Empowering champions to drive strategic wellbeing and foster a thriving workforce
Why is a Wellbeing Champions Development Programme needed?
Wellbeing champions play a crucial role in supporting employee wellbeing within organisations. Often passionate volunteers, they typically receive initial training, such as Mental Health First Aid, to help them recognise and support colleagues facing mental health challenges. However, many champions lack ongoing training and support, which can lead to feelings of concern, lack of confidence, and disengagement.
Wellbeing Champions, whilst intended to be 'wellbeing advocates on the ground' are often treated as a tertiary resource, stepping in only during crises. Whilst tertiary support is important as part of an overall wellbeing approach, research shows that focusing on primary prevention, that is, identifying and reducing stressors at work, is more effective and sustainable. Although champions are well-placed to support prevention, they are rarely equipped with the skills to address psychosocial risks or to engage in strategic wellbeing efforts. Many operate in isolation, underutilised and without peer support.
With the right development and a connected community, Wellbeing Champions can become confident wellbeing leaders who advocate for their role, contribute to strategy, and embed wellbeing across the organisation. We have seen Champions thrive when equipped to lead preventative efforts and respond to challenges such as change and conflict. With our tailored Wellbeing Champions programme, we can support you to do this.
What does the programme involve?
Discovery & Familiarisation
We begin with listening sessions involving your wellbeing leads, along with a short survey for Champions, to identify current strengths, challenges, and development needs, and to ensure the programme aligns with your broader organisational wellbeing strategy.
Delivery
A 12-month programme to build skills, confidence, and connection:
• 4 x Quarterly 3-hour Masterclasses (online or face-to-face) - The masterclasses are tailored to your organisational context and focus on preventative wellbeing, psychosocial risks, influencing and advocacy, peer support, and navigating change and conflict. Each session includes expert input, peer learning, and supervision
• 4 x Resource Packs - Practical tools, templates, key models, and session summaries
• 8 x Monthly Newsletters - Tips, wellbeing research, upcoming events, and peer prompts
• 8 x 30-minute Expert Briefings - Optional drop-in webinars on key topics such as menopause, bereavement, and neurodiversity, and are open to all Champions across the Affinity network.
Review
At the end of the year, the wellbeing champions respond to a second questionnaire. This can be used both to identify further skills and learnings that are needed, and as an evaluation of the effectiveness of the programme.
Contact us at hello@affinityhealthatwork.com for more information and to discuss implementing our Wellbeing Champions CPD Programme in your organisation.
Interested in learning more about the role of wellbeing champions, the challenges they face and how you can elevate their impact? Read our blog now.
