A packed month of activity will include several presentations that focus on different subject matters that either directly influence or can potentially contribute to improving an individual’s physical and mental wellbeing both now and in the future.

A range of key speakers have been invited to present to everyone within the UM Group on a variety of wellbeing themed topics in Teams presentations on different dates during September.

Kicking things off will be a presentation by Chimp Management, which was founded by Professor Steve Peters, author of the bestselling personal development book The Chimp Paradox, which has sold over 1.4 million copies since it was first published in 2012, as well as working with such notable sporting clients as Olympic cycling champions Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton and the snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The session led by Chimp Management takes place on Wednesday, September 4, and promises to provide participants with valuable insights into the functioning of their minds, along with practical skills for effectively managing thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.

Other events during Wellbeing Month include two workshops with Loveday Wellbeing entitled respectively ‘How to detach from a Digital World’, looking at how to take a mindful approach and maintain healthy use, and ‘Attitude of Gratitude’, which will explore how gratitude is one of the most simplistic yet impactful qualities when counteracting stress, fear and other unhelpful emotions.

Two further sessions will be held by Ireland Fitness and led by wellbeing coach Phill Ireland. Phil’s first session is entitled ‘Lifestyle Improvements for Everyone – Breathwork’ and the second ‘Lifestyle Improvements for Everyone – Getting Better Sleep’.

In the breathwork presentation, Phill will get colleagues to notice their own breathing rate and teach methods for how you can change it at any moment to a rhythm to best suit the challenge ahead.

In the session on sleep, Phill will focus on discussing finding a suitable sleep routine including preparation, environment and hygiene with the aim of making your sleep more refreshing and restorative for your body so you can wake up in an improved emotional and physical state.

The presentations from the various external providers will be complemented by a presentation by UM Group’s new HR Manager Vicki Brough in which she will share with colleagues information regarding the Group’s Employee Benefits and Employee Assistance Programme.

Wellbeing Month is the second major element of UM Group’s global wellbeing initiative following the huge success of our Great Molasses Challenge which raised over £33,000 for the charity Farm Africa.

The money was raised thanks to colleagues running, walking, playing football, cycling, rowing, swimming and going on dog walks, all with the aim of clocking up as many miles as possible.

Every single contribution, big or small, got the team closer to the target distance of 4820 miles (7712km) which represents the distance of the first ever UM molasses shipment in 1912 from the Dominican Republic to Hull.

A total of £17,222 was raised via the Challenge’s Just Giving pages with a further £16,222 being provided in match-funding by UM’s holding company W&R Barnett making for a grand total of £33,444.

The same committee which organised the Challenge is now spearheading the activity for Wellbeing Month. The team includes Geraldine Carroll, Mark Few, Simon Markham, Nigel Jones and Louisa Brown.

Simon, UM Group’s Head of Molasses (GB), said: “We are hoping our colleagues will engage with Wellbeing Month in the same fantastic way that they did for the Great Molasses Challenge.

“We believe we have put together a packed and varied programme of presentations which will be of interest to colleagues and potentially help improve their general daily wellbeing and health both physically and mentally.

“While it was great to raise as much money as we did for Farm Africa through the Challenge, the wellbeing aspect for our colleagues was just as important and we have had some lovely feedback from people saying how much they gained from the experience.”

Geraldine Carroll, UM Group’s HR, Training and Office Manager, said: “After a short break, we are ready and excited to launch our first ever Wellbeing Month.

“We want to build on the goodwill and positivity from the Challenge and this is the next stage of our global wellbeing initiative which focusses on both the physical and mental aspects.

“We want people to know it is fine to talk and share experiences and also that through UM Group’s Employee Benefits and Employee Assistance Programme, the support is there to help colleagues in lots of different ways.”