November 2022

2 November 2022 - Small change can make a BIG difference! Join us on international 'Giving Tuesday' 29 November 2022 and find out how.

In challenging times many people want to help but don't know how.  There are over 1 million employees supporting their chosen charity every payday - through the Payroll Giving scheme, providing a vital lifeline to them, especially during this challenging time . It is a great way to help because it is: 

• Tax-Free - donations are taken before Income tax and after NI is deducted, so every £1 donated only costs 80p 
• Flexible - colleagues can start, change, or stop donations when they want to  
• Secure - everything is processed through payroll  
• Choice- colleagues can support what is close to them 

Live webinar

• Find out more by watching our short 15 minute webinar at 1pm on Tuesday 29 November - join here.

Join them

By joining Payroll Giving, you can help charities, as your Small Change can make a BIG difference and make a huge impact on our society. It is a great way to give to your favourite causes is a vital lifeline to the charities, especially during this challenging time. 

Support your charity this November and join the Payroll Giving Scheme here.

2 November 2022 - Winter vaccines. Our best protection against flu and Covid-19

The 'Don't let your protection fade' campaign aims to encourage as many eligible people as possible to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 this winter.

Vaccines are our best protection against flu and COVID-19. But the flu virus is always changing and research shows that COVID-19 vaccine protection can fade over time, so it's important to keep protection levels topped up. That's why vaccines are now being offered to those most at risk.

Viruses can spread more quickly in winter. Vaccines offer the best possible protection from flu and COVID-19.

If you are eligible for both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines this winter, they will be given at the same time where possible. Getting both together is safe in delivering maximum protection over the winter months. Help avoid queues outside vaccine centres, please arrive as close to your appointment time as possible

Don't let your protection fade this winter.Visit www.nhsinform.scot/wintervaccines

2 November 2022 - Let's talk about money!

As we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and with current cost-of-living pressures, it's more important than ever that we get support for money worries.

Research shows that people who talk about money:

• make better and less risky financial decisions
• have stronger personal relationships
• help their children form good lifetime money habits
• feel less stressed or anxious and more in control.

Building money conversations into our everyday lives also helps us build financial confidence and resilience to face whatever the future throws at us.

If you need to talk to someone - come and have a chat

• Paul Rytel from the Glasgow Credit Union will have a stall from 8.30am in the 40 John Street reception area during Talk Money Week on Thursday 10 November.
• Why not pop in and have a chat, Paul can tell you about the support Glasgow Credit Union can provide - in particular around building personal financial resilience and wellbeing.
• For more information on where to access free, impartial and confidential money advice and support, visit our workforce wellbeing support web pages which includes Your financial wellbeing - key advice and support factsheet [79kb] -a list of some of the recommended Government approved pathways that are available to you.

2 November 2022 - Identify and manage stress: top tips

Millions around the UK experience stress and find it difficult to cope with the levels of stress in our lives, International Stress Awareness Week is here to raise awareness about stress issues, breaking stigmas, and highlight stress prevention.

The theme this year is 'Working together to build resilience and reduce stress.'  Stress is our body's response to pressures and can show in many different ways - it's the feeling of being overwhelmed and finding it difficult to cope emotionally or mentally.  Taking the time to identify the emotional and mental pressures in our lives, addressing them and building our resilience is a good way to understand and protect our mental and physical wellbeing.

Tips on how to help identify and manage stress:

• Stress Diary -keeping a stress diary will help you identify things that 'trigger' your stress levels.  You can analyse this and find ways to help change this.
• Get Practical Advice - you may be able to take steps to change the cause of your stress by seeking practical advice on issues you are worried about such as, housing, benefits, money or employment.
• Budgets -making a budget can help you work out what you can afford to pay each month if you have money stress. There are places that can help you get advice and support such as StepChange, Citizens Advice and National Debtline.  We also have a financial support factsheet on our staff website here
• Talk to someone - telling someone how you feel can help relieve your stress, helping you to 'offload' your worries and getting support and advice.
• Making Lifestyle Changes -limiting your caffeine intake can help you sleep better and reduce stress levels; exercising can relieve stress and help you stay healthy - you can do lots of different things such as walking, gym, or gardening.

Staff Support:

• Visit Our Health and Wellbeing Handbook which brings together information, resources, and recommended pathways to support for stress management. 

2 November 2022 - However you Mo, will save a Bro: Men's Health Awareness Month

November is Men's Health Awareness Month - a month dedicated to raising awareness to a wide range of men's health issues.

Men tend to be more reluctant to seek help or treatment for their struggles, but it's important to remember that you are not alone and there is someone always there to listen and support you.

Movember.UK are taking action and addressing and educating on some of the biggest health issues face by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.

