Author: Zara Bridle

“If you invest in a women, you’re investing in everyone else.” – Melinda Gates

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women around the world. At Spike, we are proud to join in the celebration by honouring the incredible and talented women who are an integral part of our team.

This year, the UN’s International Women’s Day theme, #InvestinWomen: Accelerate Progress, resonates deeply with us. We understand the importance of investing in women’s potential and creating opportunities for them to thrive in the workplace. In the tech industry, where women have historically been underrepresented, it’s imperative that we actively support and empower female talent. 

Currently women make up only 26% of the tech industry workforce. Despite this, their contributions are invaluable, and their presence is crucial for driving innovation and diversity in the field. 

At Spike, we are committed to breaking down gender barriers and creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all employees. We do not tolerate any form of gender discrimination or pay gap, and we have implemented various initiatives to ensure that women feel equal, empowered, and respected. 

Here are some ways that Spike are actively investing in women:

Encouraging retention and recruitment: We strive to give equal opportunities to women from diverse backgrounds and encourage them to bring their unique talents and perspectives to our team. 

Investing in training and career development: We provide ongoing training, one-to-ones and support to help everyone advance in their careers and reach their full potential. 

Promoting work-life balance: We offer flexible working arrangements to accommodate the needs of employees with family or health commitments, ensuring that no-one has to sacrifice their personal well-being for their career. 

Encouraging social engagement and wellbeing: We actively organise social and charity events, from bowling, nights out, cinema trips, charity initiatives and more to encourage a sense of inclusion and camaraderie. 

Ensuring equal pay: We are committed to eliminating any gender pay gap within our organisation. 

Encouraging communication and participation: We actively seek input from female team members and include them in decision-making processes to ensure that their voices are heard and valued. 

An Empowering Ladies Lunch:

One of the highlights of our celebration was the empowering ladies lunch, where our female team members came together to celebrate our collective efforts and successes. It was a time to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of women in shaping the landscape of technology and driving innovation forward. Over delicious food and engaging conversations, we reflected on the challenges and triumphs we’ve experienced as women working in tech, while also celebrating the progress we’ve made. 

In addition to meaningful conversations, we incorporated fun activities into our celebration to strengthen bonds. We organised quizzes and games that sparked laughter and camaraderie, providing an opportunity for our team members to relax and enjoy each other’s company. These moments of levity are essential in fostering a sense of unity and solidarity among our diverse team of women. 

Summary

As we celebrated International Women’s Day, we also took the time to recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We reaffirmed our commitment to creating an environment where all voices are heard and respected, regardless of gender or background. By embracing diversity, we harness the power of different perspectives and experiences, driving innovation and creativity within our team. 

At Spike, we are proud to honour the incredible women who contribute to our success every day. As we come together to celebrate our achievements and empower one another, we are reminded of the limitless potential of women in shaping the future of technology. 

At the start of last year, Spike selected Dorset Mind as its Charity of the Year for 2023. 

Based in Bournemouth, Dorset Mind educates, challenges mental health stigma and inequality; and encourages recovery by empowering people to develop resilience. Their 1-2-1 and group support includes befriending, counselling, groups, and mentoring for adults and young people. Their training team delivers educational wellbeing for workplaces including the official Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). They also have numerous volunteering opportunities across the charity. 

Our decision to select Dorset Mind was rooted in a shared commitment to connecting communities and prioritising people, which is at the heart of what we do here at Spike. This year, as a company, we took part in a number of fundraising events and volunteering initiatives to enable Dorset Mind to continue to raise awareness and provide support for mental health in our communities, whilst at the same time organising a variety of activities aimed towards fostering a culture of wellbeing amongst out staff.  

Fast forward a year, and we are proud to reflect on a journey that has not only been deeply fulfilling but has also brough us closer as a team whilst growing our relationship with our neighbours and friends at Dorset Mind. 

Fundraising

Bournemouth Bay Run 2023 
The Bournemouth Bay Run 2023 was our first fundraising initiative, and five members of the team took on the challenge! #TeamSpike consisted of Nick, Vicky, Josh, Jonny and Sriya who took on varying routes, from half marathons to the 5km. Despite the trials of arduous training, injuries, illnesses, and exhaustion, their dedication to both personal well-being and the cause of mental health shone through. 

Donned in vibrant neon orange, inspired by the event’s 40th-anniversary 80’s theme, the team surpassed expectations by raising an impressive £2,353 for Dorset Mind, far surpassing the initial target of £500. Our office rallied behind them, cheering as they crossed the finish line, and even securing a spot in the Bournemouth Echo! 

Sherborne Country Fair Dragon Boat Racing 

The Sherborne Castle County Fair Dragon Boat Race was our second major fundraising venture, with a spirited team comprising 17 members from our staff, friends, and family. 

