Wellbeing Area encourages staff to take time out
Partnership staff at Kilmarnock’s Johnnie Walker Bond can now enjoy a dedicated wellbeing area to de-stress and unwind during their breaks.
Funded by Inspiring Scotland’s Workforce Wellbeing Fund following an application by Erik Sutherland (Head of Community Health and Care) the beautiful new space provides the perfect setting for staff to enjoy a tea, coffee or sweet treat in comfortable surroundings.
Erik’s vision was to provide wellbeing areas for health and social care staff within East Ayrshire buildings, similar to the Staff Wellbeing Centres created by NHS Ayrshire and Arran at Ayrshire Central, Crosshouse and Ayr Hospitals.
This was progressed by Lorna Donnelly, Senior Locality Co-ordinator and Premises Manager of the Johnnie Walker Bond, who was tasked with identifying and clearing an appropriate space within the building, designing the layout and ordering the required furniture.
Clearing the area was quite an undertaking as a significant number of tambour units and their contents had to be moved and stored elsewhere within the building. However, Lorna’s hard work meant all work was completed by the end of October. Her next task is to create a Staff Wellbeing Area within the North West Kilmarnock Area Centre this year.
Erik told us more:
“This wellbeing area is a designated and protected quiet space for staff to stop, relax, rest and take time for themselves to recuperate at work. It also allows staff time to reflect and reconnect with themselves and colleagues.
The ethos of this area is that we respect the space by keeping it clean and also support and respect each other.”
The staff wellbeing area is located at the end of the second floor and is available to use at all times when the building is open (365 days per year, 7am – 10pm).
