Chamber members, Lancashire’s YOLO Wellbeing thanks frontline NHS staff by treating them to their unique YOLO Wellbeing Experience to recognise their courage and commitment through the COVID pandemic.
The 120 free appointments were delivered across hospital trusts in Lancashire, Manchester, and Liverpool.
Designed to help improve physical and mental stress, the YOLO Experience allows staff to take 20 minutes away from the workplace to relax and receive a therapeutic head, neck and shoulder massage in a mobile, sensory, calm space which is brought to the work premises.
Launched in 2019, YOLO Wellbeing was shut down for most of the pandemic, founder Cheryle Britton comments, “Initially, I was devasted by the impact COVID had on my business but seeing what NHS staff and other frontline workers were dealing with I quickly realised how lucky I was and that I wanted to do something to help.
“It has been really rewarding to be able to give something back to staff at the NHS, they do a fantastic job. The YOLO Experience is designed to help boost morale whilst offering some relief from physical and mental stress so it’s great to hear the staff say they’ve benefited from their experience.”
In feedback captured after their appointments, NHS staff across all three trusts commented that the experience improved their mood and boosted their energy levels; 76% claimed that it helped reduce their stress levels; and 96% said they felt their performance improved following their YOLO Experience. Due to the success and feedback from staff, YOLO Wellbeing has been employed to provide further delivery of the YOLO Experience.
The impact of COVID on the NHS in the region has put considerable pressure on staff. NHS absences in the North West is 1% higher (5.3%) than the national average, 4.3%. Anxiety, stress, and depression are the most common, consistently reported reasons for absence, followed by musculoskeletal injury.
Jane Mullin, Deputy Director of Workforce and Innovation at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool, said: “YOLO Wellbeing was just what the staff at The Walton Centre needed. The past year (and a bit) has been tough for a lot of staff, and they have really missed the health & wellbeing activities the trust normally supports. YOLO Wellbeing was easy to organise, the 20-minute sessions were perfect for staff and by the end of the day we had a waiting list so could have repeated the day all over again.”
YOLO Wellbeing will continue to support NHS Staff, donating a free appointment for each full day booked by their clients. They hope to deliver over 250 appointments in 2022.
