group online event.
Presenter: Dr Jennifer Lees-Marshment University of Auckland, New Zealand
Time: 11:00 – 12:00
Date: Thursday 8 June 2023
Location: Online via Teams
This presentation will present suggestions for how to improve the management and wellbeing of political staffers, drawing on research conducted in 2022-23 through interviews with political practitioners, including 66 advisers for Prime Ministers Scott Morrison, Justin Trudeau, Boris Johnson and Jacinda Ardern.
It will discuss best practice recommendations made by experienced staffers who have worked in Prime Ministerial offices in Australia, Canada, the UK and New Zealand. These include clearer orientation, more relevant and ongoing training, as well as training of those involved in managing, effective and positive feedback to create and office culture, and the use of tools to constrain workloads, maintain motivation and support wellbeing.
This will be of interest to existing staffers, prospective special advisers, and anyone who may aspire to, or find themselves in the position of managing other staffers/colleagues.
To receive an invitation to the event, please email mpsstaff-wwg@parliament.uk
Time: 10:00 – 11:00
Date: Tuesday 9 May 2023
Location: Online via Teams
Clarke Carlisle will join the Wellness Working Group to talk about mental health and his journey.
Not only is Clarke a pundit on shows such as Match of the Day, Sky Sport and ITV Sport, he has appeared on Question Time and presented documentaries about racism and suicide in football. Clark is also an ambassador for the Kick It Out scheme, which campaigns for inclusion and equality in football. He is also currently on the Management Committee of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).
If you would like to join this talk, please email mpsstaff-wwg@parliament.uk for a link
Financial Wellbeing: a talk by Victoria Copeland, Regional Partnerships Manager, Money and Pension service (MaPS)
Time: 14:30 – 15:30
Date: Thursday 16 March 2023
Location: Online via Teams
The Money and Pension Service is working to improve financial outcomes for everyone living and working in the UK. Through our MoneyHelper service we offer free impartial information guidance and support for all kinds of money questions from pocket money to pensions.
As a regional manager Victoria works with a variety of organisations including local government, financial services, employers, charities and advice providers to support their financial wellbeing strategies for residents, customers, staff, members and service users.
Victoria has been with MaPS for three years. Prior to working for this statutory body I worked in business development in the commercial sector including in my own business, in publishing and logistics. I bring thirty years lived experience to the role as well as a keen interest in supporting financial wellbeing in a workplace setting.
To register, please email mpsstaff-wwg@parliament.uk
With Ollie Welsby, Trainer, Brightcore Consultancy
Wednesday 5th October 2022, 11.30am – 12.30pm
Online via Teams
Please join this Wellness Working Group session to gain insight from Ollie as to how to manage our own stress as well as looking at managing our wellbeing in the short and long term.
Ollie will help us understand the biology of stress and how we can identify this in ourselves and others. He will also provide us with coping strategies and how to maintain a work life balance.
To book, please email mpsstaff-wwg@parliament.uk