A SMART way to put health and wellbeing at your employees finger-tips

Forward For Life

We are fast approaching that festive time of year again where for the majority of us, we can kick-back and celebrate Christmas with our loved ones.

But it's worth remembering that Christmas may not be an equally good time for all.

Life often throws us a curve ball and this can have a huge impact on our daily lives both in the workplace and at home.

For the last 5 years, Forward For Life and partner organisation Common Unity have been quietly developing a smart directory that supports Birmingham and Solihull citizens to know where to go when one of these curve balls comes along.

The directory, known as The Waiting Room (TWR), is an effective way for you and your employees to have access to 100s of local and national services at your fingertips including Helplines, Family Support services, Welfare Advice, Mens Health, Womens Health, Mental Health, Children and Young People services, Housing and Homelessness support to name but a few.

Remember, Mental ill-health in the workplace is costing UK employers billions.

Mental ill-health, including stress, depression and anxiety, is thought to be responsible for 91 million lost working days each year, more than for any other illness - TWR, by supporting people to know where to go when they are struggling can only be a good thing for your business and your employees wellbeing.

Why a 'SMART' Directory?

TWR not only gives you access to 100's of service websites with instant call capabilities through your smart phone, tablet or PC, but the services on TWR can be shared by email, text, as well as through social media (facebook, twitter and LinkedIn).

In addition if there are services you think should be added you can instantly propose them through the "Add A Service" link.

Since its initial conception as a 'good idea' in principle, TWR now receives in excess of 8000 hits per month by Birmingham and Solihull residents and businesses representatives alone, and is utilised by West Midlands police, Ambulance and Fire Services, Birmingham City University, Birmingham Social care services, NHS staff and the care sector and is recognised as the preferred go-to online directory by the Birmingham Adult Safeguarding Network, Birmingham Public Health and Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Groups.

You can access this free to use resource through a number of ways including the website, through our IOS app on the App Store (android is coming soon on the Google Play Store) or through the TWR Key Fobs.

If you want to know more about TWR do not hesitate to give me a shout - but in the meantime, have a fantastic Christmas and superb New Year.

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