Latest news with #CHES
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
BBC Make a Difference announces Cornwall animal award shortlist
The founder of a pony sanctuary and a woman who dedicates hours to finding lost dogs are in the running for a BBC Radio Cornwall Make A Difference Award nominations for the animal category also feature one man and his Pets As Therapy dog and the founder of a shelter for small awards, which are in their fourth year, recognise and celebrate people who genuinely make a difference in their communities across nominees' stories are inspiring examples of Cornish community spirit. At the Community and Hospital Education Service (CHES) sites in Cornwall, Tony Nicolson and Beven the labrador are familiar and much-loved service teaches children who are too unwell to attend mainstream and Beven are part of the 'Pets as Therapy' team, there to help young people who are feeling sad, anxious or his big brown eyes, Beven is a picture of calm and affection as students pop in for a stroke, a cuddle or even to read him a story."Why do I do it?" said Tony. "Because I'm retired, Beven is such a friendly dog, he loves everybody and everything. "They're not with us for very long and I just wanted to share him with everybody else."Beven is also a witness support dog at Truro Crown Court. Maria Mulkeen started Marias Animal Shelter 25 years the hutches and runs at the centre near Probus are full of more than 100 rabbits, guinea pigs and other small and her small team of volunteers offer advice, a place to bring injured or sick animals and a rescue and rehoming service. For some it is a "forever home" - the oldest rabbit resident lived here for 17 admitted the shelter had become her life, saying: "I could see all the animals that needed help and there was nothing in Cornwall. "The longer I've done it, the more I know we need to do more education, there are some cases that are so cruel, the things we see here is horrific."They're misunderstood, we're trying to change that with education and making life better for them." The Bodmin Moorland Pony Rehabilitation charity was founded in 2014 when Shelley Oldfield was asked to help four semi-feral ponies from Bodmin Moor,She said they were "close to death" when they than 10 years later, she is still doing it, inspired by her love for the said: "Generally they're completely wild when they come to us, many have had welfare issues such as malnutrition."We get them well, we encourage them to learn trust and we then find them homes where possible."They're incredible, they're so resilient, they are just the most beautiful souls and we do what little we can do as a small organisation to help them." For the last decade Maxine Young has been the volunteer co-ordinator of Dog Lost Cornwall, advising distraught people whose dogs have run off what to do next, as well as organising and joining the said it was an all-consuming passion - she spends hours running the organisation's social media pages and often has a bag of chopped liver, binoculars and a slip lead in her bag. Maxine also uses humane cage traps, remotely-trigged trail cameras and a thermal imagining scope to track down missing pets."I saw an article about the woman who set up the Dog Lost website, read her story and decided I wanted to help out," she said."I've also got dogs myself so if my dogs went missing I would want to know there was somebody out there to support me, to help me, and just be a back-up if I couldn't do things." The winners of the BBC Radio Cornwall Make A Difference Awards 2025 will be revealed at a ceremony in Falmouth in September.
Forbes
05-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Wellness Jobs: What These Roles Actually Do
Getty Contrary to popular belief, wellness isn't about kombucha drinks or lunchtime yoga. It's a strategic choice that leaders must make to cultivate a healthy, high-performing workforce. But can it be an actual career path worth considering? Many still view wellness as a nice-to-have perk or an HR add-on at best. That perspective is outdated. Wellness has rapidly become an integral leadership responsibility, demanding as much strategy and rigor as marketing, sales, or R&D. Organizations need skilled professionals—not vitamin cheerleaders—who can design measurable, meaningful wellness initiatives that tangibly enhance employee performance. It's a legitimate leadership role and career path, ripe for those ready to tackle human potential head-on. Health and wellness roles are fundamentally designed to drive individual and organizational performance through proactive health strategies. Think of it as the intersection where employee productivity meets public health, focusing more on preventing burnout than managing it after it occurs. Effective wellness professionals act as strategic advisors on human performance, operating at the crossroads of HR, operations, and health management. The goal of wellness roles is to transform employee health and wellbeing data into actionable strategies that enhance morale, boost organizational resilience, and improve the overall health of team members. The results? Employees become healthier, organizational performance improves, and there are potential bottom-line financial savings on health insurance plans. Healthier employees are likely to utilize Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and other health services less frequently, which can lead to bottom-line savings for organizations. A 2024 report by Wellhub (formerly Gympass) revealed that 95% of companies that measured their wellness initiatives' return on investment (ROI) observed positive returns. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of the organizations identified by Wellhub reported at least a $2 return for every $1 invested in wellness. This aligns with findings from a 2022 study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which determined that employer-sponsored wellness programs yielded a 47% average ROI, translating to $1.47 in financial benefits for every dollar spent. Wellness roles are increasingly becoming a critical success factor for an organization's employee experience strategy. Some of the job titles in wellness include: While not necessarily on par with an MBA or credentials in the wellness field are increasingly becoming a requirement rather than a nice-to-have. Organizations seeking to hire wellness professionals often look for health sciences or psychology backgrounds complemented by recognized certifications such as Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP). Experience is equally important, particularly in roles where you've translated wellness programs into measurable business outcomes. Demonstrating a track record of implementing successful wellness initiatives can set you apart in this evolving field. Pursuing a career in wellness is far from charity work; compensation reflects the value these roles bring to organizations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health education specialists earn a median annual wage of $62,860, with those in hospitals earning up to $79,460. Glassdoor notes Wellness Program Managers average around $81,715 per year. Senior wellness executives often command six-figure salaries, which underscores the financial viability of this particular career path. That stated, compensation alone will not fully capture the impact of a wellness role. It does, however, raise the age-old debate of purpose versus passion. Like with any career change, when you consider a shift toward a wellness role, it will be crucial for you to distinguish between passion and purpose. While passion might initially be a driving force, passion often can wane. On the other hand, purpose fuels long-term success and fulfillment. Transitioning into a wellness role should be about what gives you a sense of meaning and the ability to drive tangible results for the people you serve. Networking is a great place to start if you're contemplating a wellness career shift. Engage with respected groups like the National Wellness Institute or the International Association for Worksite Health Promotion. Consider connecting with professionals with similar backgrounds and roles on LinkedIn and seek informational interviews to learn more. A wellness role may not be suitable for everyone. It demands strategic acumen, organizational savvy, and a commitment to measurable impact. Wellness today requires hard-headed strategic thinkers—people capable of persuading skeptical executives, measuring complex human dynamics, and improving tangible organizational outcomes. The field suits people seeking more meaningful roles working with people, mid-career managers frustrated by superficial corporate health efforts, or rising leaders comfortable with metrics-driven approaches. Wellness roles reward pragmatism and strategic thinking—skills not typically associated with wellness but increasingly essential. Given wellness has now become a measurable and strategic career path, it may be an option for you to step into a role that genuinely impacts people, performance, and purpose.
