Our Conference is a unique opportunity to access invaluable knowledge and tips. It also offers the chance to be part of something bigger too – a community of people who come together virtually from all departments across the UK to learn, share and support each other when times get tough.
Sometimes we struggle to find time for looking after our own mental health and wellbeing – or that of people close to us. Together, we can learn to support ourselves and others, simply by registering for a free place to attend our virtual Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference.
There’s something for everyone – from an opportunity to understand sleeping for peak performance, the impact of grief on children and young people, how good nutrition can support your mental health with a mood enhancing cookery demonstration and much more. So whether you attend one, several or all of the sessions – register now and join us this October.
Jonathan Freeman, Charity for Civil Servants’ CEO, welcomes you to the Conference followed by an introduction to the Charity’s services from Steve Kembrey, Outreach Coordinator.
Supporting children and young people who Self Harm
11am-12noon
Grassroots
Join this powerful session designed to equip you with the skills needed to support the children and young people in your life or at work who might be self-harming. This session will include:
understanding self-harm
recognising phyisical, behavioural and emotional indicators
providing support through effective communication, immediate actions, long term strategies and addressing CAMHS waiting lists
an interactive scenario
Thriving in the Civil Service
2-3pm
Thrive
This session is designed to empower civil servants to address mental health challenges within their professional environment, providing insights and actionable tools to effectively manage these pressing issues.
The workshop highlights the significant impact of mental health, the concerning gap between the demand for mental health support and the stigma that prevents many individuals from seeking help.
Attendees will deepen their understanding of mental health, acquire actionable stress management techniques, and feel empowered to cultivate a healthier and more fulfilling work environment.
Tuesday 8 October
Impact of grief on children and young people
9:30-10:30am
Winston’s Wish
Grief is complex, complicated and messy. Whilst everyone grieves differently there are some common threads and themes that can be helpful to know. Join Winston’s Wish to find out more about the impact of grief on children and young people, common feelings and ways to cope.
Winston’s Wish, the UK’s first childhood bereavement charity, has been providing emotional and practical support to grieving children and young people, and those who care for them, for over 30 years.
Live session only – not available on demand.
Sleeping for Peak Performance
11am-12noon
Sophie Bostock, Sleep Scientist
Can you learn to adapt to short sleep? How can you switch off a racing mind?
We all know that sleep’s important, but limited resources and growing needs can mean we may feel we are always under pressure to do more. In this session, sleep scientist Dr. Sophie Bostock reveals the hidden costs of sleep loss for leaders and their teams, exploring how sleep works, how to prevent stress from disrupting recovery, and how to boost energy and focus at crunch time.
All things OCD
2-3pm
OCD Network
In this session, the OCD Network want to educate colleagues on all things OCD.
The network includes colleagues who experience OCD first hand, are carers for people with OCD or are just people who want to learn about the illness. Whatever their members’ backgrounds, the network is all about busting misconceptions and helping people seek support for the condition.
Wednesday 9 October
Absenteeism and Presenteeism
9:30-10:30am
Relate
Absenteeism and presenteeism are significant productivity killers in the workplace, often stemming from the quality of both external and internal relationships.
This session explores how personal and professional relationships directly impact employee engagement, wellbeing and performance. By understanding these dynamics, we can develop strategies to foster a supportive work environment, reduce absenteeism and mitigate presenteeism. Discover actionable insights and practical solutions that will enhance workplace relationships, boost morale and ultimately drive productivity and organisational success.
Hearing loss and mental health
11am-12noon
Civil Service Deaf and Hard of Hearing Network
CSDHHN is a staff network in the Civil Service raising awareness of all forms of hearing loss, encouraging best practice across all Civil Service Departments and sharing the lived experience and how to cope with work and everyday life.
They want to raise awareness of the link between hearing loss and the increased likelihood of suffering from mental health problems, not just the affected person but family and friends as well. In this session, they’ll discuss the ‘lived’ experience of how people living with hearing loss cope.
