Wellbeing

Developing strategies to support and protect your own and your staff members' wellbeing should be a central part of your work life. People who feel supported, listened to, and valued by their others are more likely to stay within the sector.

Below you will find resources which can improve wellbeing.

Financial Wellbeing

Financial wellbeing is how people feel about the control they have over their financial future - and their relationship with money. It's about focusing on the things that make their life enjoyable and meaningful both now and in retirement. It's an integral part of creating a healthy workplace where people can flourish, reach their potential and make a significant contribution to their organisation's performance, while evidence clearly links financial wellbeing to both employee wellbeing and performance. There's also, of course, the moral argument: we should take action because it is the right thing to do.

In addition to these provided there are many avenues worth exploring. Such as:

National Discounts

The following national discounts are available:

• Blue Light Card: provides a range of discounts online and in store for NHS, emergency services, social care sector and armed forces colleagues who purchase a Blue Light Card.
• Asda: as at August 2022, Asda is offering 10% discount in store for Blue Light card holders.
• Health Service Discounts: offers discounts, vouchers and cashback for NHS and healthcare workers. You can join for free on their website.

Supermarket Loyalty Schemes

• Asda: the Asda Rewards app enables customers to build up a 'cash pot' to spend in Asda stores or online.
• Lidl: the Lidl Plus app gives shoppers access to weekly discount coupons, exclusive discounts and prizes, including 30% off in store bakery items on Monday to Saturday (excluding bank holidays) from 7pm until closing time.
• Morrisons: the My Morrisons app provides personalised offers on items you buy frequently.
• Sainsbury's: the Nectar scheme enables shoppers to earn one Nectar point for every £1 qualifying spend in store, online or on fuel.
• Tesco: Tesco Clubcard members can collect one point for every £1 spent in store and online, and one point for every £2 spent on fuel.
• Waitrose: the My Waitrose scheme provides members with freebies and personalised offers.

Advice And Guidance

• Citizens Advice: their website has a page dedicated to getting help with bills, with specific pages for energy bills and water bills.
• Money Saving Expert: the website has a guide on what to do if you're struggling to pay your energy bills.
• Energy Saving Trust: provides energy advice for your home which could help you lower your bills.
• Ask Bill: the website has pages dedicated to support with water and energy.

National Schemes

• Help for households: the government's Help for households campaign offers various forms of financial support for eligible individuals, including help with transport costs.
• Fleet Solutions: offers a salary sacrifice lease car scheme for the NHS and other public sector organisations.

Help For Households Discounts And Offers

A range of discounts and offers are available from businesses as part of the government's Help for Households campaign and the gov.uk cost of living support website. Each includes a range of support on income and disability benefits, bills and allowances, childcare, housing and travel.

For example:

• Asda: children aged 16 and under can get a hot or cold meal for £1 at any time of day in Asda cafes across the UK, seven days a week, with no minimum adult spend. Asda is extending this offer to the end of 2022.
• Morrisons: in-store cafes offer a free meal for one child under 16 when buying an adult meal costing £4.99 or over.
• Sainsbury's: their Feed your family for a fiver recipe scrapbook provides budget friendly meal ideas to feed a family of four for under £5.
• Help for households: the government's Help for households campaign offers various forms of financial support for eligible individuals, including help with childcare costs.
• Childcare Choices: provides information on government help with childcare costs for parents.
• Healthcare Workers' Foundation: the charity provides financial support for childcare related costs through grants of up to a total of £1,000 annually. Their childcare grants page provides more information.

National Organisations

• MoneyHelper: MoneyHelper's website provides information on a range of topics, such as benefits, money troubles, savings and pensions. They also offer a free Couch to Financial Fitness programme. You can contact them for free, impartial advice via the NHS telephone support line on 0800 448 0826 or using the details on their contact us page.
• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC): you may be able to claim your employment expenses directly from HMRC for uniforms, working from home, tools and more. HMRC's online guides and support also help you understand your taxes, what you are due and how to claim them:

1. Understand your tax code better on gov.uk or watch the YouTube tax code guide
2. Check whether you are eligible for marriage allowance
3. Find out more about the P45, P60 and P11D forms using the workers' guide
4. Sign in or set up your personal tax account, or find out more first by watching the personal tax account YouTube guide
5. Download the free HMRC app.

