Speak up champions

What is the name of your intervention?

Speak up champions– Charlene, Fiona & John 

Health and wellbeing category

“All staff feel engaged and supported” 

Why did you choose this area of focus for your staff? 

We chose to focus on introducing ‘Speak Up’ champions because we recognised that supporting employee wellbeing is fundamental to creating a healthy, engaged, and resilient workforce. The roles provide a dedicated, peer-led point of contact for staff to access support, share concerns, and feel heard in a safe and informal way. It helps normalise conversations around mental health and wellbeing, reduces stigma, and encourages a culture of openness and compassion. By embedding this role into our wider wellbeing strategy, we aim to ensure that wellbeing is not just a reactive measure but a proactive and visible part of everyday working life. Ultimately, it reflects our commitment to valuing our staff as whole people, not just employees

Description of intervention

Charlene plays a proactive role in promoting and supporting staff wellbeing across the organisation. She serves as a friendly and approachable point of contact for colleagues seeking guidance on wellbeing concerns, sharing resources, and encouraging positive mental health practices. Through her efforts, Charlene helps raise awareness of wellbeing initiatives, reduce stigma surrounding mental health, and foster a culture of openness and care. While not a trained therapist, she is equipped to listen, signpost appropriate support, and contribute meaningfully to a healthier, more inclusive workplace. Her role is voluntary and works best when supported by appropriate training, clear boundaries, and integration into the organisation’s broader wellbeing strategy. 

Fiona also plays a key role in staff wellbeing as both a Menopause Champion and a Speak Up Champion. As a Menopause Champion, she provides support and guidance to colleagues experiencing menopause-related challenges, helping to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote understanding across the workplace. Her role contributes to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all staff. As a Speak Up Champion, Fiona encourages open communication and ensures staff feel safe and supported in raising concerns. Both Charlene and Fiona are qualified mental health first aiders offering significant benefits to both individuals and the organisation. This has also helped to foster a culture of care and openness around mental health, reducing stigma and encouraging early intervention. This has led to improved employee wellbeing, reduced absenteeism, and better staff retention. Mental Health First Aiders are equipped to recognise signs of mental distress and provide initial support, guiding colleagues to appropriate help. Their presence creates a more supportive and resilient workplace, boosting morale and promoting peer support. For the organisation, it also demonstrates a commitment to health and safety responsibilities and enhances our reputation as a mentally healthy employer. 

John, our Operations Manager and a member of the Senior Leadership Team, also serves as a Speak Up Champion. His involvement reflects a strong commitment from senior management to champion whistleblowing, promote transparency, and foster a culture of openness and psychological safety across the organisation. 

Together, these champions play a vital role in embedding wellbeing and open culture into the fabric of our organisation, ensuring staff feel heard, supported, and valued. 

How did you involve your staff in the intervention? 

Staff check-ins are conducted on an ad hoc and informal basis, which encourages more natural conversations. This approach creates a comfortable environment where team members feel able to share honest feedback and engage on a more personal level, fostering openness and trust across the organisation. 

How engaged were senior leaders in the intervention? 

John Holliday, our Operations Manager and a member of the Senior Leadership Team, also serves as a Speak Up Champion. His involvement demonstrates a clear commitment from senior management to prioritise staff wellbeing and foster a culture of openness and support across the organisation

How did you promote and raise awareness of this intervention to staff

Charlene actively contributes to our staff wellbeing communications through regular updates and news shared via our WhatsApp groups. She also presents monthly at the IG meeting, providing valuable insights into ongoing wellbeing initiatives. 

Fiona, our Menopause Champion and Speak Up Champion, also plays a key role in staff engagement. She regularly presents at both the IG and team meetings, helping to raise awareness and promote open dialogue around important staff wellbeing topics. 

All Speak up champions participate in our weekly Micro Teach sessions; 30-minute meetings designed to share knowledge and promote learning across a wide range of subjects, from operational procedures to available staff support. 

In addition, our internal newsletters are used to highlight these initiatives and ensure staff are informed about the support available to them. 

What has been the impact of this intervention for staff? 

We’ve seen a positive shift in our workplace culture, with staff increasingly approaching our Speak Up Champions to share concerns and feedback. There’s a growing sense of confidence in speaking out, and colleagues feel safe raising issues knowing they will be listened to and supported. One example of this in action involved a staff member who, during a check-in with Charlene, shared that they were struggling with their work-life balance. Through a thoughtful fact-finding conversation, Charlene learned that the staff member’s family was in the process of relocating to the UK, and they were finding it difficult to manage work alongside supporting their family’s move. In response, Charlene worked with the rota team to adjust the staff member’s shifts, giving them more flexibility to assist their family. We also offered practical support, including help with finding local schools and settling into the area .  

To build understanding across the team, we’ve since created a video explaining why shift changes may be necessary and how we plan rotas to support individual circumstances while maintaining service needs. 

How do you plan to continue with this intervention in the future? 

We are always building on this initiative as we are on the business of looking after people. If we have happy staff, they are more likely to provide better care.

What have you learned from developing this intervention? 

Having team members like Charlene and Fiona in designated wellbeing roles has shown how valuable informal, approachable support can be. Staff are more likely to engage when they feel they’re speaking to a peer rather than a formal authority figure. This has helped foster trust and openness across the organisation. Regular contributions to meetings, WhatsApp updates, and newsletters have helped keep wellbeing on the radar. Visibility matters, when staff see consistent messaging and active champions, it reinforces that wellbeing is a priority, not a tick-box exercise. John’s role as a Speak Up Champion has demonstrated the impact of leadership involvement. When senior leaders actively support open culture and whistleblowing, it sends a strong message that psychological safety and transparency are valued. Embedding wellbeing and openness into the culture isn’t a quick fix, it requires ongoing effort, collaboration, and reinforcement. Micro Teach sessions, team meetings, and cross-functional working groups have all contributed to this shift. 

Can you offer any advice to other organisations thinking about developing this kind of intervention? 

Introducing staff wellbeing champions can bring significant benefits to an organisation by fostering a culture of care, connection, and proactive support. Wellbeing champions act as approachable, trusted peers who promote mental health awareness, encourage healthy habits, and help signpost staff to relevant resources. Their presence can improve morale, reduce stigma around wellbeing conversations, and create a more inclusive and supportive workplace. When embedded into a wider wellbeing strategy and supported with training and clear boundaries, champions can help bridge the gap between staff and formal support services, contributing to a healthier, more engaged workforce. Regular feedback and evaluation ensure the role remains relevant and impactful as the organisation evolves.