WellMe – Give Back

Earlier in the year, we launched the wellbeing initiative WellMe for our Churchill colleagues. The programme consists of five pillars that are designed to promote positive mindsets, personal development, and physical and mental health awareness. These include:

• Be Active
• Keep Learning
• Give Back
• Connect
• Take Notice

We covered ‘Be Active’ and ‘Keep Learning’ in previous blogs, sharing tips on keeping the body and mind active and engaged – given the current situation, it’s arguably more important than ever for people to take good care of themselves.

This month, we’re focusing on ‘Give Back’. People can give by getting involved in their local community, working with a charity or even offering support for a friend.

Various research studies have found numerous benefits of volunteering for the mind and the body. In fact, committing an act of kindness once a week over a six-week period is associated with an increase in wellbeing. Here are some of the benefits of giving back.

New friends and social skills
When you get involved in your community or with a local charity, you meet new people who have similar interests – such as volunteering! It’s a great way to expand your network and as you do so, improve social skills.

More time
Research has found that those who volunteer their time actually feel they have more time. One of the theories for why this is the case is that people who give their time feel more capable, confident and useful, and believe they can accomplish more in the future.

Good for the mind and body
The positive effects of volunteering and giving time are wide-ranging. They include helping to counteract stress, anxiety and depression; increasing self-confidence; making you happy; providing a sense of purpose; and helping with physical health.

Feel the love
Love may be hard to measure, but volunteering has been found to build empathy, strengthen social bonds and make you smile – all factors that increase the feeling of love.

Giving can be a two-way street and so it’s important that we are as open to receiving as we are giving. Have you ever felt uncomfortable when receiving a compliment? That’s not uncommon, but for giving to have its full impact the reception needs to be as genuine. By fully accepting what someone gives you, both parties get the full benefit.

When you can, take a moment to reflect on what you currently give and how it makes you feel. What have people given to you that made you feel good? And what do you give to yourself? Self-care is a vital part of giving.

We aim to support our colleagues by providing a variety of ways to give, such as charity days, community support and a calendar of events.