Published on: September 30, 2024
Last month saw the Compass Changing Lives summer Team Away Day, where colleagues came together to have fun, work as a team and get to know each other a little better.
This year, the away day took place just outside the beautiful Peak District town of Castleton in Derbyshire, nestled in the hills of the Hope Valley, just a stone’s throw from Mam Tor and Cave Dale.
The day began with Chantelle, Service Manager for Changing Lives, leading colleagues in a discussion of the new Compass Changing Lives Team Charter: RESPECT, which stands for Responsive, Empathetic, Sincere, Patient, Enthusiastic, Considerate, Tenacious.
Staff were invited to discuss and share ways in which they and their colleagues showed the attributes of RESPECT. Examples given included “Understanding from a family’s perspective” for “Empathetic” and “Firm principles” for “Tenacious”.
Up next were some team building games, to encourage colleagues to get to know each other better. Staff played “Colleague Bingo”, where they had to find colleagues that matched the description on their bingo card. Examples included “Wrote a song”, “Experience of working with Learning Disabilities” and “lived in another city”. Colleagues were then randomly paired, and encouraged to ask each other questions, which led to some fascinating conversations.
After lunch, staff were given the choice between a number of creative and fun activities in the centre and the surrounding countryside, starting with a walk. Martin led colleagues on a couple of his now signature wellness walks to Castleton, taking in the rolling hills and striking peaks on the way.
Back at the centre, staff were learning the art of screen printing. Artist Sian took them through the process, from design to finish, of creating their own custom tricoloured Changing Lives tote bags. This included “flooding” the “screen” with coloured ink to print a block coloured image on fabric, similar to using a stencil. Staff used these techniques in creative ways, creating designs that hearkened back to comic books, punk rock and fashion magazines.
Outside, staff played positivity Jenga. Each giant block had a different positive affirmation on it, written by a staff member. Messages included “you deserve good things” and “you are enough”.
Finally, colleagues got competitive in an intense game of rounders, with the whole service gathered round to play or spectate in the sunshine.
After all gathering together for some final words and a big group photo outside, staff left with a little wellness goodie bag that included a hand crocheted worry worm, a bookmark designed by a local artist, a fidget stone, cosy socks and a calming tea bag.
Team days like these are essential for staff morale and team building. By spending quality time with each other, colleagues feel more connected and comfortable around one another. This leads to a happier workplace, with staff who feel valued. With staff working more closely as a team, it will also lead to a service that functions better than ever.
As a mental health and emotional wellbeing service, staff wellbeing is top on the agenda for Compass Changing Lives, and team days like this one are a key part of that. “More team days” was highlighted as a key thing staff wanted in the Wellbeing suggestion box.
Staff left feeling happy and positive about the day, and looking forward to more.
Derby and Derbyshire Mental Health Support , Derbyshire , staff , staff wellbeing , wellbeing