Why We Should All Be Talking About Men's Health
2-3pm
Men’s Health Network
Talking about men’s health is just a man’s issue, right? Well, the Men’s Health Network don’t agree, so they’ll explore why we should all be talking about men’s health, particularly the important role of women in the health of the men in their lives.
By opening discussions in the workplace, we can all look at how health issues relate to, and impact men, be that yourself, partner, friend, relation, or colleague.
Thursday 10 October
Living well with dementia
9:30-10:30am
Dementia UK and Cross Government Carers Network
Dementia is a huge and growing health crisis and should be on everyone’s mind. But it’s also a subject many people don’t want to think or talk about. For many, it’s simply too frightening or misunderstood, and this stigma can surround dementia in silence. We know the reality of living with dementia can be difficult so enabling people to continue to live well with dementia is important.
Pam Kehoe, lead Admiral Nurse for Dementia at Work, along with Emma Bould and Erika Reynolds from the Cross Government Carers Network, tell us more about Admiral Nurses and discuss the experience of dementia with a focus on the impact that dementia may have on families.
All you need to know about Powers of Attorney
11am-12noon
Law Express
We take out insurance in our day to day lives, to manage risks and the unexpected. But what if something was to happen and you no longer had the ability to manage decisions for yourself? Important decisions about your health or your welfare, or regarding property you may own, or your finances?
In this session Law Express will be talking about the solution and why it’s imperative to consider obtaining a Power of Attorney.
Good nutrition and mental health
2-3pm
Vital Nutrition
Join Vital Nutrition’s Jane McClenaghan live from her kitchen to find out how good nutrition can support your mental health. As well as a mood enhancing cookery demo, you’ll discover:
why sugar and caffeine only provide a temporary boost
the ingredients of a perfect ‘Mind Meal’ to help lift mood
simple changes you can make immediately to help boost your endorphins
why a low fat diet may be a contributing factor in depression and low mood
Friday 11 October
Autistic Wellbeing at Work
9:30-10:30am
Cross Government Autism Network (CGAN)
CGAN is a Civil Service staff network. Their mission is to improve the experiences of autistic civil servants and to support and educate non-autistic allies in the Civil Service. In this session, they’ll discuss:
what autism is and how it can affect our wellbeing at work
some wellbeing strategies
how and where autistic people can get work-related help
supporting and managing autistic colleagues and their wellbeing
An Introduction to the Science of Happier Living
11am-12noon
Action for Happiness
In this engaging and practical session expert Vanessa King will share evidence from psychology, neuroscience and the broader science of wellbeing on why our happiness needs to be taken seriously – as individuals, colleagues, leaders and for our communities – both at home and at work. She’ll help us unpack what science shows are some of its essential ingredients and practical tactics within our control to try. You’ll come away with ideas and actions to try out in our daily lives at work and at home.
Looking After Your Wellbeing and Closing Thanks
2-3pm
Charity for Civil Servants
Kath Cheer from the Wellbeing Team at the Charity for Civil Servants will deliver a session on looking after your wellbeing. This will include:
Raising awareness of the impact too much stress can have on our mental health and wellbeing
Reflecting on the steps we can take to look after our wellbeing
A few minutes of mindfulness
This will be followed by a closing thank you from Jonathan Freeman, CEO of the Charity for Civil Servants.
Jonathan joined the Charity for Civil Servants as CEO in September 2024 having previously been the founder and Chief Executive of the CareTech Foundation, the leading corporate foundation in the social care sector. His career started in the Civil Service working across a range of policy, delivery, strategic and front line roles in a number of Government Departments. Jonathan was recognised with an MBE for charitable services in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2021.
Agnes Munday, Grassroots
Supporting Children and Young People Who Self-Harm
Join Agnes on 7 October, 11am-12noon
Agnes Munday, BA Hons PGCE UKPHR is a dynamic force committed to transforming lives. As the Head of Training at Grassroots Suicide Prevention, she’s reshaping how professionals approach suicide and self-harm making Grassroots the go-to destination for transformative training programs in the UK. Her expertise and passion for making a difference in our communities has seen her crafting innovative interventions and training programmes for over 25 years in a range of sectors. Agnes enjoys dancing, painting, sea swimming throughout the year, and loves to create stories and games for her grandchildren.
