Are you missing out on your Club Wellgate benefits?

Ash Akhtar, Head of Culture and Engagement (Club Director)

There's a lot packed into Club Wellgate, more than most people realise, covering your mental health, your physical health and your finances, so support is there whichever part of your life needs it most.

Some of what's here you won't find at many other care providers, like a free week away with friends and family at our holiday home in Norfolk, extra paid days off for your birthday and your wellbeing, days that exist purely because you matter as a person. In an industry that asks so much of the people who show up for others every day, we want to build something that gives back to you.

Here's everything that's included and how to use it.

A free week at our holiday home in Norfolk

As a contracted employee, once you're through probation, you can book a full week at The Tractor Shed, a three-bedroom cottage in Norfolk, sitting neatly between Hunstanton (arcades, beaches, the works) and Burnham Market (posher shops and good food).

It sleeps eight; you can bring your dogs (check the house rules), and it has a log burner and outdoor seating. The great news is that Wellgate covers your travel costs, not just your stay.

So, you get a full week away, completely free, and you can book ahead. Check the calendar on the benefits page for availability and request your dates.

A day off for your birthday

On top of your normal annual leave, you get an extra day off for your birthday. If your birthday falls on a day when you are not rostered to work, you can take the day before or the next day instead. It's booked through Breathe, the same place you request the rest of your leave.

A wellness day

There's also a separate day off, again on top of your annual leave, that's yours to use however supports your wellbeing that day. It's not tied to being sick, and it doesn't need a reason; some people will use it to catch up on sleep, others for a long walk, and others just to have a day when nobody needs anything from them. It's built in because everyone needs a reset sometimes.

Money off the things you already buy with The Bluse Light Card

The Blue Light Card gets you discounts at food shops, fashion, days out, restaurants, and holidays, including places like Tesco, Asda, Nando's, Alton Towers, and TUI. It's open to everyone at Wellgate (including MNP Care and Lime Care).

Sign-up costs £4.99, but you don't actually pay that out of pocket for long. Register at bluelightcard.co.uk, choose "Care Sector" as your workplace type, pay the fee, and once your card lands, send a screenshot of the payment to Helen in HR.

That £4.99 gets refunded in your next pay packet, and the card itself gives you two years of savings.

So if you're doing a big food shop every week, taking the kids to the cinema, or booking a Haven caravan for half term, you're saving money on things you were going to buy anyway.

Support for your health and wellbeing, any time you need it

We partner with Westfield Health, an employee wellbeing provider. It covers your physical and mental health, and your practical needs, and it's there whether you're dealing with something small or big.

Four things sit under this partnership:

DoctorLine gives you 24/7 phone access to a UK GP: You can call from anywhere in the world, do a webcam appointment if that's easier, and even have a prescription sent to your home, your workplace or a nearby pharmacy. So if a family member is unwell and you're weighing up whether it's a trip to A&E or something that can wait until morning, you've got a GP you can get through to for advice, without waiting days for an appointment.

The 24 Hour Advice and Information Line is a freephone line for anything medical, legal or personal. It’s staffed by qualified counsellors, legal professionals and nurses. Whether you're going through a separation and need to understand where you stand, or a family member's been in an accident and you don't know what to do next. You can speak to them for free advice.

Structured counselling comes through the same line. If a counsellor thinks it would help, you can get up to six sessions in a 12-month period. There's also a library of over 30 self-guided Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) courses covering things like anxiety, stress, sleep and menopause, so support isn't limited to just the six sessions if you need something more ongoing.

Gym discounts cover over 4,500 gyms and health clubs across the UK and Ireland, including Nuffield Health, PureGym, Virgin Active, Anytime Fitness, and David Lloyd, as well as digital fitness subscriptions. If you're already a member somewhere, you may be able to transfer your existing membership across and start saving straight away.

On top of all that, you get the Wisdom app. It's got mood tracking, four-week health plans, breathing exercises, mini health checks, and a live chat function if you just want to talk to someone without picking up the phone. Download it on iOS or Android, or go to wisdom.healthassured.org, and register using the code WHEASE.

Incentive Bonus Scheme

There's also a bonus scheme, reviewed from time to time. The specifics on how it's earned and paid are on Breathe or with the HR team, so if you're not sure where you stand, email Helen for more information.

How to get to any of this

DoctorLine: call 0345 319 3991, use code HE239691
24 Hour Advice Line: call 0800 092 0987, quote reference HA239691
Wisdom app: download on iOS/Android or visit wisdom.healthassured.org, register with code WHEASE
Gym discounts: access via My Westfield
My Westfield (for all your plan documents and services in one place): register at westfieldhealth.com/my-westfield
Birthday leave, wellness day and bonus scheme: book and check details on Breathe, or ask your Line Manager or the HR team.

If you haven't received a welcome message from Westfield Health yet, drop a note to ash.akhtar@clubwellgate.com, and we'll sort out your access.