The UK’s leading hospitality charity Hospitality Action has announced the launch of their comprehensive new guide, ‘Next Steps: What the industry can do to improve wellbeing in hospitality’.
Developed in partnership with the fundraising initiative Walk for Wellbeing, the guide is designed to equip hospitality businesses and individuals with effective strategies to enhance employee mental health and wellbeing.
With 76% of hospitality workers reporting mental health challenges in Hospitality Action’s latest survey, the guide addresses the growing concerns within the industry, which have increased in recent years due to the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Chief Executive at Hospitality Action, Mark Lewis, commented: “Hospitality is a dynamic and exciting industry, but it comes with its own pressures. We want to help employers prioritise the wellbeing of their teams, and this guide offers practical solutions and actionable steps to support employees – which are relatively easy to implement – to create a culture that supports the mental health and wellbeing of all, no matter what area of hospitality they work in.”
With effective solutions such as Hospitality Action’s Employee Assistance Programme, which offers 24/7 confidential advice, financial guidance and counselling services, the guide highlights key steps to support employees such as tips on promoting a positive work/life balance with wellbeing champions and mental health first-aiders to help create a wellbeing-focused workplace. Additionally, it offers best practices for regularly monitoring and communicating wellbeing through employee check-ins, feedback surveys and open discussions, and encourages teams to support wider wellbeing initiatives like Walk for Wellbeing.
Now in its fifth year and powered by UK hospitality talent partner mum and supported by Caterer.com, Imperial London Hotels, Lifetime Training, Mews, and Peoplebank, Walk for Wellbeing is a fun, flexible annual event all about taking simple steps towards raising vital funds to support individuals and their families in the hospitality sector who are facing challenging times.
Eight hosted 20km walks will take place in key cities across the UK on Sunday 13 October in London, Oxford, Bath/Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow. Those unable to attend can ‘Walk It Your Way’ anytime between World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10 October and Sunday 27 October at a location and time that suits them best.
Hosted 20km walks will take place in the following locations on Sunday 13 October
London hosted by mum and friends: This popular walk takes place in one of London’s most iconic green spaces, Battersea Park. With an accessible route suitable for all, the walk starts and finishes at the Victorian Bandstand in the centre of the park (enter at Albert Gate) through the picturesque tree-lined central avenue.
Oxford hosted by The Store This 20km accessible walk will start at the Walled Gardens of the iconic Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The route will take you around the Great Lake, Queen Pool, and beautifully landscaped surrounding countryside. Finish off with refreshments either in Woodstock where you’ll find a selection of eateries or at the Café at The Walled Gardens.
Bath/Bristol hosted by The Bath Hoteliers Association and The Bristol Hoteliers Association: This flat, traffic free, accessible and leafy route takes in the Bath Bristol Railway Path. There are several stopping points along the way including Avon Valley Railway at the halfway point. Both the Bath and Bristol walk groups will meet here, before turning back to their starting point.
Cardiff hosted by The Cardiff Hoteliers Association: This accessible circular trail near Cardiff takes you through Llandaff Fields, along the River Taff through Bute Park and Sophia’s Gardens and the wide Pontcanna fields. Catch a glimpse of Cardiff Castle or a bite to eat along the way.
Birmingham hosted by Tonic Talent: Starting and ending at Albert’s Schloss in central Birmingham, this walk will take in green spaces such as the scenic Edgbaston Reservoir, parts of Digbeth and some of Birmingham’s historic canal network.
Liverpool hosted by Liverpool Hospitality Association: This accessible walk consists of four 5km laps of Sefton Park. Classified as a Grade One listed park by English Heritage, the magnificent 200-acre park features many distinctive curved paths, driveways and a boating lake.
Manchester hosted by The Manchester Hoteliers Association: Starting at Sale Water Park at the Trafford Watersports Centre car park, the waterside route takes in two water parks, the river Mersey and sections of the Trans Pennine trail.
Glasgow hosted by Davidson Asset Management: Starting at Village Hotel Glasgow, the route offers great views and interesting architecture along two laps of the ‘Bridges of the Clyde loop’ with easily accessible paths suitable for all skill levels.
The guide is now available through Hospitality Action’s website and provides an essential resource for hospitality employers looking to support their teams.
Download the guide, ‘Next Steps: What the industry can do to improve wellbeing in hospitality’ here, and to register for the walk, please visit here.