Katrina Thomas, Thrive
Thriving in the Civil Service
Join Katrina on 7 October, 2-3pm
Katrina’s focus as a senior associate is creating and delivering programs for Thrive. She has an MSc in Occupational Psychology from Goldsmiths, University of London, giving her skills in leadership, coaching, and counselling. With experience as a teacher, trainer, and Business Psychologist, she’s helped to improve many workplace environments. She’s also conducted research on leadership changes within education, presenting twice at the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology. Her passion for education and psychology drives her to enhance productivity, empathy, and team dynamics.
Nicola Ellis-Jones, Winston's Wish
The Impact of Grief on Children and Young People
Join Nicola on 8 October, 9:30-10:30am
As a training partnerships practitioner for Winston’s Wish, Nicola is part of a team who provides training for teachers, youth workers and other professionals to enable them to better support grieving children and young people in their care. On average, 1 in every 29 children will be bereaved of a parent or sibling – that’s one per class.
Sophie Bostock
Sleeping for Peak Performance
Join Sophie on 8 October, 11am-12noon
Dr. Sophie Bostock holds a PhD in Psychobiology and researches the links between sleep, wellbeing, health and performance. She is a renowned keynote speaker, trainer and media sleep expert. Sophie has competed for GBR in coastal rowing and outrigger canoeing, and will attempt to row across the Atlantic solo in 2026.
Alexia Cowley, OCD Network
All Things OCD
Join Alexia on 8 October, 2-3pm
Alexia is Chief of Staff for the Communication Directorate within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and also co-chair of the Civil Service OCD network having founded the network in 2021. She’s experienced OCD first hand and wants to share her lived experience of it.
Rebecca Hoare, OCD Network
All Things OCD
Join Rebecca on 8 October, 2-3pm
Rebecca became co-chair of the OCD Network in October 2022 which she does alongside her job in HMRC. She’s had first hand experience of OCD. Fun fact about Rebecca – she can still perfectly recite her year 6 Welsh speech!
Mark Bishop, Relate
Absenteeism and Presenteeism
Join Mark on 9 October, 9:30-10:30am
Mark Bishop is a trainer with Relate and has 25 years’ experience working as a relationship counsellor. With previous background in community development, advice work and local government management, Mark has a wide range of experience to draw on when he talks about how relationships; both personal and workplace, impact our wellbeing and how our overall wellbeing impacts our resilience.
Mark works part-time and lives by the sea on the North Norfolk coast.
Dee Holmes, Relate
Absenteeism and Presenteeism
Join Dee on 9 October, 9:30-10:30am
Dee Holmes has worked for Relate since 1997, starting as a Counsellor progressing to a Clinical Services Manager. Dee is trained in Couple, Family, Children and Young Person’s counselling working in Relate centres in Hampshire as well as in schools and colleges. She qualified as a trainer in 2010 and has delivered training to external organisations and internally across Relate, promoting healthy relationships to a variety of audiences.
Her current role as a Clinical Services Manager involves offering clinical support across the whole of Relate, developing services, policy and practice as well as being Relate’s National Safeguarding Lead.
Lisa Colville, Civil Service Deaf and Hard of Hearing Network
Hearing Loss and Mental Health
Join Lisa on 9 October, 11am-12noon
Lisa works in the Wellbeing Team for the Charity for Civil Servants and has been involved in promoting the Charity’s services, working with applicants one-to-one and liaising with partner organisations. She’s also part of the Charity’s MHFA team. Lisa works closely with the carers’ networks which connects well with her personal experience of caring. She is fluent in British Sign Language and has been able to use this to support deaf civil servants.
