Podium Magazine Issue 1 | Autumn 2021 by CSSC Sports & Leisure

https://wwwcssc.co.uk/PODIUM Issue 1 – November 2021

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IN THIS ISSUE

Contributors

Adrian Monti is a father of two who lives in Brighton. An experienced journalist, he writes regularly for national newspapers including the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror and Daily Express. He is a keen runner who contributes regularly to Runner’s World and writes content for health and fitness websites.

Contents

5 The first 100 years of CSSC For our centenary issue, we look back at the organisation’s beginnings and history 9 The world outside your door Even in the depths of winter, the outdoor world has so much to offer all of us. So open your door and take up its wealth of opportunities!

12 CSSC savings CSSC savings (formerly My Savings+) is your gateway to all our retail offers, discounts, vouchers and cashback. How would you like it to benefit you?

Eve Menezes Cunningham is the author of 365 Ways to Feel Better: Self-care Ideas for Embodied Wellbeing. She runs Feel Better Every Day (selfcarecoaching.net) self-care coaching, therapies and supervision.

15 CSSC prize draw To be in with a chance of winning a new smartwatch, simply explore the CSSC website to find the correct answers to these 10 questions and tiebreaker

Heidi Scrimgeour is a freelance editor and journalist. Originally from London, she now lives with her husband and three children near the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

18 A nice day at the office As many of us adjust from working from home, how can we make a smooth transition

Judy Yorke has been a journalist for more than 30 years. She is a journalism tutor and also trains non-journalists to improve their writing at work. Married with two teenage sons, her hobbies include baking, football and playing Words with Friends. Sally J. Hall is a journalist who has written for many newspapers, magazines and websites on a wide range of subjects within the medical, parenting and consumer areas. She is also the author of three books. Podium editor Richard Hemley Art editor Mark Richardson Commissioning editor Radhika Holmström Copy editor Cordelia Lilly Publisher Gaynor Garton Published by Square7 Media Ltd., 3 More London, London SE1 2RE hello@square7media.co.uk Tel: 020 3283 4055 Advertising sales Ethan Hall (ethan@square7media.co.uk) CSSC BOARD 2021-2022 Chair Mark Fisher Vice Chairs Elaine Benn, Ian Campbell, Stuart Fraser Honorary Treasurer: Lisa Ong Elected members David Abbott, Alan Adams, Janis Cammell, Phil Corcoran, Rona Duncan, Davie Elder, Sam Guilding, Naomi Hickey, Michael Mainon, Sue Pither, Francis Smith, David Wells Chief executive Simon Lee CSSC OFFICE Compton Court, 20-24 Temple End, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP13 5DR.

16 A century of fitness fads From aerobics to Zumba, plimsolls to trainers, we take a trip down the memory race track. How many of them do you remember (or did you take part in)?

22 Active wellbeing CSSC’s mission is to unite the Civil Service and public sector with sports, fitness, recreation and fun. The Active Wellbeing programme has become a key part of this 24 A day in the life of a CSSC volunteer We talk to Clive Arnold 26 Take care An expert’s guide to tackling your stress levels and getting your mind as well as body back onto an even keel 29 On a wing and a dare Inspiring fundraising achievements 30 In distinguished company Sporting heroes, stage stars and a few distinctly unexpected figures who’ve played their part in the sports and recreational past of the Civil Service 33 Our CSSC community lottery Support our new lottery and not only could you win a life-changing cash prize, you’ll also be helping our community fund promote local activities 34 Slow down but don’t stop You can stay on the football field (or play other sports) even if running isn’t quite for you 37 Kensington Palace Celebrating in magnificent style! 40 Christmas: your survival guide If you’re looking ahead with secret dread, stop worrying and read our helpful suggestions 42 Have you ever thought about...badminton? It’s popular and it’s affordable. We explore the UK’s most popular racket sport 44 The CSSC games X Looking ahead to the CSSC flagship sporting event of 2022, what can we expect?

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PODIUM ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021 | cssc.co.uk/PODIUM

FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to Podium

Hello, and welcome to the special centenary issue of our member magazine, Podium.

