Physical health and wellbeing

Supporting your physical health and wellbeing

When we spend most of our working life taking care of others, we often need that reminder to take care of ourselves.  Looking after your physical health is key to supporting your overall health and wellbeing, including your mental health. As such, we are pleased to be working with the following organisations to offer physical health and wellbeing support to our NHS people.

Invictus Games Foundation partnership with NHS England

The Invictus Games Foundation (IGF) collaborated with the NHS to provide guidance on how to support the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of the NHS staff during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, based on advice and lessons learned in recovery by the wider Invictus Community.  This partnership included a series of podcasts, which covered topics related to supporting recovery, from reconnecting with family to the importance of peer to peer networks there’s something for everyone.  You can listen to the podcasts here.

Through the summer of 2021, we also worked alongside the IGF team to encourage our NHS colleagues to get out and do our 5k challenge – 5k, our way.  NHS colleagues were encouraged to download the couch to 5k app and start getting their steps in, through whatever means they preferred.

The Duke of Sussex, Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, said: “For a year now, NHS workers have been engaged in a new kind of battle. They have consistently set-aside their own physical and emotional health in the service of others. This service and sacrifice resonates deeply with so many in the Armed Forces community. With this ongoing project, we know that the NHS and Invictus communities will learn from each other, support each other, and lead conversations that everyone can draw from. It is from these shared experiences I hope people can find strength, compassion, and understanding, and the inspiration they need for their own recovery and resilience”.

Challenge the Wild walks

Challenge the Wild are an organisation specialising in providing adventurous challenges, outdoor experiences and stunning hikes to groups of like-minded individuals. They are offering 100 NHS colleagues the chance to participate in a one day “wellbeing walk” in the countryside, in a range of locations across the country. Being active can improve self-perception and self-esteem, mood and sleep quality, reduce stress, anxiety and fatigue. These walks will also provide you with an opportunity to create peer networks with colleagues who live locally to you, and share your experiences of the last year in a safe environment.

They offer free walks to NHS colleagues, facilitated by trained mountain leaders who are also either ex-Armed Forces or NHS staff.  Where possible, all routes are tailored to meet all accessibility needs.

How to join a walk

All NHS employees have access to Challenge the Wild walks at zero cost.   The walks are designed to support participants and offer real benefits, focussing on improving physical and mental wellbeing, whilst connecting like mind people and building team spirit.  You can view available walks on the Challenge the Wild website here.