Supporting health and wellbeing at North Halifax PCN

Through our workplace wellbeing project, Active Calderdale worked with North Halifax Primary Care Network (PCN) and staff from two of its GP practices to explore simple ways of building more movement into the working day.

Before joining the project, the PCN had identified a growing need to support staff wellbeing. Many team members spent long periods working at desks and on computers, with limited opportunities to take breaks or be physically active during the day. Together, we wanted to find practical solutions that could improve staff wellbeing, boost morale and help create a more positive working environment.

Turning good intentions into lasting habits

A key part of the project was encouraging staff to move more through achievable, everyday activities. One of the most successful outcomes was the introduction of regular lunchtime walks, with staff from across the PCN and participating practices taking time away from their desks to get outside, enjoy fresh air and connect with colleagues.

What started as a simple idea has quickly become part of the team's routine. The walks provide an opportunity for staff to recharge, socialise and return to work feeling refreshed, while making better use of the green spaces and walking routes available across North Halifax.

Building on this success, the PCN is now exploring other ways to bring staff together through physical activity, including the idea of an "Adults Sports Day" to encourage team building, fun and friendly competition.

Overcoming challenges

One of the biggest barriers was finding time for activity during busy working days. Staff often felt tied to their desks and found it difficult to step away from their workload.

However, North Halifax's access to local green spaces created an opportunity to introduce short, manageable activities that could fit around work commitments. By focusing on small changes rather than major interventions, staff were able to take part without needing additional equipment, travel or significant time away from work.

Creating a culture of movement

Alongside the lunchtime walks, staff took part in an activity challenge designed to motivate individuals and teams to be more active.

The challenge introduced an element of healthy competition, with participants tracking their activity levels and following their progress on a leaderboard. Staff told us they enjoyed seeing how they compared with colleagues, and this friendly rivalry became a powerful motivator for increasing activity levels.

As a result, many participants increased their number of active days from around four days per week to seven, demonstrating a significant shift in daily habits and behaviours.

The challenge was brilliant. Although I normally walk Thursday to Sunday, it's really made me try to get out on the other days, even if only for 15 minutes - lunchtime, after work. We have a WhatsApp group with our Practice, and there was a lot of banter and encouragement going on in it.

I'm hopefully going to keep up with the extra days as I do feel getting out of the office at lunchtime really made a mental health difference to me.

Andrea

The Impact

The project delivered benefits well beyond physical activity alone.

Feedback from staff highlighted increased motivation, improved awareness of personal wellbeing and greater enjoyment of being active. The initiative also helped strengthen relationships across the PCN, bringing together colleagues who would not normally work closely with one another and creating new opportunities for connection.

It was great to see how competitive everyone became throughout the Teams event, but in a really positive and good-humoured way. There was plenty of friendly banter, and people were encouraging colleagues who had forgotten to log their activity to get involved. It created a fun atmosphere, boosted engagement across the practice, and helped keep everyone motivated.

One of the highlights for me was seeing all of the clinicians head out together for a lunchtime walk. Watching them all leave the building en masse did make me wonder for a moment whether any of them were coming back! Thankfully they did, and it was a great example of everyone getting involved and supporting each other.

Daniella Sykes- Practice Manager

The shared activities helped break down organisational silos, improve communication and foster a greater sense of teamwork across the network and participating practices.

Perhaps most importantly, the experience gave staff greater confidence in promoting physical activity to patients and communities. Having experienced the benefits themselves, they are better placed to encourage others to make small, sustainable changes that can improve health and wellbeing.

Looking Ahead

The project demonstrated that simple, accessible interventions can make a meaningful difference to workplace wellbeing. By helping staff become more active, connect with colleagues and prioritise their own health, North Halifax PCN has created a stronger, more positive workplace culture.

At Active Calderdale, we're proud to have supported this journey and to see how small changes have led to lasting improvements in wellbeing, morale and team cohesion.