Tyne & Wear Branch rep wins health advocate award

Health & Safety June 18 2018

Tyne & Wear Branch chair Jo Shaftoe has congratulated fellow activists/reps Kareema Hay and Christine Carruthers for their efforts in winning a prestigious local authority award for the BT South Shields Call Centre where they work.

Kareema, branch political officer and health advocate, was presented with the accolade by South Tyneside Council’s director of public health at a ceremony last week, which acknowledged the positive impact that promoting health in the workplace has on employees and the businesses they work for.

Jo explains that Kareema had been nominated by the branch “for her drive and creativity, which have been instrumental in supporting Christine Carruthers, Tyne & Wear ULR and equality officer, in helping to deliver many of the popular health and wellbeing initiatives at the South Shields site,” adding that both women were “pivotal” to the success of the Better Health at Work Award programme there.

South Shields’s mayor, local councillors and several local businesses and schools were also at the presentation and all gave their congratulations on the award, Jo continued, adding that “everyone at the contact centre and in our branch is very proud of her.”

·         The Better Health at Work Award is a collaboration between the NHS, TUC and the employer to help address the health inequalities of the North with a view to encouraging employees to be more aware of their health, wellbeing and lifestyle. The Award recognises the efforts of employers in the North East and Cumbria in addressing health issues within the workplace.  The ultimate aim is that these messages will then be relayed to family, friends and the wider community so helping us all to live longer, healthier lives.