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Media Release
Ref: PR 81
Date: 9 September 2005
Merthyr Tydfil CBC Wins A Silver
It’s official! Merthyr Council values the health of its workforce - and has the award to prove it.
The Council’s wide-ranging health promotion agenda recently impressed Welsh Assembly assessors who granted the authority a silver award in the Corporate Health Standard – a quality mark for workplace health in Wales. The award is presented in Bronze, Silver and Gold categories to organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to promoting workplace health. It is awarded for a period of three-years.
A team of three assessors spent two days scrutinising policies and plans on the Council’s health promotion initiatives. They then visited four different workplaces to talk to employees and get their views. The assessors were so impressed with what they found they interrupted a meeting of the Council’s Leadership Group to deliver the good news ‘live’ to the Council’s most senior managers.
Councillor Bill Smith, the MTCBC’s Health Promotion Champion had this to say: “One of the Council’s strategic priorities is to continue to improve the health of all employees. Health promotion and improvement is a part of the bigger picture of making the County Borough a safe, healthy and exciting place to live and visit. A healthier workforce should make for a happier one which will undoubtedly go a long way to improving morale, increasing productivity, reducing absenteeism and boosting motivation.”
The Council is committed to sustaining its success and has already developed its Workplace Health Promotion Strategy. This strategy provides the direction and framework for demonstrating the continued dedication to the health and well being of Council employees.
In line with this strategy, a programme of health promotion events has been drawn up for 2005/ 2006. The programme includes exercise classes; back care advice, healthy living days, tips on dealing with stress and events on alcohol awareness.
ENDS