Colleague News 07.07
This article will take approximately 3 minutes to read
Published 7 Jul 2026 in Colleagues
In today's edition, catch up with our July Wellbeing Update, celebrate South Asian Heritage Month, and discover how Younity is powering up for Community Energy Fortnight.
July Wellbeing Update
This Month’s Focus…
Creating a healthy workplace means supporting both physical and mental wellbeing. This month, we’re focusing on social wellness, alcohol awareness, and understanding schizophrenia—all key aspects of a supportive and inclusive environment.
Alcohol Awareness
While alcohol is often part of social occasions, it’s important to be mindful of how much and how often we drink. Excessive alcohol use can affect both physical and mental health, including sleep, mood, and productivity.
Tips for healthier choices:
- Set personal limits and stick to them
- Have alcohol-free days each week
- Consider alternatives like low- or no-alcohol drinks
- Look out for changes in your own habits or those around you
If you feel your drinking habits are becoming difficult to manage, support is available reaching out is a positive first step.
Click here to access more information about Alcohol Advice via the NHS website
Understanding Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and perceives reality.
It can involve symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, or difficulties with concentration.
How we can support:
- Promote understanding and reduce stigma
- Be patient and compassionate
- Encourage those affected to seek professional support
- Remember: with the right care and support, many people with schizophrenia lead fulfilling lives
Click here to access more information about Schizophrenia via the NHS website
Social Wellness Month
Social wellness is about building healthy, supportive relationships. Staying connected with colleagues, friends, and family can improve mood, reduce stress, and create a sense of belonging- even small interactions can have a big positive impact.
Simple ways to boost social wellness:
- Check in with someone regularly
- Take part in team activities or community groups
- Practice active listening and empathy.
Click here for a guide to strengthening work relationships guide: Six behaviours that can help people feel valued, connected, and included at work - simple actions, anyone can take them.
Click here to create a personalised note of appreciation: a small act with meaningful impact.
Click here for twelve prompts to spark connection, day to day. Whether it’s in a meeting, a Teams channel, or a coffee catch-up.
Upcoming Events...
Social Wellness Webinar
Everymind at Work are hosting a webinar on strengthening social wellness in our community
Date: Wednesday 15th July 2026
Time: 1pm
Explore why human connection sits at the heart of wellbeing, and how stronger bonds make workplaces (and life in general!) healthier for everyone.
Click here to register.
For mental health and wellbeing support, please contact GroceryAid or speak to a Mental Health Champion. Click here for more information.
July is South Asian Heritage Month
With around one in fourteen people in the UK having South Asian heritage, South Asian communities are a vibrant and important part of British society. Their histories, cultures and contributions have helped shape modern Britain through food, music, language, enterprise, fashion and community life.
This year's theme, "Unity in Diversity," celebrates the richness of South Asian communities across the UK and around the world. Representing eight countries, hundreds of languages and multiple faiths, South Asia is a region of extraordinary diversity.
South Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate, commemorate and educate by learning more about the histories, cultures and contributions of South Asian communities.
To find out more and explore events, stories and resources, visit the South Asian Heritage Month website here.
And if you're in an operational area of the business, why not use SAHM's colouring poster to engage with your local community and help raise awareness throughout July? We've attached this here.
Everyone is welcome here.
Younity power up to Community Energy Fortnight
Supporting green community energy projects with Younity
Since 2019, Younity, our joint venture with Octopus Energy, has been supporting green community energy generation by helping to break down the barriers that co-operative community energy groups face when they are trying to start and grow. It does that through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) that guarantee to buy the clean power they generate at a fair price.
Younity has now launched the Community Power Club, a new product which can provide community energy projects with a higher price for the electricity they generate.
The tool also allows community energy organisations to share this financial benefit directly with their members, domestic households or businesses who join their ‘club’, in the form of money off their energy bills.
And the energy generated goes to deliver EnergyCoop’s Community Power Tariff; the UK’s only tariff on the market that is 100% powered by community-generated electricity.
Community energy organisations with PPAs can apply to Younity's Powering Communities Fund, a grant scheme that supports social impact projects. After recently confirming its latest round of recipients, the fund has now awarded £95,000 to 27 different organisations to date.
The launch of Community Power Club coincides with Community Energy Fortnight - a two-week annual campaign from 1-14 July that promotes local renewable energy projects, highlighting how neighbourhoods can take charge of their power and cut household bills by generating clean energy.
Michaela Cryar, Director of Younity said: “Younity, alongside OurCoop and Octopus, now works with almost 100 groups on nearly 350 projects across the country, and we're always eager to welcome more into the family. As energy costs remain a struggle for many households and businesses, the role of fully renewable community energy is even more important.”