Short-listed: At an awards dinner at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on 23 November, the Director of Sport, Karen Creffield (right), and the Deputy Director of Sport, Simon Tunley, received a finalist's certificate for the GBUK Workplace Health Award.

The University of Sussex was presented with a finalist’s certificate at the Sussex Sports Awards 2012 on Friday (23 November), after being short-listed for the GBUK Workplace Health Award.

Active Sussex, who organise the awards, said that the University and the two other short-listed organisations had shown “innovation in the workplace”.

At an awards dinner at the Hilton Brighton Metropole, the Director of Sport, Karen Creffield, and the Deputy Director of Sport, Simon Tunley, received the framed certificate on behalf of the University.

Karen said: “The recognition reflects the work we have done recently in response to staff feedback and has really helped to celebrate the progress we have made in engaging more staff in activity at Sussex.”

Sussex was recognized in particular for its month-long ‘commit to get fit’ challenge in May, which encouraged staff to team up with their colleagues to be more active by trying out classes, walking or cycling to work, or taking up a new sport.

Sussexsport staff supported teams with extra classes and offered personal training advice and discounted sports membership throughout the month.

Other health and wellbeing schemes on campus this year include:

• staff-only yoga and chi gung sessions
• ‘stop smoking’ sessions for staff during October, as part of national Stoptober campaign
• free massage and kung fu sessions during Stress Awareness Day.

Karen said: “In response to our sport and activity survey we have had lots of positive comments about the introduction of more staff-focused activity and it is our intention to expand this programme in the new year.”

If you would like to be on the mailing list for information about staff-only sport and activities, E Sam Fuller on s.n.fuller@sussex.ac.uk

Staff at Sussex can also benefit from:

• lunchtime campus walks
• a weekly fruit and vegetables market
• free fitness advice by email
• mini health checks
• healthy eating advice
• events such as the boundary run/walk, rounders afternoon and table tennis competition
• bike loans, cycle storage and shower facilities to encourage active transport
• flexible working arrangements, a childcare voucher scheme for parents, and a Nursery and Pre School on campus.

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