Get Involved

'However you Mo, will save a Bro:'

• Grow a Mo - whatever mo you grow, your face will raise funds and awareness for men's mental health. 
• Make a Mo- Make a move: run or walk 60km over the month of November for the 60 men lost to suicide each hour across the world
• Host a Mo-ment - Rally a crew and do something fun and easy, virtual or in person.  Hosting a 'mo-ment' is about having fun for a good cause
• Mo your own way- whether it's a test of physical endurance or something else, a day or several weeks, take whatever your 'mo your own way' means to you and help raise some money for an important cause

To find out more about Men's Health, the Movember campaign and sign up, visit: https://uk.movember.com/?home

Staff Support

• You can access free, confidential, independent advice and counselling support 24/7 from our Employee Assistance Provider - phone Workplace Options on: 0800 247 1100. Please note: to access Workplace Options online, please follow the process found on Connect here

2 November 2022 - Glasgow's Santa Dash Returns for First Time in Three Years

The much-loved Christmas event will return to the city on Sunday December 11 at 10am and anyone keen to take part is under starters orders - as registration is now OPEN!

A new route around Glasgow Green and the Gorbals will be in place for the iconic 5K family fun run and this year's event will also be more sustainable. Reusable T-shirts printed with Santa suits will replace the old single use costumes.

Runners who take part in the sponsored event can raise funds for their chosen charity and any profits from the event will be split between the Beatson Cancer Charity and the Lord Provost's Children's Fund.

Anyone keen to raise sponsorship for the Beatson Cancer Charity can also do so via their JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/glasgow-santa-dash2022

Participants can enjoy free bus travel to and from the event courtesy of First Bus. Registered runners can download the First Bus app and enter a code which will be included in their entry pack to receive free bus travel on the day.

Glasgow's first Santa Dash took place in 2006 and quickly became a firm favourite in the city's events calendar. It attracted 8000 runners in 2018 and has raised more than £350,000 for various charities since it started. The pandemic has prevented the live event taking place in recent years but it is now back due to popular demand!

Register to take part in the Santa Dash at www.glasgow.gov.uk/santadash

Entry costs £15 per adult and £5 per child under the age of 16 years. Registration closes on Friday December 9th at 4pm. Families can bring babies in prams to take part in the run as well as dogs - but will be in the last group to set off for safety reasons. Run numbers and T-shirts will be available for collection from a central location ahead of the event. Details will be confirmed to those who have registered next month.

2 November 2022 - Check out the Celtic Connections - 30th Anniversary Festival programme

Celtic Connections, the home of world-class music, one-off collaborations, and genre-defying spectacles, will be back this January to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Celtic Connections 2023 will mark this milestone with an ambitious and eclectic programme of music that will be showcased between Thursday 19 January and Sunday 5 February 2023. Fiddler Eric Linklater and singer-songwriter Beth Malcolm (pictured) helped to launch our 30th edition by performing on the steps of Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Tuesday this week.

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: "Our 30th anniversary is a hugely important moment for the festival, especially considering the last couple of years. We will, of course, be paying homage to the musicians, bands and artists who have contributed, supported and inspired the festival over the last three decades, but importantly this is also a moment to look to the future. The last two years have been incredibly tough for so many musicians and the live entertainment industry in general, so Celtic Connections 2023 is an opportunity to commemorate how far the festival and the Scottish music scene has come, and to also celebrate the fact that we are still here."

You can read here  Details of the full Celtic Connections 2023 programme, and the artists taking part, are available at celticconnections.com.

2 November 2022 - Stonewall staff survey - have your say

Following our success in achieving the Stonewall Bronze Employer award last year we have once again submitted to Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index in line with our Equality Outcomes for 2021 to 2025.

The Workplace Equality Index will highlight areas where we are performing well as an LGBTI+ inclusive employer, but also enables us to focus in on the areas where we can improve.

As part of this work, Stonewall is keen to hear the views of Glasgow City Council's employees directly. The information and views you provide are anonymous and completely confidential. Stonewall don't report publicly or feedback to us any responses that may be personally identifiable.

The survey will be open until 23:59 on Friday, 25 November.

Access the survey here

2 November 2022 - Staff ticket offer - Billie Jean King Cup 8-13 November 2022

Great Britain will host the 2022 finals of the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge next week, providing the culmination to what is a stellar year for women's sport in Britain. The finals of the premier team competition in international women's tennis will be played in Glasgow and will be coming to the UK for the first time since 1991.

The finals will be hosted at the Emirates Arena across 8-13 November, and will see 12 teams, including Great Britain as host nation, compete to win the rose bowl trophy.

Don't miss your chance to watch tennis stars from around the world in the World Cup of tennis. Buy your tickets at www.billiejeankingcup.lta.org.uk and use code BJKCGLfor an exclusive 20% off.