Joe Larkin, Civil Service Deaf and Hard of Hearing Network
Hearing Loss and Mental Health
Join Joe on 9 October, 11am-12noon
Joe has worked for Retirement Services in DWP for the last 19 years. When she was 5 she contracted meningitis, chickenpox and pneumonia simultaneously resulting in her middle and some of her lower range hearing being permanently damaged. In her teens she developed tinnitus, which now is measured at severe intrusive, and Joe wears hearing aids, lip reads and uses cognitive techniques to manage.
Carl Long, Civil Service Deaf and Hard of Hearing Network
Hearing Loss and Mental Health
Join Carl on 9 October, 11am-12noon
Carl is a Category Manager at Crown Commercial Service. At DWP before this, he worked with young people with complex needs. He has over 30 years of experience in international corporate account and project management. A key to all his work has been communication. For much of his career it was predominantly his responsibility to ensure his deafness didn’t have a negative impact on the projects he managed. At CSDHHN, he works to promote awareness of deafness and how working together ensures the best result for everybody.
Kirsteen Macdonald, Civil Service Deaf and Hard of Hearing Network
Hearing Loss and Mental Health
Join Kirsteen on 9 October, 11am-12noon
Kirsteen works within Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) as the lead for Through Life Technical Support within the Air Domain. She is a chartered engineer and a qualified lipreading teacher. She’s also a member of the Association of Teachers of Lipreading to Adults (ATLA). Lipreading classes include aspects of managing hearing loss and she believes that learning to lipread and understand your hearing loss can be life changing. Fun fact about Kirsteen – she was recently honoured in the Kings Birthday honours list for services to Defence and to Hearing Impaired Personnel.
Alyson Moore, Civil Service Deaf and Hard of Hearing Network
Hearing Loss and Mental Health
Join Alyson on 9 October, 11am-12noon
Alyson has been working for the Ministry of Defence for about 30 years, currently for Strategic Command in Corporate Governance. She was lucky enough to do a detachment to California and it was during that detachment that she met her husband. Her greatest joy is her three grandchildren and with their help (and Mr Tumble’s!) she’s slowly learning some sign language.
Steve Moore, Civil Service Deaf and Hard of Hearing Network
Hearing Loss and Mental Health
Join Steve on 9 October, 11am-12noon
Steve currently works for the MOD as a safety advisor. As Chair of the CSDHHN he raises awareness of hearing loss and what reasonable adjustments can be made in both the workplace and out of work. He previously worked for the ambulance service and the Royal Air Force, both of which allowed him to gain knowledge and experience in hearing protection. Outside of work he volunteers with Blood Bikes who provide an out-of-hours service to the NHS delivering blood, breast milk, medications and other items at no-cost to the NHS, but also allows him to ride a nicer motorbike than his wife allows him to buy!
Drew Allport, Men's Health Network
Why We Should All Be Talking About Men's Health
Join Drew on 9 October, 2-3pm
Drew is the DHSC Senior HR Policy Lead and founder and co-chair of the DHSC Men’s Health Network. Being diagnosed with a life-long health condition aged 52 sparked Drew’s passion for getting men talking about their health and promoting a better awareness and understanding of health issues that affect men. Interesting fact about Drew – he and his dog Bobby once spent 6 hours in the freezing February cold filming a TV advert for HSBC Bank and The Alzheimer’s Society only to be cut from the final televised version.
Vicky Driscoll, Men's Health Network
Why We Should All Be Talking About Men's Health
Join Vicky on 9 October, 2-3pm
Vicky is the DHSC Implementation Advisor. She has seen first hand the impact mental health can have on teenagers and young adults as her son struggled with mental health during his teenage years due to being bullied at secondary school. She has also witnessed the impact suicide can have on friends and family with her son losing several of his close friends to suicide. She hopes that her involvement in the network will encourage everyone to speak up and share their mental health worries.
Jade Parkin, Men's Health Network
Why We Should All Be Talking About Men's Health
Join Jade on 9 October, 2-3pm
Jade is the DHSC Resourcing Officer and female co-chair of the DHSC Men’s Health Network having originally joined the network as an ally. Throughout most of her life, Jade has witnessed and been affected by the impact of men’s health and its stigma. In recent years she’s played a more active role in caring for and supporting her grandad, seeing first hand the impact generational barriers around health can have. She hopes her involvement with the network can help break the stigma and encourage men to advocate for themselves.
