Everton named Healthiest Club to work for

Everton has been officially certified as the healthiest football club to work for in the UK by Health at Work’s Workplace Wellbeing Charter.



The Blues are the first football club in the country to have been awarded the status to recognise its commitment to employees’ health and wellbeing by the Health at Work Workplace Wellbeing Charter, a national benchmarking scheme designed to encourage employers to make positive changes in the workplace to benefit the health and wellbeing of their staff.

Following 12 months of hard work by the Club’s Human Resources Department manager, Clare Archibald and Everton in the Community’s Health and Wellbeing Manager, Michael Salla, the Club was recently presented with a plaque by the Deputy Mayor of Liverpool and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Cllr Roz Gladden, to certify the Blues’ new ‘Excellence’ status – the highest level of accreditation - as a healthy and supportive place of work.

Everton's leading post-war goalscorer Graeme Sharp was also on hand to officially accept the plaque.

Speaking at Goodison Park, Cllr Gladden said: “I am delighted to present Everton with the Workplace Wellbeing Charter. It is fantastic to see one of the most high profile and prominent employers in the city taking the issue of workplace wellbeing very seriously.

“The positive impact that employment can have on health and wellbeing is now well documented and there is strong evidence to show how having a healthy workforce can reduce sickness, absence, lower staff turnover and boost productivity.”

The Workplace Wellbeing Charter, which is valid for two years, has accredited the Club with a status of ‘excellence’, which means that not only is health information easily accessible and well publicised, the leadership of the organisation fully engage in wellbeing and employees have a range of intervention programmes and support mechanisms available to help them prevent ill-health, and encourage a fit and healthy lifestyle.

Denise Barrett-Baxendale, Everton’s Deputy CEO, said: “In a city which has one of the highest cancer rates and lowest life expectancy in the country, Everton was approached by Health at Work to achieve the charter for the benefit of staff.

“The Workplace Wellbeing Charter is an extension of the work carried out by Everton in the Community, which includes strong working links with the NHS on a variety of health and wellbeing initiatives, which offer local people the chance to improve their health and ultimately, their life chances.

“The Club will continue to improve upon the high standards it has set itself by offering a range of activities within the workplace over the next 12 months to tackle specific health issues, including mental health.”