Event

Event

The State Apartments of Speaker’s House tour

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You can now book a one-hour, fully-accessible tour of the State Apartments of the Speaker’s House, which includes the Grand Staircase, the Crimson Drawing Room, the State Dining Room, and the State Bedroom. The tour starts and finishes in Westminster Hall which you are welcome to explore afterwards.

See here for full details and booking: https://ukparliament.seetickets.com/timeslot/the-state-apartments-of-speaker-s-house-tour

Time to Talk Day 2022

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To mark Time to Talk day this year, we will be running a series of events from Thursday 3 February. Over five days we will hear from colleagues across Parliament, who will share their experience of living with a mental health problem.

Join our Time to Talk Day campaign and let’s start talking about mental health:

  • Thursday 3: Anxiety. Online live session, 10.30-11am
  • Friday 4: Burnout. Blog Post
  • Monday 7: Depression. Online live session, 10.30-11am and Blog Post.
  • Tuesday 8: Bulimia. Online live session,10.30-11am
  • Wednesday 9: Having conversations about mental health. Online live session, 10.30-11am.

To sign-up email PHWS@parliament.uk or visit the H&W Learning Hub.

If you are on the Estate tomorrow (Thursday 3 February 2022), come and visit our Wellbeing Stall in Portcullis House Atrium to find out more about the wellbeing services available

WWG – Talk from Hope Virgo on Eating Disorders

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Thursday 20th January at 2pm

Hope Virgo is an Author, Founder of #DumpThe Scales Campaign and a multi award winning international leading advocate for people with eating disorders as well as being a recognised media spokesperson, having appeared on various platforms including BBC Newsnight, Victoria Derbyshire, Good Morning Britain, Sky News and BBC News.

For four years, Hope managed to keep her eating disorder hidden, keeping dark secrets from friends and family. But then, on 17th November 2007, Hope’s world changed forever. She was admitted to a mental health hospital. Her skin was yellowing, her heart was failing, she was barely recognizable. Forced to leave her family and friends, the hospital became her home. Over the next year, at her lowest ebb, Hope faced the biggest challenge of her life. She had to find the courage to beat her anorexia.

In today’s session you will hear a harrowing but inspiring story of recovery, get practical advice on how to manage your wellbeing and know how to talk to those around you who may be impacted by eating disorders.  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopevirgo_/?hl=en

To register for this event, please email mpsstaff-wwg@parliament.uk

Working Mind Six Week Online Mindfulness Course – starts 20 January

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As we approach the new year, many of us will be looking ahead at the next 12 months, setting new year’s resolutions, and vowing to make positive changes in our lives. This new year, why not resolve to be more mindful for 2022?

Mindfulness promotes resilience and wellbeing. It can help us to manage change and uncertainty, which will be particularly valuable as we navigate the unknowns of the new year.

We invite you to take part in the Working Mind six-week mindfulness course, open to members’ staff of either House. Sessions will take place every Thursday 12-1pm from 20 January to 24 February. Book your place via ACTor email PHWS@parliament.uk

The six-week course is an opportunity to experience the principles and practices of mindfulness, and explore how mindfulness can help you thrive inside and outside of the workplace. The course will be delivered by Awaris and will take place online via Zoom.

Not sure if mindfulness is for you? A Mindfulness Taster session will take place on Wednesday 12 January, 9.30-10am. This workshop will introduce you to mindfulness as a way of reclaiming your attention and developing greater focus, clarity and wellbeing. It is suitable both as a stand-alone session, and as a taster for those interested in signing up for one of our longer mindfulness courses. Book your place.

