This week has seen companies all over the UK come out in force to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week, and its 2021 theme of nature. Leading the way was online nutrition retailer Science in Sport, who enlisted the help of FormScore Founder, Rob Stephenson.

“In light of this year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week, we wanted to encourage our colleagues to go outside, connect with nature and share how nature can inspire us to be creative, help us heal, and above all remind us to have fun and appreciate nature.” Yolandie Moore, People Partner at Science in Sport.

Mental Health Awareness Week aims to get people talking about their mental health in a bid to smash the stigma that can prevent people from seeking help. With that in mind, Science in Sport decided to bring its people together by launching a daily ‘Nature Challenge’ – encouraging people to get outside, kick off their shoes, and feel the grass between their toes.

The week kicked off with a motivational talk from Rob on how beneficial nature is for wellbeing, followed by:

• Outdoor mindfulness on Tuesday

• Outdoor yoga on Wednesday

• Garden scavenger hunt on Thursday

• Outdoor sound gong on Friday

Beyond this week, Science in Sport is challenging its employees to spend seven hours a week in nature over the course of the next month. And we’d encourage you to do the same!

Whether you choose to work outside, exercise outside, socialise outside, or get creative outside, try to spend an hour a day in the great outdoors. If you’re an employer reading this, why not set aside an hour or two each week to bring your colleagues together outdoors, and get the mental health conversation going?

Best practice…in practice

We believe that businesses can all learn from one another, which is why we plan on profiling an exemplary employer in every future edition of Friday Form. If you think your company deserves a mention, or you know someone who does, get in touch with us at hello@formscore.today.