Together, we navigated the waters to raise £772 in support of Dorset Mind’s mission. Rowing proved more challenging then expected, but we persevered, learning valuable lessons in teamwork, communication, and pace – we even won our first race!

Volunteering

We took part in Dorset Mind’s Eco in Mind project in collaboration with ASDA, which involved tending to the Longham Allotment Gardens. Our team dedicated their efforts to a specific allotment designed for individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s. This unique allotment offered a sensory experience and a serene connection with nature, promoting mental well-being and tranquillity. The vegetables cultivated from our plot also went towards local open fridges and food banks to give back to our community.

We also organised various beach clean-ups throughout the year, coinciding with Earth Day and World Environment Day, demonstrating our commitment to giving back to the local community. These initiatives not only contributed to environmental conservation but also fostered connections and camaraderie among staff members.

Content Collaboration for Clients

In addition, recognising the importance of spreading mental health awareness, we worked with Dorset Mind to develop informative and engaging content for our clients and industry.

Drawing on their expertise in the field, we created a series of blogs and social media content centred around mental health topics, such as how to support residents through Blue Monday, ways to support residents with their mental health, wellbeing tips and more. These resources served as valuable tools to educate and inform our online audience about various aspects of mental well-being, reducing stigma and promoting understanding.

One particularly successful initiative was the incorporation of mental health awareness days into our monthly community resident engagement guides. These guides, which were eagerly anticipated by our client communities, featured dedicated sections for mental health awareness on relevant days throughout the year. These efforts were met with enthusiastic responses from both residents and clients, demonstrating the positive impact of integrating mental health awareness into our regular communication channels.

Our latest Community Engagement Guide is now out, which includes a multitude of events, covering both social, mental wellness and environmental awareness days for property and community engagement managers to bring residents together.

Summary

Through various fundraising activities and the enthusiastic support of over 50 generous contributors, we successfully raised a total of £3,125 towards funding Dorset Mind’s mental health programs and activities. These programs include mentoring and support for children, young people and adults, as well as training for more volunteers to help support our local community. This achievement not only highlighted the generosity and dedication of our Spike community, but also showcased the tangible impact of our partnership in supporting mental health initiatives. 

Beyond the financial contributions, the charity partnership had a positive impact on our team dynamics and company culture. Organising charity events and participating in volunteering activities brought our staff closer together as a team. It instilled a sense of fulfilment and purpose among staff, fostering a positive and open company culture that continues to thrive today. The collaborative efforts to support mental health initiatives not only benefited our local community and client communities, but also significantly improved staff well-being, creating a more supportive and compassionate work environment. 

Thank you to Dorset Mind 

Dorset Mind’s incredible support, encouragement, and invaluable insights played an important role in the success of the collaboration. We admire Dorset Mind’s dedication and expertise in the field of mental health, and through our partnership, feel as if we’ve learned a lot ourselves. As our first Charity of the Year, Dorset Mind set a high standard. It was a mutually beneficial and heartwarming collaboration that left a lasting positive impact on all involved. 

What’s next? 

Now, with last year’s charity initiatives fuelling our drive to give back to community, we will be embarking on a new charity of the year for 2024 which we are excited to announce next week! 

At the start of this year, Spike selected Dorset Mind as its Charity of the Year for 2023. 

Based in Bournemouth, Dorset Mind educates, challenges mental health stigma and inequality; and encourages recovery by empowering people to develop resilience. Their 1-2-1 and group support includes befriending, counselling, groups, and mentoring for adults and young people. Their training team delivers educational wellbeing for workplaces including the official Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). They also have numerous volunteering opportunities across the charity. 

After the success of our first quarter initiatives, we’re proud to have continued into Q2 with the same energy, taking part in more events and internal activities this past quarter. We’ve also incorporated mental health awareness into our digital content, including our Mental Health Awareness Week blog focusing on supporting anxiety in residential developments, and event suggestions inspired by Dorset Mind’s key event dates, such as Pride Month, World Environment Day, and World Meditation Day into our 2023 monthly Community Engagement Guides.

Sherborne Country Fair Dragon Boat Racing – May 2023

The Sherborne County Fair Dragon Boat Race was our second major fundraising initiative of the year, which took place on the 29th of May 2023.

Our rowing team consisted of 17 members of staff, friends and family who picked up oars to raise funds and awareness of mental health in our communities, in a fun competition against many different organisations. It was a brilliant day, and we had so much fun dipping in and out of Dorset Mind’s rowing teams as well as our own Spike team to try and race for the fastest times.

Rowing was harder than it looked, but the team persevered and we learned a lot about teamwork, communication and pace, finishing with some respectable times for our first attempt, including a win for Team Spike in the first race! It was great catching up with many of our friends from the Dorset Mind team who also gave us some useful tips and hints from their experience at last year’s competition.