For further details about the mindfulness course, please email PHWS@parliament.uk

Managing your Money Worries Webinar -18 January

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At this time of year, it is not unusual for many of us to experience financial anxiety or the “January blues”. After all, our spending often goes up during the festive season which can lead to increased financial pressures in the new year. Our finances underpin most areas of our lives and money problems can cause serious issues— even affecting our mental health…

Join us for a financial wellbeing workshop on Tuesday 18 January, 2-3pm. Book your place on the Health & Wellbeing learning hub on ACT or email PHWS@parliament.uk

The session will offer expert, non-judgemental advice on how to manage your money worries. You will learn how financial wellbeing and mental wellbeing are linked—and how to improve both in one fell swoop. The session will also cover:

  • Key facts behind financial wellbeing, and the ways they affect our mental health
  • The emotional impact of money worries, as well as the physical toll
  • Practical tips and advice on managing money, using credit wisely, and being financially aware

The session will be delivered by Joy Whitehead from Health Assured, our EAP provider. If you have any questions about the session email PHWS@parliament.uk

Laughter Workshop – Monday 17 January

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Laugh away the January Blues with a laughter workshop, hosted by Lotte Mikkelsen.

You have probably heard the saying that “laughter is the best medicine” – but its more than an old wives tale – laughing can really benefit your health and wellbeing. By laughing we release natural feel-good chemicals into our body, which lower our stress levels and put us in a much more positive frame of mind.

Join us for a laughter workshop on Monday 17 January, 12-12.30pm. You are guaranteed to leave the session feeling reenergised and ready to take on Blue Monday with a smile!  Book your place on the H&W learning hub or email PHWS@parliament.uk

The session will be hosted by Lotte Mikklesen, leading laughter yoga expert. Lotte has worked with clients such as Google, Barclays and the NHS, and has also featured several times on ITV

Elizabeth Tower: from construction to conservation

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Online talk – 11:00 – 30 December 2021

Shrouded in scaffolding since 2017, the Elizabeth Tower is under repair from the gilt cross and orb at its tip, to the bottom of its 334-step staircase. These monthly talks explore the story of the clock tower from its beginnings, to the most complex conservation project in its history.

Discover how and why the Elizabeth Tower, the Great Clock and the Great Bell, Big Ben, were built and learn about the enormous task of restoring the tower to its former glory, as it is modernised to make it fit for the 21st century. This vital conservation work will ensure that this iconic building, situated on a UNESCO World Heritage site, is safeguarded for future generations to visit and enjoy.

At the end of the talk, 15 minutes are available for you to ask questions.

This is an online event and will be hosted on Microsoft Teams Live Events which you can access through web browsers like Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge. Safari is not currently supported. You do not need a Microsoft account to join the event. We will send full details of how to join the event online following registration.

https://ukparliament.seetickets.com/timeslot/elizabeth-tower-from-construction-to-conservation

Meet the people behind Big Ben: The Cumbria Clock Company

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Online talk – 18:00 – 20 January 2022

Join this talk by Keith Scobie-Youngs, director and co-founder of The Cumbria Clock Company, to find out about the recent conservation of the Great Clock of Westminster. Keith and his team, along with UK Parliament’s clock mechanics, painstakingly cleaned, repaired, and restored more than 1,000 components at their workshop in the village of Dacre near Penrith.

This was the first time that the entire mechanism had been removed from its home in the Elizabeth Tower. Keith will discuss much of the work including designing and making the temporary clock hands and drive units, removing the clock movement, fitting the original clock hands, and installing the going train and getting it ticking for 2022.

At the end of the talk, 20 minutes are available for you to ask questions.

This is an online event and will be hosted on Microsoft Teams Live Events which you can access through web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge. Safari is not currently supported. You do not need a Microsoft account to join the event. We will send full details of how to join the event online following registration.

For further information and booking, please see here: https://ukparliament.seetickets.com/event/people-behind-big-ben/online/2179504

Held In Our Hearts – Pregnancy & Baby Loss

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Tuesday 7th December at 2.45pm

Pregnancy and baby loss can have an enormous impact on a family and the ripples of grief can be felt for a lifetime. Being well supported emotionally both at home and in the workplace can help families feel less alone and validate their grief and complex feelings.

Held In Our Hearts have 40 years of experience providing free baby loss counselling and support to bereaved parents. This talk will be presented by Nicola Welsh (CEO) who is bereaved herself and will focus on the impact of loss and good examples of support offered to families returning to work after the loss of their baby.

Please RSVP to mpsstaff-wwg@parliament.uk