What is the Advocacy Development Programme?
This fully-funded workplace training programme is part of a package of support available via the Women’s Workplace Wellness Platform. It is designed to empower employees in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become champions for women’s health in the workplace.
Why is women’s workplace health important?
Evidence shows that when businesses neglect women’s health in the workplace, the UK economy loses £20.2bn a year. (Centre of Economics and Business Research) When health issues coincide with other life events, e.g. childcare, this can lead to presenteeism, absenteeism, & disengagement. By equipping participants with the knowledge and confidence to address women’s health concerns, this programme builds confidence in employees to become advocates for women’s workplace wellness.
Who is this workplace training course for?
- Those working in a business with 250 employees or less (SME)
- Business owners
- Those in managerial or team leader positions
- Employees with an interest in workplace wellness
– This course assumes no prior assumption of knowledge and so starts with the basics
“The insights gained have been invaluable, and I am eager to implement what I’ve learned to create a more supportive and inclusive workplace.” – Attendee
How is this course structured?
The course is delivered through a pre-recorded programme split into six sessions.
- Session 1 Why the programme is relevant and important, plus the benefits
- Session 2 Menstrual Health
- Session 3 Maternal Health
- Session 4 Menopausal Health
- Session 5 Women’s health at work in a wider sense
- Session 6 Role of an Advocate
– Each session includes reflection and action planning so that attendees return to the workplace ready to step into their role of WWW Advocate.
What do course attendees receive?
Open Awards Badge of Excellence Certificate: This can be added to completers CV / LinkedIn profile and can count towards workplace training initiatives.
Become part of the WWW Advocates Network: Course completers join the WWW Advocates Network, accessing resources, information, support, updates, and invitations to further develop their advocacy skills.
Leafyard Mental Health First Responder Course: Completers receive 5 free places for their organisation on the Leafyard Mental Health First Responder Course.
Leafyard Web App Free Trial: Leafyard combines science and study to motivate people to take control of their own mental health.
What do WWW advocates do?
- Signpost to relevant information about menstrual, maternal, and menopausal health at work.
- Be a contact for information for a colleague who may not be comfortable talking to a line manager.
- Be a first point of contact or an initial “listening ear”.
- Help to identify achievable workplace adjustments that women may need.
- Be an important source of information for managers about what women are asking for to support their health needs.
- Work with managers to develop or update policies to support women’s health at work.
Access this free course immediately through the Women’s Workplace Wellness Platform.
Return to the women’s workplace wellness project page here.
Please Note: This workplace training and wellness course has been designed to help small businesses to support women’s health in their workplace. It is not intended to be a source of medical information. We are not medically trained and therefore cannot answer individual medical enquiries either during the programme, over the telephone, by post or via email. If you or any of your colleagues have a health worry, your first port of call should be your GP (doctor) or you could contact NHS 111.
Funded through the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Fund, part of a partnership programme between Department of Health & Social Care, NHS England and UK Health Security Agency.