t2 Achievers Edge edition 49 Nov 21 – Jan 22

t2group.co.uk

November 2021 - January 2022

edge achievers

edition 49

Inside This Issue

Mental Health and the Festive Season World Toilet Day International Men’s Day

INSIDE

ADVANTAGES OF BEING BILINGUAL Social Media – Good or Bad? - See inside for details

ESDGC and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Health & Well-being

events 2021 - 2022

events 2021 - 2022

November

December

November

9–15

9

11

15

16

19

25 16–22

30

1

5

9

10

11

18

20

1

2

13

14

17

25

National Recycling Week World Freedom Day Remembrance Day Geography Awareness Week International Day of Tolerance World Toilet Day / International Men’s Day White Ribbon Day Alcohol Awareness Week St Andrews Day

World AIDS Day World Soil Day International Anti-corruption Day / LOST and FOUND Day Human Rights Day International Mountain Day International Migrants Day International Human Solidarity Day

World Vegan Day Stress Awareness Day World Kindness Day World Diabetes Day TAKE a Hike Day, World Prematurity Day Flossing Day

December January

4 17 26 26

World Braille Day World Religion Day Spouses Day Australia Day

1 Eat a Red Apple Day

3 International Day of Disabled People

10 International Human Rights Day

January

2

4

21

22

Motivation and Inspiration Day / Personal Trainer Awareness Day Hypnotism Day Women’s Healthy Weight Day Celebration of Life Day

SAFEGUARDING events 2021 - 2022

November

December

2–5 International Stress Awareness Week

2 International Day for the Abolition of

6 National Stress Awareness Day / World Let’s Slavery Stop Shouting Day 2–7 National Grief Awareness Week 8–17 Northwest Sexual Violence Awareness Week

9 Social Media Kindness Day

11–14 Anti-Bullying Week

20 Universal Children’s Day

25–09 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence 2021

3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities

January 16 International World Religions Day

Our Safeguarding Team : Safeguarding & Prevent Lead Stacy Preston 02920 799 133 / 07876 824 157 Deputy Safeguarding & Prevent Lead Lisa Sheppard 07881 093 484 Designated Senior Person for Safeguarding across the t2 group Dave Marr 02920 799 133

It’s a time when all should be merry and bright. We know this because the songs tell us so. What started out as sedate celebration lasting a couple of days has somehow turned into an entire season of which seems to start in November and carry on well into the New Year...

While some of us have no trouble entering right in the spirit of things and thoroughly enjoy the distraction from the winter gloom, not everyone finds the festivities easy.

With 1 in 4 people in UK reporting a mental health issue at some point in their life, this time of year can seem like a gauntlet of social obligations which cause added stress and discomfort so while it is easy to dismiss those who can’t get on board with the merriment as ‘grinches’ or ‘scrooges,’ perhaps it’s worth taking a moment to think about what might be going on in the background.

For people with eating disorders, the constant stream of party invites, meals out and family dinners can cause heightened anxiety. Whether a disorder means a person can’t eat, eats too much or binges, this time of year can seem like a barrage of impossible situations. If someone has a substance misuse problem, they will likely feel a similar level of anxiety about the added levels of temptation in their path.

Depression and anxiety can be exacerbated at this time of year and if a person is already feeling as though they don’t belong, or they are simply lonely, the constant stream of media advertising putting pressure on us to party non-stop or enjoy the ‘perfect’ season with family and friends must be excruciating.

Aside from diagnosed mental health issues, this time of year can be difficult if you have lost someone or it brings back painful memories. This year brings its own challenges as the pandemic makes socialising difficult meaning that many people could be cut off from friends and family or will be tempted to take risks with their health in order to celebrate their “usual Christmas.”

When working with people at this time of year, it’s good to be a bit more sensitive than usual and make the extra effort to ensure that everyone feels included and safe.

Statistics from the UN suggest that 3.6 billion people are still living without adequate sanitation; because of this, we are not on track to achieve our goal of ensuring ‘availability and sustainable management of sanitation and water for all by 2030.’ They say governments will have to work four times faster in order to meet this goal.

This year’s theme, ‘Valuing Toilets’, is about understanding just how important toilets are; especially if you do not have access to one.

Lack of sanitation causes socio-economic problems as well as being a public health issue. Girls, especially, risk being withdrawn from education in areas where there is a lack of appropriate sanitation in the schools.

Poor sanitation increases risk of disease including parasites, malaria, cholera, diarrhoea, and malnutrition. The cost of healthcare then places a significant financial burden on the family which is compounded by the fact that the sick person cannot work, or an adult must take care of a sick child and so cannot go out to work.

