St Mary’s Join Pro-Active London to Encourage Healthy Workplaces

The Centre for Workplace and Community Health (CWCH) at St Mary's University College, Twickenham has partnered with Pro-Active London to set up a health initiative to increase physical activity in the workplace. Justin Webb, Joint Director of the CWCH, and project officer Tom Marsden have brought the National Workplace Challenge to London, where companies and individuals alike can compete against one another to be crowned London’s sportiest individual, department or workplace. Initially launched in Leicestershire and Rutland, the Workplace Challenge was rolled out nationwide on Monday 6th January to promote a healthy lifestyle to employees. Companies are encouraged to take part in sport and physical activities, gaining points to win the title of London’s sportiest business. Points can be scored for an individual, a department and company as a whole. About the project, Justin said, “The Centre for Workplace and Community Health is delighted to be working on behalf of Pro-Active London to roll out the Workplace Challenge initiative across 23 London boroughs. We would love to see the London business community take on the challenge and in turn encourage their staff to lead more active lifestyles. “Physical activity and sport have always had the power to bring people together in a fun, friendly and competitive environment. The Workplace Challenge enables businesses in London to potentially reap the many health and wellbeing benefits associated with having active staff members.” The free initiative is available to workplaces and individuals to work together, or compete against, friends, colleagues and other companies by taking advantage of offers from national governing bodies of sport, local sports clubs and leisure centres in a bid to improve their health, reduce absenteeism and increase productivity in the workplace. Sign up online within your workplace providing; an online activity log, training for any self-nominated Workplace Activity Champion and entry into the National Workplace Challenge competition.