Sam Tapper, Men's Health Network
Why We Should All Be Talking About Men's Health
Join Sam on 9 October, 2-3pm
Sam is the DHSC Adult Social Care Strategy Lead. Throughout his life Sam has been on quite an up and down mental health journey with the loss of his Dad at age 17 particularly affecting his mental health. Sam knows that for many speaking up on health issues is seen as positive but for many men this isn’t the case. This is especially apparent at work where mental health becomes secondary to ‘work’. Sam is passionate about working to overcome this and encourage everyone to speak up about health issues.
Pam Kehoe, Dementia UK
Living Well With Dementia
Join Pam on 10 October, 9:30-10:30am
Pam joined the Dementia UK team as Lead Admiral Nurse for Clinics and Awareness Raising in November 2017, moving to the Consultant Admiral Nurse Team a year later. Pam is now the lead Admiral Nurse for Dementia at Work with Dementia UK, a new and innovative role which focuses on Dementia within the workplace.
She’s been a Mental Health Nurse for over 35 years and has a special interest in working with people affected by Dementia and their families. Pam has received several national awards, was a finalist in the 2016 Nursing Times Nurse of the Year awards, and in 2022 was awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.
Emma Bould, Cross Government Carers Network
Living Well With Dementia
Join Emma on 10 October, 9:30-10:30am
Emma became a young carer to her Grandmother in her teens when she developed dementia. She now works in the Disability Unit within the Cabinet Office leading on cost of living and barriers to products and services for disabled people, prior to this she worked at Network Rail running their carers network and Alzheimer’s Society from 2016 to 2020.
Erika Reynolds, Cross Government Carers Network
Living Well With Dementia
Join Erika on 10 October, 9:30-10:30am
Erika has been a carer for the last nine years for her mum who has Alzheimer’s, an ever-changing illness. This coupled with managing a young family and working full time in a commercially focused environment keeps her on her toes! Erika supports colleagues and carers across the Cabinet Office as an active Wellbeing Ambassador, Mental Health First Aider and a member of the Carers’ Network.
Amir Mohammed, Law Express
All You Need to Know About Powers of Attorney
Join Amir on 10 October, 11am-12noon
Amir is the Operations Manager at Law Express, with over 18 years’ experience in providing legal advice in many areas of law. Law Express is one of the UK’s leading providers of independent telephone advice, guidance and legal information. And they are working closely with Charity for Civil Servants to be able to provide a legal advice helpline for members. A fun fact about Amir: He is a keen gardener and loves growing his own flowers, fruit and veg. He even made a short appearance on BBC Gardeners world this year!
Jane McClenaghan, Vital Nutrition
Good Nutrition and Mental Health
Join Jane on 10 October, 2-3pm
Jane McClenaghan is a nutritional therapist, based in Belfast, with a wealth of experience helping workplaces and private clients with their health and wellbeing. She founded Vital Nutrition in 2001 after studying and working in nutrition in England.
She’s well known across Northern Ireland and strives to deliver high quality workshops and nutritional advice to all clients in a way that is accessible, so that everyone can make positive changes for the good of their health.
Anna Goddard-Jones, Cross Government Autism Network
Autistic Wellbeing at Work
Join Anna on 11 October, 9:30-10:30am
Anna is the Events Lead for the Cross-Government Autism Network (CGAN). She currently runs the award winning ‘Supporting Autistic Colleagues’ events throughout the year. These sessions have reached over 8,800 civil servants so far and aims to increase the understanding of autism in the Civil Service.
Jesse Ni Mhaonaigh, Cross Government Autism Network
Autistic Wellbeing at Work
Join Jesse on 11 October, 9:30-10:30am
Jesse is the Operations Lead for the Cross-Government Autism Network alongside her day job in the Department for Work and Pensions. She believes the Civil Service is a great place for autistic people and through sharing her lived experience of autism hopes to make it even better.
