The Garrett Learning newsletter. A mental health and wellbeing update to find out what has been happening, what’s coming up and what’s new!
We are
* Supportive * Curious * Welcoming * Encouraging * Straightforward *
We are Garrett Learning.
Inside this month’s issue:
- Mental Health Awareness Week 12th-19th May 2025
- Free ‘community’ Session
- Mental Health Awareness dates for your diary
What’s been happening?
We have been busy planning our next event! Next week, Monday 12th May is the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, 12th -19th May. The Theme of the week is ‘Community’.
Calling for the attention of all Mental Health First Aiders/Champions/Ambassadors! This is for you!
At Garrett Learning, we teach many people to mental health skills and then people head off into their workplace/community and there isn’t any ‘formal’ continued support, so next Monday 12th May at 16:00 GMT I would like to bring us for a free 45-minute session where we will to learn from each other, reflect on our role, offer support to each other, suggest workplace wellbeing initiatives and take a moment of self-care.
Continuing the theme of ‘Community’ we paired up with Lisa Neath and launched a new networking group – Cocktail and Connections here in Kidderminster. The aim was to bring people together for a social environment. It was a great success!
It was lovely to use a local independent venue and create a space where everyone felt comfortable and had fun too!
What’s coming up?
With Mental Health Awareness Week just around the corner, let’s talk about how to create
‘Community’ at work.
The definition of ‘Community ‘ from Oxford Languages is:
‘the condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common’.
Here’s three ideas of what you could doo to support the feelings of Community in the workplace:
Create ‘community’ within the workplace by:
- Create psychological safety – Read my blog recent blog here
- Celebrating the wins/successes!
- Arrange a team-building activity
Stuck for ideas? MHFA England has provided a fantastic toolkit to support the week. It’s Five days. Five ideas for One connected workplace.
https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week-2025-community/?utm_source=supporter-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=May-2025-Supporter-Newsletter&utm_content=MHAW-2025-campaign-page&_cldee=hGS5x2AwReUf6-hfUxbQKvGAiBXktim9sceVyCeZgQ_8SPy-8oOeqcqfBbbckNKE&recipientid=contact-53e0d92a9711e8118127e0071b664191-c7f082f87283429dbefbecc8ad4a1cfe&esid=dec689e7-2c2b-f011-8c4e-000d3addbad6
- Carry out a workplace survey to find out how your employees feel.
Here are some suggested questions. To capture your survey, you could use a platform such as Survey Monkey or Google Forms. Change up the style of the questions, i.e some short answers, sliding scale: 1 ‘strongly agree’ to 5 ‘strongly disagree’, emoji faces etc:
- On a scale of 1-5 how do you feel about this statement? ‘My coworkers care about me’
- In the workplace, I feel a valued part of the organisation.
- Do you feel connected with your manager?
- Our organisation values are (insert here). Do you feel your values match those of this organisation?
- On a scale of 1-5, how comfortable do you feel sharing your ideas, concerns and asking questions with the team?
- Are you clear on your job role, purpose and expectations? Please explain your answer.
- Are your unique characteristics welcomed and celebrated in the workplace?
- On a scale of 1-5 how strongly do you feel you can be your authentic self at work?
- What should we be doing that we’re not?
- Please share any other comments:
Some employees might not feel they can be honest with their answers, if you’d like an external company to carry out a survey and summarise the findings, let’s chat about this, discover your ‘why’ and Garrett Learning can support you with this.
Join the Workplace Wellbeing Champion Community Network!
We may find that, as a ‘Wellbeing Champions/Ambassador/Mental Health First Aider’ we listen to many other people, however we need support too. We need to talk to others, be inspired and embed our learning. This community network is for you. We offer guidance and a safe place for you as you continue your great work.
Join us on the second Monday of the month, 13:00-13:50 GMT. These sessions are also recorded if you can’t make it live.
Here’s the upcoming sessions:
12th May. Guest speaker Amy Woodcock from Naturally Grown Health to talk about “Foods to fuel and energise your working day”.
9th June. Guest speaker Julie Cosgrove from Julie Menopause Coach to talk about “Menopause symptoms, talking about menopause and getting help”.
14th July. This month is the quarterly Ambassador/Champion support chat. It’s a chance to share our thoughts, questions, support each other along side with a 10 minute teach section.
11th August. Guest Speaker Narinder Sheena from MapCoach-talking about Chronic pain and neurodiversity.
September 8th – Lee-Anne Brown from Lee-Anne Brown – “The nervous system, boundaries and breathwork activity”
October 6th – Shirley Lane from Balancing Butterflies – “Talking about the male menopause and the symptoms”.
November 10th – This month is the quarterly Ambassador/Champion support chat. It’s a chance to share our thoughts, questions, support each other along side with a 10 minute teach section.
December 8th – Helen Cochrane from Alvechurch Reiki– “Looking after your body and meditation session”.
January 12th 2026 – Sarah Snape from Sarah Snape Life Coaching – “Confidently setting you up for the new year”
February 9th – Anita Arscott-Brooks from ArscottBrooks – “Building Resilience”.
March 9th – This month is the quarterly Ambassador/Champion support chat. It’s a chance to share our thoughts, questions, support each other along side with a 10 minute teach section.
April 13th – Claire Elston from Elston HR Ltd “Supporting neurodiversity in the workplace”.
What a line up!
Come and join the community , we welcome you to try us for a month for free, like the group? Then it’s just £20 per month forever.
https://www.garrettlearning.co.uk/services/workplace-well-being-champion/
To try for free, please drop me an email at wendy@garrettlearning.co.uk
What’s new?
Trust the process of The Work and Wellbeing Retreat.
𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 at Wharton Park for ‘𝗔 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝘆’. We’ll think differently with Wendy’s Wonderful Workshops, band some drums, enjoy a delicious afternoon tea and end our day with a pamper session! £195 per person.
𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟲𝘁𝗵 & 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 at Studley Castle for two days/one night at the 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁. We’ll enjoy all the spa facilities including a 30-minute massage, three-course dinner, own ensuite room, buffet breakfast and some great workshops to get us thinking and doing! £425 per person.
𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 at Studley Castle for three days/two nights at the 𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁, you’ll get the workshops, breakfasts, dinners, 60-minute massage, your own room, the ultimate time to rest, reflect and reset! £675 per person.
Secure your place with a £100 non-refundable deposit. Monthly payment plans available. Please visit www.garrettlearning.co.uk/work-retreat for more details. Feel free to email wendy@garrettlearning.co.uk or 07859 878 599 with any questions.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Find out more here: www.garrettlearning.co.uk/work-retreat
Want some help?
Garrett Learning creates welcoming, memorable, and learner-focused learning experiences to reach individual and business goals. Book a discovery call with us to see how Garrett Learning ( www.garrettlearning.co.uk ) can help:
- Lunch and learn workshops
- Leadership and development sessions
- MHFA England Programmes Open courses
- Bespoke training
- 1:1 mentoring
- The Work and Wellbeing Retreat
Book a chat with Wendy here.
We (Wendy and her growing team!) are here for you when you need us. We are here to hear you! We are kind in nature and open to hearing everyone’s point of view. Our training and overall learning experiences are built to ensure you feel comfortable and can be yourself.
If you want to discuss your future plans, I’d love to hear them! Get in touch!
m: 07859 878 599
c: https://scheduler.zoom.us/garrettlearning/1-1-cuppa-and-chat
l: www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-garrett-7522bb50/
f: www.facebook.com/GarrettLearning
i: www.instagram.com/garrettlearning
t: www.tiktok.com/@garrettlearning
Y: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRq7TIWs7iqeaOvA3hdFN3w
