CSSC | Centenary Voices

In this special edition of CSSC's Centenary Podcast, we are marking this year's Mental Health Awareness Week.

Alex is an adventurer, endurance athlete, motivational speaker, Ordnance Survey Champion and published author from Chester, now based in Kendal. At just 25 he has attempted to climb Everest twice and is the fastest person ever to climb all 100 UK County Tops in 72 days, winning Pride of Britain 'Regional Fundraiser of the Year 2017’. In 2020 he ran the National 3 Peaks, raising over £11,000 for the charity.

Regularly running in the Lakeland fells, outdoor challenges and sport have long been a tool for managing his own well-being including depression, anxiety and an eating disorder. Having experienced the lack of support first-hand, Alex co-founded Mind Over Mountains to help others access the power of the outdoors for staying mentally well.

In this special edition of CSSC's Centenary Podcast, we are marking this year's Mental Health Awareness Week.

For this episode, we are joined by Alan Billington, Head of Programme for Health & Wellbeing at CityLit Education in London. Alan has recently received the Health & Wellbeing Award, sponsored by CSSC, for his work developing CityLit's wellbeing centre and for the support he provided to students and colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about CityLit here and sign up to one of their Health & Wellbeing courses here.

In 2021, Jon caught up with Ash Robinson to discuss his introduction to the sport as a teenager, how he fell in love with the sport and how it lead him to become the club captain of CSSC London Barbarians.

Have you got a story to tell about your experiences with CSSC as a volunteer or member? Get in touch today

To mark International Women's Day 2022, Jon caught up with Abbie Barnes, creator of WILD. WILD was created by Abbie in 2016 to inspire and empower individuals to don their walking boots and head outside for the benefit of mental and physical wellbeing.

During this episode, Abbie talks about what gender bias means to them and how they champion women's equality to be a part of the creation of a diverse and inclusive World. We also learn about Abbie's role models and how their influence has affected the way in which Abbie works now.

To mark International Women's Day 2022, Jon caught up with Rachel Smillie, Civil Servant and elite rower.

In 2023 Rachel will be rowing 3000 miles unsupported across the Atlantic as part of Team Excelsioar, a crew of three women, in pursuit of a new world record, to raise money for two amazing charities, and to inspire girls and women to challenge themselves and change their perception of what’s possible.

During this episode, Rachel talks about the trials and tribulations of being a woman in the world of rowing, her role models and what she feels can be done to #BreakTheBias

Imagine a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias

To mark International Women's Day 2022, Jon caught up with Sam Brookes (Senior HR Policy Consultant), Julia Bradley (Personnel Adviser), Alizay Agha (Strategy Lead) from the Cabinet Office to discuss gender equality in the workplace.

During this episode, they talk about their projects within the Gender Equality Group (GEG). Their aim is to promote gender equality and equal treatment for all colleagues regardless of gender identity, across all our locations, through events, workshops, communications and collaboration to create impact both in and out of the workplace.

To round up the 2021 series of CSSC's Centenary Voices, we are joined by our Centenary Executive, Hedley Featherstone. During this episode Hedley tells us about the early days of CSSC, the formation meeting and the response from others.

Thank you to everyone that has contributed to Centenary Voices this year, we will be back next year with more episodes, telling more stories about CSSC's vibrant past.

On this week’s episode, Clare is joined by David Grundy, the captain of the Rutland Civil Service Sailing Club. With plenty of nautical-miles under his belt, he shares his experiences of sailing at the club, being a CSSC member and organising events and taster sessions over the years as a CSSC volunteer.

Have you got a story to tell about your experiences with CSSC as a volunteer or member? Get in touch today

This week on Centenary voices we are joined by Brian Smith. During this episode Brian tells us about his experiences of volunteering, his employment with CSSC as a Regional Liaison Officer for Wales and the West Midlands and his varied and interesting engagement with areas, regions and club houses over the years.

Have you got a story to tell about your experiences with CSSC as a volunteer or member? Get in touch today

This week Clare is joined by Ann Coward. After travelling down to London from Manchester to take part in the Ministry of Transport’s sports day in the early 1960s, Ann soon after moved to London and became a member of CSSC. 60 years later, Ann is still an active member with plenty of stories to tell from her years of playing Hockey and Cricket for the Civil Service.

Have you got a story to tell about your experiences with CSSC as a volunteer or member? Get in touch today