We’re thrilled to announce that we exceeded our £500 target, raising £772 towards funding Dorset Mind’s mental health programs and activities. These programs include mentoring and support for children, young people and adults, as well as training for more volunteers to help support our local community.

Thank you so much to everyone who donated to our fundraiser, and to all colleagues, family and friends who came to take part – we can’t wait for next year’s competition! 

World Environment Day Beach Clean Up – June 2023

Through our partnership with Dorset Mind, we’re proud to be organising a variety of activities aimed towards keeping our staff mentally healthy.

Following the enthusiasm from our first beach clean up last quarter which everyone loved, World Environment Day, which took place on the 5th of June, was an opportune time for our next scheduled beach clean. We followed Dorset Mind’s ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing‘ framework, developed by the New Economics Foundation, which addresses core elements such as connection, staying active, taking notice of our surroundings, trying something new, and giving back. 

The team managed to clean up a considerable amount of the beach before we headed back to the office. Every year, 11 million metric tons of plastics enter our ocean on top of the estimated 200 million metric tons that currently circulate our marine environments. It was eye-opening to see the amount of litter which gets left on the beach during peak summer months, from plastic bottles to 6 pack beverage rings, these seemingly harmless bits of rubbish are notorious for entangling and causing harm to marine animals, and can often lead to the damage of ecosystems. 

Many of the team returned feeling proud of the positive impact they had on our local environment, and refreshed after a peaceful morning outside. Not to mention treated to coffee and cake after a productive morning!

What Have We Planned for Q3?

Spike are proud of our charity initiatives to date, whether hands on or incorporated into our digital content, and we can’t wait to take part in more activities in Q3!

Next quarter, we’re excited to be taking part in another fundraising event, as well as more beach clean ups! In addition to events, keep an eye out for our content focusing on mental wellness, including Women’s Health Week, International Happiness at Work Week and more!

You can learn more about Dorset Mind and find ways to support the work they are doing here.

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (15th – 21st May), with this year’s theme being anxiety.

We all feel anxious from time to time. Anxiety is a natural response to the uncertain world around us. With the current cost-of-living crisis, more than a third of adults are feeling anxious about their financial situations. Furthermore, in a recent mental health survey that was carried out around stress and anxiety over personal finances, six in ten adults said they felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing the things they want to do.

It’s therefore vitally important that building operators and property managers are able to recognise the signs of anxiety, and are able to provide appropriate support when needed. Warning signs could include a change in a residents’ behaviour, late payments, or a change in appearance, indicating that someone may possibly be vulnerable or going through a difficult time.

Our 2023 charity partner, Dorset Mind, has provided a ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ framework, as a way to encourage a healthier lifestyle. This consists of ‘connect‘, ‘get active‘, ‘take notice‘, ‘learn‘ and ‘give‘. This simple, tried and tested framework can offer many opportunities for residents to take their minds away from stressful situations that are out of their control and provide focus on what they can do.

Here are 5 tips on what property managers can be doing to help support residents, inspired by the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ framework:

1.) Take notice – Communicate with residents to ensure they are aware that support is available should they need it

Anxiety can lead us to believe that we are alone in our personal struggles, and often, residents may feel unsure how to ask for help. By letting them know that support is available, they can feel reassured that they do not need to suffer alone.

For instance, resident portals such as Spike Living, can provide an easy and quick way for residents to ask for help. Rather than needing to leave the comfort and security of their home, they can directly message their property manager who can then assess and provide the appropriate support. Some of our clients have even added a ‘HELP’ button to their portal to enable residents to alert staff if they need help urgently.

2.) Connect and Give – Create community forums and support groups

Across our client base, we’ve seen many online forums created, from encouraging gratitude and positivity to general social clubs, enabling residents to build real-life support networks right on their doorsteps. Having dedicated community forums and support groups can give residents a ‘safe space’ to discuss their worries, and seek guidance. As the saying goes, ‘a problem shared is a problem solved’.

Participation in social and community life has attracted a lot of attention in the field of wellbeing research. Individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy.

By utilising a resident engagement portal, such as Spike Living, property managers can provide a secure and safe place online that is only accessible by genuine residents, ensuring that residents are not at risk from scammers and strangers.

Property Managers can also use the Spike Living portal to provide dedicated wellness resources to residents such as how to sleep with anxiety, managing emotional wellbeing as well as mindfulness techniques.

3.) Connect – Encourage residents to take part in community events

Whether it’s a coffee and chat morning, or in-person social networking, providing residents with opportunities to combat loneliness and isolation can bring residents together in difficult times.

When anxiety can often make residents feel lonely, opportunities to make friends can make tough times easier to manage.

Download our 2023 Community Engagement Guide for resident event inspiration!

