Council staff walk, jog & dance their way to fitness

When employees at Caerphilly County Borough Council were asked what they wanted to see in a workplace physical activity programme, they weren’t shy in coming forward. From team sports to talks from health professionals, Council staff came up with a range of activities for managers to choose from.

With some 9,500 staff employed at the council, the plan was to raise activity levels across the borough by encouraging staff to make the most of breaks in their working day.

To launch the initiative, walking and jogging groups were set up, responding to staff suggestions that the lunch hour was the time to get people up and active. The new sessions were heavily publicised, with details circulated through internal media and included in every employee’s payslips.

Walking groups proved popular in the warm summer months, and as autumn set in, staff were encouraged to meet the wind and rain head on. An umbrella pool was set up, and unperturbed by the elements, the number of walkers doubled by the end of November.

As energy levels began to increase, the Council responded to calls for other activities and set up weekly yoga and line dancing sessions. Community Chest funding was sourced through the Sports Council to cover start up costs, including music, equipment and a professional instructor.

The Council’s mix of activities seems to have paid off - in the first 12 months participation in the schemes has grown by over 400%. As Alison Sendell, a team leader in the Council Tax department, commented: "The yoga sessions strengthen both body & mind, providing a stress free hour away from life's hectic chaos."

As the scheme enters its second year, the council hopes to act on other popular requests made in the questionnaire, including health screening, showers and changing areas, pool bikes and inter department physical activity challenges.