Meet our new Wellbeing Group
After three meetings, our new Wellbeing Group is starting to find its rhythm. Made up of colleagues from across the Council, the group’s aim is simple: to make Falkirk Council a healthier, happier and more supportive place to work.
So far, the group has helped shape the new Wellbeing Strategy - which is currently out for consultation – as well as highlighted great examples of wellbeing and good practice in action across the Council.
Over the coming months, they’ll take a deeper dive into these examples and share them via Viva Engage.
Log in to your Participate + account to share your views on two very important consultations:
Wellbeing Policy - tell us whether the policy is clear, realistic and easy to understand, and suggest any improvements.
Wellbeing Strategy - you're asked to review the draft wellbeing strategy, which covers 2025 to 2029, to ensure it is clear and relevant as well as suggest any improvements.
🔎 Who’s in the group?Â
When the call for members was made earlier this year, we received a fantastic response – thank you to everyone who put themselves forward.
After careful consideration, 13 colleagues were selected to represent all four of our service areas:
- Education: Cheryl Smyth and Karen Thomson
- Health and Social Care Partnership: Alan Green, Amy Clark, Amy Smith and James Paterson
- Place Services: Anthony Grundy and Robert Hammond
- Transformation, Communities and Corporate Services: Alison Durnan, Jennifer Watson, Natalie Moore Young, Natasha Nicol and Tatjana Sandon
Senior leadership also take part in group meetings. A different Director attends each one as an equal member of the group, listening and supporting the discussions.
đź‘‹Welcome our new chairÂ
With a new group comes a new chair, as Kenneth Lawrie, Chief Executive, passes the baton to James Paterson. James joined the Council as a graduate in 2022, securing a full-time role with the Health and Social Care Partnership two years ago. He now works as a Policy & Research Officer.
Having James as the chair reinforces what the Wellbeing Group is all about: it’s non-hierarchical. Everyone around the table is an equal, regardless of their role. Kenneth remains part of the group, this time as a colleague rather than the Chief Executive.
James said:
I’m really pleased to take on the role of chair and help take the group forward. Wellbeing at work matters to everyone, and this group gives us the space to listen, share ideas and make practical changes that can improve everyday working life. It’s been encouraging to see such open and constructive discussion from the start. Everyone’s bringing ideas and examples that could make a real difference to how we support wellbeing across the Council.
Kenneth said:
It’s been great to see the Wellbeing Group get off to such a strong start, with colleagues bringing real commitment and energy to the table. Passing over the reins to James feels like the right next step as the group continues to grow in confidence and focus. I’ll stay involved as an employee, helping make sure wellbeing remains central to how we work.
The Wellbeing Group meets quarterly and is open to anyone who wants to help improve how we look after ourselves and each other at work.
Membership is flexible, as we know work and life can get very busy and it’s not always possible to juggle everything, so if you’d like to put your name forward to be considered should someone step down from the group, please fill in the form below.