Health and wellbeing
At Blake Morgan, we recognise that the health and wellbeing of our people is fundamental to both individual performance and organisational success. Our Health and Wellbeing workstream takes a holistic approach, supporting colleagues across mental, physical and financial wellbeing, while fostering a culture rooted in trust, safety and respect.
We are committed to creating an environment where wellbeing is openly discussed, actively supported and embedded into everyday working life. Our approach recognises the importance of psychological safety, work-life balance and inclusive support systems that respond to the diverse experiences of our colleagues.
Through targeted initiatives, policies and awareness activity, we aim to empower colleagues to take a proactive approach to their wellbeing, while ensuring they have access to the tools, resources and support they need at every stage of their career.
Our work is shaped by ongoing engagement, data insights and collaboration with colleagues, networks and external partners. This enables us to continuously evolve our approach, ensuring it remains relevant, inclusive and impactful across the firm.
Main areas of focus
Mental, physical and financial wellbeing
Our strategy centres on supporting colleagues across the full spectrum of wellbeing, recognising the close links between mental health, physical health and financial wellbeing. We promote awareness, provide access to expert support and deliver targeted programmes to help colleagues maintain their overall wellbeing.
Enabling balance
We support colleagues to achieve a healthy and sustainable balance between their work and personal lives through flexible working practices, inclusive policies and a culture that encourages boundaries, openness and respect.
Education, awareness and connection
We deliver a programme of campaigns, events and learning opportunities throughout the year to raise awareness and build understanding of a wide range of wellbeing topics. These initiatives encourage open conversations, strengthen connections and empower colleagues to take proactive steps to support their wellbeing.
Key contacts
Liz Bryne | HR and Development Director | Health and Wellbeing Inclusion Champion
Lis is the Health and Wellbeing Inclusion Champion, leading the development and delivery of the firm’s wellbeing strategy and overseeing key initiatives, partnerships and cultural change activity across the workstream.
Lis is in no doubt that there is a significant and tangible link between the health and wellbeing of the people in a business and the success of that business. She therefore wants to make prioritising people’s wellbeing a fundamental principle of our approach because in doing so, we prioritise the wellbeing of our firm. It makes sound business sense, but it is also the right thing to do for our colleagues and their families. It will help us to promote an environment where we are better able to achieve the firm’s objectives, with a healthier, more contented, and motivated workforce.
By prioritising wellbeing across mental, physical and financial dimensions, and fostering an organisational culture that values balance and support, we can create a thriving workplace where colleagues feel valued and empowered to perform at their best. This applies to every colleague whatever their personal perception may be of their own state of wellbeing; even those who may feel that they are in a good state of wellbeing can take an active approach towards making improvements.
Helen Bunker | Chair | Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair
As Chair of Blake Morgan, Helen has overall responsibility for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion across the firm and leads the EDI Committee, a formal Board sub-group responsible for turning the firm’s commitment to inclusion into practical action. She works closely with the firm’s Inclusion Champions across all workstreams, helping to drive Blake Morgan’s EDI strategy and ensure that everyone feels able to contribute, develop and succeed.
Helen is passionate about creating a workplace where people can be themselves, feel valued for who they are and have access to the same opportunities to thrive. She believes that diverse perspectives make for a stronger business, better decision-making and better outcomes for clients. She is committed to ensuring that colleagues can see people like themselves represented at all levels of the firm and can believe that success at Blake Morgan is achievable for everyone. As Chair, she is committed to visible leadership on EDI and to fostering a culture where inclusion is embedded in everyday working life, not treated as a standalone initiative.
Alongside championing all of Blake Morgan’s EDI workstreams, Helen is a trained Mental Health First Aider and Menopause Mentor. She regularly supports awareness campaigns, events and colleague-led initiatives, and is particularly interested in the links between wellbeing, belonging and inclusion. She is proud of the progress the firm has made and remains focused on ensuring that every voice is heard and every colleague feels they belong at Blake Morgan.
Patricia Bourne | Senior Reward and Benefits Advisor | Health and Wellbeing Inclusion member
Patricia is a Senior Reward and Benefits Advisor in Blake Morgan’s HR team, and a member of the firm’s Health & Wellbeing steering group.
Having joined Blake Morgan in 2019, Patricia manages several of the firm’s external Health providers, like Bupa and Medicash. Her work focuses on identifying providers that give our employees excellent coverage and value for money.
As well as promoting mental health support services like the firm’s Employee Assistance Programme, Patricia also focuses on financial wellbeing and helping employees effectively manage their finances, in particular their pension.
Patricia regularly contributes to the Health & Wellbeing workstream by organising webinars with our external providers and also by creating Hub articles to coincide with important dates during the year, raising awareness among our staff and highlighting the benefits available internally.
Jo Burnham (she/her) | Head of HR | Health and Wellbeing Inclusion member
Jo is passionate about helping to create a workplace where colleagues feel supported, valued and able to thrive. Being part of the Health and Wellbeing workstream provides an opportunity to champion initiatives that promote both physical and mental wellbeing across the Firm and to ensure that support is accessible to everyone who may need it.
In her role on the Firm’s Health and Safety Committee, Jo helps keep members informed about health and wellbeing initiatives, ensuring that wellbeing remains an important part of wider conversations around colleague welfare. She also works closely with the Firm’s Occupational Health provider to support colleagues who are returning to work following periods of long-term illness, helping to make the transition back to work as smooth and successful as possible.
Jo is a strong advocate of early intervention, particularly when it comes to mental health. She believes that a supportive workplace environment which encourages people to seek support at the earliest opportunity can make a significant difference to their wellbeing and long-term outcomes. For Jo, being part of the Workgroup is a rewarding way to help foster a healthy, supportive and inclusive working environment for all colleagues.
Roxanne Tee | Manager (Compliance & Training) | Health and Wellbeing Inclusion member
Roxy (she/her) is a Manager in the Consumer Finance team with a focus on training and compliance. Roxy is a Mental Health First Aider; a member of the Health and Wellbeing Steering Group and BM Connect team in NKC.
Roxy is committed to bringing awareness and focus to wellbeing and sharing the importance of talking. She often runs Tea&Talk sessions (yes cake is always involved!) and leads wellbeing walks from NKC.
Being a member of the Health and Wellbeing Steering Group is important to Roxy as it increases her exposure to other EDI members in the firm and awareness of current workstreams. She can share this information with her team and office to continue spreading awareness.
Partnerships and resources
Mindful Business Charter – supporting our commitment to healthier ways of working and promoting positive workplace culture.
Visit the Mindful Business Charter website.
Solent Mind – delivering training, awareness sessions and resources to support mental health across the firm.
Visit the Solent Mind website.
Wellbeing of Women – supporting awareness and education on women’s health, including webinars and campaigns.
Visit the Wellbeing of Women website.
Over the Bloody Moon – supporting our work to raise awareness of menstrual health and menopause in the workplace, including exploring accreditation opportunities and embedding inclusive, informed approaches to women’s health within our wellbeing strategy.
Visit the Over the Bloody Moon website.
MHFA England – underpinning our Mental Health First Aider programme, enabling us to build internal capability, promote early intervention and support a culture where conversations about mental health are encouraged and supported.
Visit the MHFA England website.
Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse – supporting our commitment to creating a safe and supportive workplace for colleagues affected by domestic abuse, including access to resources, guidance and best practice through the EIDA Employer’s Toolkit and Charter.
TVCC Mental Wellbeing Charter – reinforcing our focus on embedding good mental wellbeing practices into our organisational culture, supporting continuous improvement through shared standards, collaboration and regional engagement.
Visit the TVCC Mental Wellbeing Charter website.