4.) Learn – Encourage residents to try something new

Arts and crafts sessions, mixology workshops and more. Inspiring residents to take up a new skill or a hobby is a great way to build self-esteem and encourage more social interaction.

Opportunities to engage in educational activities can particularly help to relieve anxiety, and the practice of setting goals, has been strongly associated with higher levels of wellbeing.

Spread awareness of these events and workshops via the Spike Living portal to increase attendance!

5.) Be active – Get residents involved in fitness and wellness classes

According to Mind UK, a number of studies reveal how physical exercise can help relieve anxiety and improve mental health, not to mention lifting moods, and improving sleep. As well as being a great way to connect with others.

Fitness doesn’t need to be strenuous: yoga and meditation classes can be a great way to introduce residents to a healthier lifestyle. One of our clients introduced ‘Meditate Mondays’, which to date has been attended by over 4,000 residents.

By utilising Spike Living, residents can view and book available fitness classes within a few taps, all from the comfort and convenience of their homes.

SUMMARY

It’s becoming increasingly important to encourage open discussions, helping to remove the stigma surrounding mental health.

By ensuring that residents feel supported and cared for in their communities during difficult times, this not only dramatically enhances the resident experience, which is arguably one of the most important elements of any property offering, but also increases the likelihood that they will renew their tenancy.

For more information and ideas on how to support residents, see Dorset Mind’s helpful resources and Anxiety UK. 

At the start of this year, Spike selected Dorset Mind as its Charity of the Year for 2023. 

Based in Bournemouth, Dorset Mind educates, challenges mental health stigma and inequality; and encourages recovery by empowering people to develop resilience. Their 1-2-1 and group support includes befriending, counselling, groups, and mentoring for adults and young people. Their training team delivers educational wellbeing for workplaces including the official Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). They also have numerous volunteering opportunities across the charity. 

Connecting communities and bringing people together is at the heart of what we do here at Spike. This year, as a company, we committed to taking part in a number of fundraising events and volunteering initiatives to enable Dorset Mind to continue to raise awareness and provide support for mental health in our communities, whilst at the same time organising a variety of activities aimed towards keeping our staff mentally healthy. 

Now, four months later, we’re proud to reflect back on our charity initiatives which have not only brought us a huge sense of accomplishment but also closer as a company, whilst growing our relationship with our neighbours and friends at Dorset Mind.

Beach Clean Up – March 2023

Our beach clean-up was our first organised charity activity, and many of our staff volunteered their time to pick up litter on Bournemouth beach. We followed Dorset Mind’s ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing‘ framework, developed by the New Economics Foundation, which addresses core elements such as connection, staying active, taking notice of our surroundings, trying something new, and giving back. 

There are many wellbeing benefits to staff beach clean ups, including enabling staff to give back to their local community, building connections with one another whilst simultaneously enjoying the outdoors, and staying active. It was a morning that was enjoyed by all, and our staff returned to the office with the feeling of accomplishment and having had a great opportunity to spend time with the wider team.

Bournemouth Bay Run – April 2023

The Bournemouth Bay Run 2023 was our first fundraising initiative, and five members of the team took on the challenge! This year, #TeamSpike consisted of Nick, Vicky, and Josh tackling the half marathon, whilst Jonny took on the 10km route, and Sriya the 5km route. Each runner committed themselves to weeks of arduous training, never giving up despite injuries, illnesses, and exhaustion.

Donning neon orange, inspired by the Bournemouth Bay Run’s 40th anniversary 80’s theme, the team all beat their personal targets and raised a considerable amount of money for Dorset Mind. Our office was proud to support and cheer on our team in orange as they crossed the finishing line! We even caught our team in the Bournemouth Echo!

We were initially hoping to raise £500, but through the generosity and kindness of our community, friends, and family, we exceeded our target and raised over £2,500! What’s more, our fundraising page was named one of the most successful JustGiving pages of the month, a huge achievement as our first official fundraising initiative! 

Thank you so much to everyone who supported and donated to our fundraiser! Your generosity will be going towards saving the lives of children and adults suffering from mental health in our local communities, ensuring they receive the support and guidance they need from Dorset Mind.

What Have We Planned for Q2?

After the success of our first quarter initiatives, we’re excited to bring the same energy and focus into Q2, with Team Spike taking on the Dragon Boat Race at the Sherbourne Castle Country Fair on the 29th May 2023, as well as our second beach clean-up with the support of Dorset Mind and local volunteers on the 5th June for World Environment Day!

Alongside this, we’re excited to be partnering up with Dorset Mind to write monthly blogs and content directed at helping those in the real estate sector to support their staff and residents, relating to key dates such as Mental Health Awareness Week focusing on anxiety, World Meditation Day, Men’s Health Week and more! 

You can learn more about Dorset Mind and find ways to support the work they are doing here.