1. The Wellbeing Zone is a free online resource, provided through the Defence Police Federation Welfare portfolio and Police Mutual, to create a personal profile for wellbeing and lifestyle goals.
2. The Wellbeing Zone is free to all staff within the MDP, both Police and Non-Uniform Civilians and is completely secure and confidential to individuals. It aims to give you and your family access to a range of professionally constructed health and fitness programmes, covering all aspects of wellbeing, including physical fitness, stress levels, weight management, healthy eating and access to expert advice.
3. The purpose of introducing to MDP personnel is there is increasing recognition of the need for us all to adopt a healthier lifestyle, both from a personal and a professional perspective. Indeed a lack of physical activity and an unhealthy diet can lead to serious long-term health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. The Wellbeing Zone is a tool that can help you assess your own wellbeing and seek guidance on how to improve it.
4. Accessed via the internet, with available Apple or Android apps, the Wellbeing Zone is available to all Police employees and their families, providing 24-7 access to a range of professionally constructed health and fitness programmes covering all aspects of your wellbeing, including:
- Improving your general health
- Losing weight
- Getting fitter
- Eating more healthily
- Managing Stress
5. The Zone seeks to address 10 areas of wellbeing:
- Activity
- Weight
- Healthy
- Eating
- Sleep Resilience / Mental Wellbeing
- Caffeine
- Water
- Money
- Alcohol
- Smoking
6. A ‘Wellness Score’ is generated out of 100, which provides an indication of how well you are doing in each of the ten wellness areas. The objective is to provide an overview of the areas in which you are doing well and those where there is room for improvement. You then have the opportunity to set related goals and progress towards meeting that goal.
7. The assessment programme takes you through all 10 areas, and allows you to set realistic goals and track your progress and follow your own personal fitness programmes. The programmes are split into three areas, ‘Mindfullness’, ‘Activity’ and ‘Healthy Eating’ and include:
- Health & wellbeing advice for night and shift workers
- Stress & money worries
- High blood pressure & heart disease
- Relaxation techniques
- Getting ready for the bleep test
- Coping with stress at work
- The three components of fitness
- Video tips for being more active
- Building activity into your life
- Eating a well-balanced and healthy diet
8. The site has sections for setting personal goals, a catalogue of recipes and a community area for discussions. It also has a section for logging activity, sleep, waist measurements, caffeine and alcohol intake, and smoking, and can also be linked to Fitbit or Strava accounts.
9. All officers and staff are encouraged to log on to the MDP Wellbeing Zone and utilise this free resource. Mindful of MDP officers need to undertake fitness testing the MDP Wellbeing Zone is another tool to help prepare people for that challenge
10. To join the MDP Wellbeing Zone please copy the link below into Google Chrome, and use the organisation code: mdp1
The ‘PMF Wellbeing’ App is also available for both Apple and Android devices.
11. All documents can be found in the following locations:
Dii: MDP MOSS > Business Functions > Capability & Sickness Management > 02-Key Documents > MDP Wellbeing Zone
MDPNet: R Drive > Corporate Services > Performance & Attendance Unit > 03-Policy & Process > 05-MDP Wellbeing Zone
12. Any queries should be directed to one of the following:
Kathryn Bunyan, MDP PAU: 01371 854968 or kathryn.bunyan680@mod.uk
Claire Batt MDP PAU (DPF Welfare Officer): 01371 854361 or claire.batt412@mod.uk
Maggie Kelly, Fitness Assessor: 01371 854066 or margaret.kelly777@mod.uk
Patricia Obende, OH Clinical Lead: 01371 854515 patricia.obende100@mod.uk
Or alternatively the PAU group email address: MDP-PAU-Group@mod.uk