• Citizens Advice: offers free, confidential advice on various matters such as benefits, work, housing, debt and money. Their website has a page dedicated to help with the cost of living and provides various ways to contact them for advice.
• Money Saving Expert: the website provides a range of financial advice, with a dedicated cost of living help section. Their Cost of living help guide provides over 90 ways you can save money.
• Debt Advice Foundation: offers free, confidential support and advice to anyone worried about loans, credit and debt. Contact details are available on their website.
• Ask Bill: If you are concerned that you are spending more than you have or want to be kinder to the environment with your energy usage, the Ask Bill website offers free, impartial advice about money and bills.
• Angel Advance: provides free expert debt advice to help individuals manage their debts. Their website has a specific cost of living page.
• StepChange Debt Charity: offers free debt advice to help you deal with debt and set up a solution, along with guides on the rising cost of living.
• RSPCA: their website provides advice on how you can look after your pet's health whilst keeping costs down.
• YNAB: the YNAB budgeting app helps individuals organise their finances, address debt, save and reach financial goals faster. Further information and pricing details can be found on the YNAB website.

Grant Funding And Financial Support

• Government cost of living support: the government's Help for households campaign and cost of living support page provide
• Cost of Living Payment: the Department for Work and Pensions provides guidance on getting a Cost of Living Payment if you're entitled to certain benefits or tax credits.
• Healthcare Workers' Foundation: provides grants of up to £1,000 to healthcare workers who need help with their finances. More information about the grants available can be found on their financial support page.
• The Care Workers' Charity: supports care workers in the UK with one off grants, including the COVID-19 Emergency Fund, Crisis Grant and Funeral Grants.
• Turn2us: a national charity which provides practical help to people who are struggling financially. You can search for grants on their website.
• CSIS Charity Fund: supports serving, retired and former civil and public servants, and widows and widowers of deceased CSIS policyholders, with grants to help with costs such as essential household bills. You can ask about eligibility for a grant using the details provided on their website.
• Social Workers' Benevolent Trust: offers financial help to social workers and their dependants in times of hardship. Details about the grants available and how to apply can be found on their website.
• Cavell Nurses' Trust: the charity helps registered nurses, midwives, nursing associates, maternity support workers and healthcare assistants, both working and retired, who are experiencing personal or financial hardship. You can find out if you are eligible for financial help on their website.
• The Queen's Nursing Institute: provides financial support for nurses.
• The Ambulance Staff Charity: provides various services to support the UK's ambulance staff and their families, students and ambulance service volunteers, including financial grants.
• Samaritans: provide a non-judgemental listening ear for those who need someone to talk to. Their website provides contact details.

Able Futures

0800 321 3137
able-futures.co.uk
Confidential guidance and support to help you cope with work while managing a mental health problem.

Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas)

0300 123 1100 (helpline)
18001 0300 123 1100 (textphone)
acas.org.uk
Advice and guidance on workplace issues and employment law, including an early conciliation service.

Citizens Advice

0800 144 8848 (England Adviceline)
0800 702 2020 (Wales Adviceline)
18001 0800 144 8884 (textphone)
citizensadvice.org.uk
Free, confidential information and advice on your rights, including money, housing, experiences of discrimination and other problems.

Civil Legal Advice (CLA)

gov.uk/civil-legal-advice
Can tell you if you're eligible for legal aid, and give you free and confidential legal advice if so.

Disability Unit

gov.uk/government/organisations/disability-unit
Supports the development of policies to remove inequality between disabled and non-disabled people.

Employment Tribunal

gov.uk/courts-tribunals/employment-tribunal
Hears claims from people who may have been treated unfairly by an employer or potential employer.

Equality Advisory & Support Service (EASS)

0808 800 0082 (helpline)
18001 0808 800 0084 (textphone)
equalityadvisoryservice.com
Advice on issues relating to equality and human rights, including guidance for disabled people.

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)

equalityhumanrights.com
Promotes and monitors human rights and equality.

GOV.UK

gov.uk
Lists government services and information.

Law Centres Network

lawcentres.org.uk
Information about Law Centres, which defend the legal rights of people who can't afford a lawyer. Includes a searchable directory.

Law Society

lawsociety.org.uk
Professional association for solicitors in England and Wales. Includes a searchable directory of solicitors.

LawWorks

lawworks.org.uk
Connects volunteer lawyers with people who aren't eligible for legal aid and can't afford to pay for legal advice. Includes details of free legal advice clinics.

Shaw Trust

0800 389 0082
shawtrust.org.uk
Supports disabled people to find and stay in work.