Words by Smiley Team
A new platform is helping raise charity funds through fitness activities – and improve employee wellbeing in the process.
The WellGiving platform was designed to promote and support charitable cultures within organisations, and inspire and motivate staff to improve their physical health.
According to an analysis by Deloitte, poor mental health alone costs UK employers up to £45 billion each year. It's widely known that being active significantly improves both mental and physical health resulting in healthier, happier workplaces.
The platform is now on a mission to raise £1 million for UK charities by making every physical exercise count. Paul Rhodes, founder of WellGiving platform, tells Smiley News he was inspired to set up the platform after his own experience of becoming fitter and fundraising.
(Read more about this sport charity which is looking for challengers)
“I’m 42, and for 35 years of my life I didn’t think I was a runner," he says. "But, my cousin got me into Park Run, and I ended up doing the Birmingham half marathon for a local children’s hospice and raised about £1,000.
"I finished it and felt like a superhero! I realised that all through the training, I just kept falling back on the idea and motivation of what the charity was doing – because I’ve got kids myself – so it really helped me.
“Then, I started to explore the link between charity as a motivator for sports performance. The next year I did the race again, but I didn’t do it for charity. Even though I got a better time, it felt like a hollow victory.”
Paul says a lot of runners who love the competitive aspect have never raised money for charity. "They said it was because they didn’t want to have to ask people for donations – it was a case of the classic dreaded sponsorship form going round… so that’s what led me to come up with the idea for the WellGiving platform.”
(Read more about this woman who holds the record for cycling, raising £10,000)
The platform is open to any charity in the UK – and there’s no barrier to entry. It works with large charities like Teenage Cancer Trust and Great Ormond Street, as well as smaller charities, such as one in Reading called Creating Better Futures.
Companies sign up to WellGiving, and set their staff a collective challenge. Staff then exercise to achieve charity points, in teams, or as individuals. Employees can choose the activities they enjoy from a host of physical exercises, from walking and cycling to netball and football. Companies choose their preferred charities from partner organisations.
Once the company’s points goal is reached, they donate the funds to charity.
Last year, WellGiving raised £65,000, with a small number of charities - with the biggest singular fundraising total being more than £30,000.
You can find out more about WellGiving and how to get involved at wellgiving.co.uk.