WaterAid (a charity working to ensure access to clean water for all), say that 9 out of 10 people in Niger do not have access to a functioning toilet. In fact, almost half of the country’s population does not have access to clean water. While the numbers may not be quite as devastating elsewhere, this situation is echoed in many developing countries where government strategies and infrastructure cannot keep up with the growth of the population.

If you are unmoved by dismal statistics about lack of access to sanitation, consider the positives.

Appropriate sanitation and sewage facilities require maintenance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year so toilets keep people in jobs! Why not join in on your socials this year and thank your toilet?!

#WorldToiletDay

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Facts and statistics | WaterAid - https://www.wateraid.org/facts-and-statistics SATO: Bringing access to sanitation and hygiene to communities in Africa https://youtu.be/s_w1wtaxLaw

International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’ 2005-2015 (un.org) https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/sanitation.shtml

International Men’s Day is a day designed to get men to think about their own health and the effect that their lifestyle is having on themselves.

Statistics bleakly suggest that in the UK, 1 man in every 5 dies before the age of 65. Many of these deaths are absolutely preventable by making some simple changes to lifestyle.

The themes for International Men’s Day 2021 in the UK this year are: • Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys • Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys’ wellbeing • Promoting a positive conversation about men, maturity and masculinity Much like International Women’s Day (celebrated annually in March), International Men’s Day is observed in more than 60 countries with the core themes aiming to address some of the most pressing issues facing men and boys in society today such as: • The high male suicide rate – 3 out of 4 suicides in the UK are male • The challenges faced by boys and men at all stages of education and work including attainment, re-training, redundancy, and unemployment • Men’s health (including male cancers), shorter life expectancy and workplace deaths – plus the health impact of Covid-19 • The challenges faced by the most marginalised men and boys in society (for instance, homeless men, boys in care, school exclusions and the high rate of male deaths in custody) • Male victims of violence, including sexual violence • The challenges faced by men as parents, particularly new fathers, and separated fathers • Male victims and survivors of sexual abuse, rape, sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based crime, stalking and slavery • The negative portrayal of men, boys, and fathers International Men’s Day encourages dialogue about the issues facing men and boys today but of course, International Men’s Day is not just for men – everyone has a male relative and so being aware of the key issues can be useful for women, too!

Thousands of adults are now learning Welsh - but why?

1

Over 582,000 people in Wales speak Welsh - Over a million who understand, not to mention those who live and speak Welsh outside Wales.

2

Stand out from the crowd - Being able to use Welsh could make your CV stand out! Many companies operate through the medium of Welsh. Some companies ONLY recruit Welsh speakers. North Wales police have ONLY 4% of staff with no Welsh language skills.

3 4

5

It’s growing - All children in schools in Wales either speak or learn Welsh so it is going to be a language of the future.

It’s in demand - All public sector organisations in Wales are legally bound to provide services in both Welsh and English and many private companies do so because it’s good for business. This makes Welsh-speaking employees a very attractive asset to companies! Being able to speak to customers in their preferred language improves customer loyalty. Having Welsh speaking staff is good for creating a company’s public image. Offering a language choice is important to customers.

It’s a unique selling point - Tourist and hospitality industries throughout Europe are now realising the importance of offering unique experiences. Having two languages and a sense of Welsh history and culture puts Wales in a strong position.

6

It creates new opportunities - Research shows that employees with bilingual skills are more likely to earn a salary 8-10% higher than workers without bilingual skills. Many job adverts specify Welsh as desirable (or essential).

Having an extra skill in the current job market will make you more attractive to employers. Being able to offer something additional can mean endless opportunities to succeed.

7

It opens new doors - Even learning a few words can increase your sense of awareness of what is around you.

Understanding the names of streets and place names in your area and the reasons behind them can be extremely interesting and can open new doors.

8

It leads to more - There is a growing European research tradition showing that bilinguals tend to be more attuned to languages, more linguistically prepared to learn a third language.

9

It gives you the best of both worlds - It provides the opportunity to experience two different cultures, two worlds of experience. It can help people to feel a sense of belonging to Wales. Radio Cymru, S4C and the Eisteddfod - as well as hosts of local and community events, can be enjoyed without translation equipment and subtitles.

10

It gives you twice as much - For example, those interested in literature and history will have access to a literary tradition spanning 1,500 years! Those interested in music will be able to enjoy a greater understanding of Welsh pop and rock, folk, choir, and hymn music.