Vanessa King, Action for Happiness
An Introduction to the Science of Happier Living
Join Vanessa on 11 October, 11am-12noon
Vanessa King is a leading expert in the science of happiness and pro-actively building psychological wellbeing and resilience. She’s a Board member at Action for Happiness and leads its work in workplaces. She developed its ‘10 Keys for Happier Living’, an evidence-based framework that’s engaged and inspired action in millions of people around the world.
Here’s what 2023 participants had to say
Thank you so much for this session – definitely came at the right time for me, and it's reassuring that I'm not the only one who feels like this.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing and the advice you have given to support others is fantastic. I will be sharing this with my team.
What a brilliant session – the energy and positivity of the panel has been amazing. I’ve found the discussions really uplifting and empowering.
Hearing so many personal and lived experiences in the sessions has really made me think so much more on what could be going on with the people I see everyday. Its so reassuring to know there is support and understanding out there.
Yes, attendance is free. However, we are a charity, YOUR Charity, and we hope you will consider a small contribution to support our work. This means we can keep bringing events like this to you, and carry on with our work to support civil servants facing tough times.
We work hard to bring a great selection of speakers and topics to you, not only to support you in looking after your own mental health and wellbeing, but also to equip you to look after those close to you.
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You can attend as many sessions as you like. And if your availability changes, or you can’t attend all those you are interested in, worry not! Most sessions will be available on demand after the event (it’ll be clearly stated on the agenda if this isn’t the case).
"The support from the Charity enabled me to stay at work and develop into a happy, productive civil servant."
Jonathan, Fast Stream
2023 Content available on-demand
Unlock Essential Skills in Suicide Prevention
Gain life-saving skills to support your colleagues and loved ones. Learn risk factors, how to spot potential signs and sensitively approach someone with thoughts of suicide. Walk away knowing exactly how to initiate that critical conversation and where to direct those in need. Get the valuable tools to make a difference and foster a stronger, more compassionate community.
This session makes managing anxiety practical. It offers an informed discussion on anxiety and provides techniques to support your mental health on a daily basis as well as ways to deal with overwhelming situations that may trigger anxious behaviour.
Being a carer can be positive and rewarding helping you discover your strengths and increase your skills and confidence. However it can also be challenging and affect your wellbeing. This session will have civil servants who are unpaid carers having an open and honest conversation about the challenges and rewards of being care-givers as well as looking at ways the Charity can support carers.
This session on the theme of kindness considers issues around fertility and pregnancy loss in the workplace and beyond. A panel drawn from the network’s members will share ideas on what kindness looks like from others and the importance of extending kindness to ourselves, before inviting contributions from participants.
Loneliness is something you shouldn’t be ashamed of but there remains so much negative connotation surrounding it. To stop stigmatising loneliness and begin to understand it, this session gives a better understanding of the impact loneliness can have and show you what we can do to support ourselves as well as others.
Get a thorough overview of what eating disorders are before hearing from our civil servant panelists about their personal experiences of suffering from an eating disorder. The Civil Service Eating Disorders Network explain how they support all civil servants with their online resources and support groups.
Most people can understand what we mean by burnout, and how exhausting we feel, but what if that shutdown has been building since you were 5 years old. Understanding ND burnout helps us learn not only how to support our ND colleagues and friends, but also how to help ourselves and our own family – how cool is that!
The Menopause Cross Government Network brings together a panel of members who’ll share how they’ve received support from their departments, what they’ve gained from being part of the Network and some of their personal experiences with menopause. Following the panel discussion, which will be open for questions, each of the panel will share initiatives that are in place within their own workplace to help people navigate menopause and bring it into every day conversation.
Looking after ourselves when supporting a child needing help
This session explores how to look after your own wellbeing while supporting a child or young person including tips from parents who have faced similar challenges, strategies for looking after yourself, the practice of emotion coaching and how to get extra help. You’ll also hear how the Charlie Waller Workplace can help workplaces provide support.