Melin Homes - The ‘Zest’ Initiative
Zest was launched in September 2011 as Melin Homes wanted to help improve the health and wellbeing of staff. Staff and board members got together to form a Zest working group which meets monthly to plan activities and act as ambassadors. The Zest ethos ensures that mental health and wellbeing runs through all aspects of the organisation. The initiative is championed by staff at all levels, including at senior management and board levels.
“Zest, our staff health and wellbeing initiative, runs through everything we do at Melin Homes.”
“We have 17 Zest ambassadors across Melin Homes to ensure we have representatives from all departments.”
“Zest is fully supported by our Senior Management Team and Board as they actively promote and take part, encouraging their teams to take time out for themselves too.”
Melin Homes provides an annual health and wellbeing event Zest Fest, for which all staff are gifted the time to attend, providing free breakfasts, exercise classes, pampering sessions and craft workshops. Partners from other organisations are also in attendance to provide sessions, help and advice. In addition, regular activities are held for staff including smoothie mornings, healthy breakfasts, awareness raising sessions, massages and mindfulness.
During the global pandemic, Zest was adapted and enhanced with new activities, many delivered online. These included virtual get-togethers, topic specific drop-ins, health checks, counselling services, cycle to work schemes, pool bikes, staff recognition schemes and planting trees for loved ones. Additional activities included resilience training and ensuring staff had free access to a mindfulness app. As a result of this Zest has helped shape the company response to Covid-19 and supported employees through challenging circumstances.
“We are always refreshing what we do and consulting with staff. We already do so much, and we will keep doing what we’re doing and looking for fresh new innovative ways to engage with staff.”
Page last reviewed: 19th March 2025