11

It keeps your mind fit - There are cognitive benefits to being bilingual – Studies show that those with bilingual skills are more creative, more mentally agile, better able to organise information, and solve problems. Bilinguals have a slightly higher IQ. Bilingualism can make it easier to learn additional languages.

As human beings are largely social creatures, most of us have an intrinsic need to build connections - whether that is to build or maintain relationships such as staying in touch with family members and friends, engaging with audiences for work or business purposes or collaboration.

According to Backlinko, online marketing and SEO organisation, 4.48 billion people currently use social media worldwide – that is up more than double from numbers in 2015. This equates to 56.8% of the world’s eligible population aged 13 years+. 99% of social media users accessing websites and apps do so through a mobile device, meaning these platforms are a constant feature in users lives - available anywhere and anytime.

Key Facts – Social Media in the UK • 66% of people use social media, regardless of age • 79% of people over the age of 13 use social media platforms • 27% of people use social media for work purposes • Social media users have an average of 6.9 social media platform accounts per person

Social media usage and the impact on mental health Social media can have positive or adverse effects on our mental health. Depending on the types and strengths of connections we make, impacts on our mental health and wellbeing can be positive.

Interactions can ease stress, anxiety and depression, increase self-esteem, provide comfort, make us happy and prevent loneliness. On the other hand, where we don’t have strong, positive social connections and interactions, this can negatively impact our emotional health and exacerbate mental health illness or isolate individuals, making them feel lonelier.

What are the pros and cons of using social media?

Social media has its uses, and as with most things, there are upsides and downsides to using the platforms that are out there.

If you are an active user of social media, it’s important to be aware of the dangers and pitfalls just as much as being able to take advantage of the benefits it can provide – here are some of the pros and cons:

The Good

The Bad

•

Communicate and stay up to date with family and friends around the world.

•

Find new friends and communities; network with other people who share similar interests or ambitions.

• •

• •

•

Join or promote worthwhile causes; raise awareness on important issues.

•

Seek or offer emotional support during tough times.

•

Find a vital social connection if you live in a remote area, for example, or have limited independence, social anxiety, or are part of a marginalised group.

•

Find an outlet for your creativity and selfexpression.

•

Discover (with care) sources of valuable information and learning.

• •

• •

• •

Inadequacy about your life or appearance.

Life online can often seem perfect...Remember those #filters, not everything is as perfect as it appears!

Fear of missing out (FOMO).

Everything moves so fast online, and everyone knows everyone else’s business. The fear of not being up with the latest gossip or events can lead to compulsive checking of social media.

Isolation.

Studies have shown that high usage of social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram actually increase feelings of loneliness.

Depression and anxiety.

Prioritising social media interactions over face-to-face relationships can increase the risk of developing or exacerbating mental health illness.

Self-absorption.

Sharing endless selfies and all your innermost thoughts on social media can create unhealthy self-centeredness and distance you from real-life connections.

The Ugly •

Cyberbullying.

•

Social media platforms such as Twitter can be hotspots for spreading hurtful rumours, lies, and abuse that can leave lasting emotional scars.

•

Online grooming.

•

Social media platforms are prime hunting grounds for sexual predators who look to lure children and others who may be vulnerable into sexual exploitation.

•

Radicalisation.

•

Extremist and violently extreme organisations actively use social media to identify, target and radicalise children and other vulnerable individuals.

You can get advice on safely using online technologies and social media platforms from https://www.internetmatters.org/ or https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Social Media Spiral Unhealthy use of social media can become a downward spiral

If you feel that your social media usage is having a negative impact on your mental health and wellbeing, try considering the following: Reduce time online

Change your focus

• Use an app to track how long you spend on social media • Set a goal for how much you want to reduce it by • Don’t bring your phone or tablet to bed • Disable social media notifications • Limit the amount of checks you do • Do a social media detox – remove your apps from your phone

• Focus on what you have, not what you don’t have • What purpose do you have for using social media? – if it’s just boredom or you just scroll through without interacting? Consider going to the gym, going for a walk, reading a book, or take up a new hobby

Spend more time – in person – with friends

Express gratitude

• Set time aside each week to visit friends or family • Join a club • Exercise with a friend or group • Become a volunteer

• Take time for reflection • Practice mindfulness

IF YOU HAVE ANY SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA OR OTHER ONLINE TECHNOLOGIES, PLEASE CONTACT THE SAFEGUARDING TEAM ON -

safeguarding@t2group.co.uk

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