A health through physical activity initiative at IT Sligo has been honoured by the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF).
It is the only educational organisation to receive an accolade in the IHF’s inaugural Active@Work Awards.
The scheme recognises achievements by employers in providing sustainable programmes that encourage a culture of physical activity among employees.
The heart and stroke charity presented awards to 19 workplace sites. Winning entries came from the public, private and voluntary sectors. IT Sligo won a bronze award.
IT Sligo’s health promotion drive was designed and led by its Health and Safety Officer, Yvonne Roache.
An eight-week “Campus Wellness Programme” for staff and students and a rigorous “Employee Wellness Challenge” taken by 16 staff members were components of the Institute’s successful entry.
The IHF says it has seen very positive growth and sustained interest among employers in promoting the health of employees. The charity believes this is in part due to an economic climate where employers are looking to boost morale, and partly driven by epidemic levels of overweight and obesity among Irish adults.
Yvonne Roache said: “We are delighted to receive this award from the IHF. The programme was a campus wide initiative with participation from all departments and the student population. It is a stamp of approval from the Irish Heart Foundation that will make us even more determined to understand the vital necessity of personal wellness and the importance of the disciplines and practices that feed into it.”
Photo caption Bridie Gaughan, a “Employee Wellness Challenge” participant at IT Sligo, with Yvonne Roache, IT Sligo Health and Safety Officer, when they were presented with an Active@Work Award by Professor Declan Sugrue, President of the Irish Heart Foundation.