Sigma Trust recognised in staff wellbeing awards

A commitment to staff wellbeing has seen an educational trust become the first in Essex to pick up a healthy schools award.

Sigma Trust, and its group of 12 schools across Colchester, Clacton and Brightlingsea, has been recognised in the Healthy School Awards programme run by Essex Working Well.

Last week, each of the Trust’s primary and secondary schools were awarded with a Healthy Schools Workplace Wellbeing Award.

The prize giving also included the Trust itself picking up the Small Business Workplace Wellbeing Award.

Samantha Painter, Director of People and Culture from Sigma Trust, said: "In our schools, and across the Trust, we rightly think about the wellbeing of our students on a daily basis.

"But we also believe in extending this across our school and central team staff so we were delighted to work with Essex Wellbeing Service on implementing a series of measures."

Under the partnership work, steps to achieving the awards included offering staff top tips and advice, promoting the importance of both talking to peers and having a quiet space when needed, starting a health and wellbeing committee and organising a staff-wide survey to identify further measures.

Lyn Mowforth, Essex Working Well Manager, said: "The Sigma Trust has been amazing to work with – for both myself and the support from Karen Wheeler, Working Well Facilitator.

“They have embraced fully the importance of providing a healthy workplace across their schools and central team and we are delighted that they are the first Trust to earn this award.”

Commissioned by Essex County Council and part of the Essex Wellbeing Service, Working Well provides employers across the county with free workplace health and wellbeing support.

To find out more, please visit https://essexworkingwell.co.uk/.