We hope you enjoy our new range of articles: from helpful advice

on returning to the workplace, to ideas on using sports and other social events to thrive and regain your fitness and confidence.

We’re looking forward to inspiring you to not only explore and

Richard Hemley

maximise your CSSC membership but to help start conversations with your colleagues, friends and family on what being healthy,

CSSC savings p12

happy and content means to you.

We’ve released Podium to coincide with and celebrate our 100th

birthday, so we’ve shared some fascinating insights into our past while giving you a sneak peek into some great events coming up throughout our centenary year.

The last two years have been incredibly tough on the whole

nation. Many of us have lost loved ones and teammates, our

movements have been restricted and we’ve been denied close

comfort and the simple pleasures we all previously took for granted.

Forerunners p30

I think it’s fair to say the country will never be the same again.

And yet, from this adversity, we’ve seen a renewed sense of hope,

optimism and camaraderie. We’ve come together as one country

and faced this challenge more united and more supportive than ever before.

And so it is with CSSC. We are here for you, as you have been there

for us, through it all, together. We’ve listened to you and grown with

you. We’ve introduced more activities, partners and communities, to

Slow sports p35

help inspire, motivate and encourage you to be your best self.

We’re excited to share with you the start of our next 100 years

together, taking care of life’s true champions and looking after those who look after others.

Editor – Richard Hemley Badminton p38

We hope you enjoy

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this membership magazine. However, If you prefer not to receive future copies, you can opt out of receiving Podium by post or digitally, by emailing editor@ cssc.co.uk or by calling 01494 888444.

Sustainability Podium is 100% recyclable. The pulp used is bleached without the use of chlorine and is from a mill using an environmental management system approved according to ISO 14001 and EMAS. The polywrap in which Podium is posted is 100% biodegradable. ©2021 The views expressed in Podium are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor, CSSC or printer, and none of these parties guarantees the accuracy of content. Furthermore, publication of advertisements does not imply any form of recommendation. Podium accepts no responsibility for any statements in advertisements. Each advertisement is inserted on the distinct understanding that no advantage will accrue to the advertiser in relation to its business dealings with Podium. Podium can be made available in alternative formats on request.

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100 YEARS

The first 100 years of CSSC

Not many organisations can chart their history back 100 years. Even fewer can claim responsibility for forming such an historic institution as the English Football Association. But then CSSC is no ordinary sporting association

HRH The Duke of York shaking hands with the members of the CSFC at Tufnell Park, 1923

150 years of footballing history

In 2013 the Civil Service Football Club (CSFC) participated in a football match at Buckingham Palace to mark the 150th anniversary of the Football Association (FA) and the CSFC. On 26 October 1863 the CSFC had been one of 11 clubs which met in a Covent Garden tavern to create the laws of football and form the FA. (Because of course one of the most famous British sports was conceived in a pub, over a pint.)

The CSFC is still going strong to this day and is acknowledged as the sole surviving association football club from the original 11 clubs which formed the FA. It played in the first ever FA Challenge Cup competition in the 1871-72 season, providing both umpires for the first final. Between 1901 and 1926 the CSFC pioneered football matches across continental Europe, regularly competing against what are now among the world’s leading teams, including Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Slavia Prague.

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100 YEARS

Today, the club’s home ground is in Chiswick. It fields 10 teams and continues to mount annual overseas tours.

Civil Service athletics: early days

In April 1864 the first Civil Service Athletic Sports event took place at Beaufort House, Walham Green. In 1870 the sports transferred from Beaufort House to Lillie Bridge, West Brompton, and then from 1885 until the early 1930s they were held on the Stamford Bridge ground. The club was known as the Civil Service Athletic Club for the first 17 years of its existence. From 1882 the term Civil Service Athletic Association (CSAA) began to be used. From the beginning, these two-day events were an important social occasion that came to be known as ‘the Ascot of athletic sports’. Open carriages were brought onto

Clockwise from top left: CSFC Team, 1923; Charles Herbert of the Amateur Athletics Association; Civil Service Athletics Association hurdlers; CSFC vs Barcelona 1922; CSFC vs Real Madrid 1924

the ground and parked around the track. Many ladies in bonnets and crinolines were present, and gentlemen and officials wore their finest top hats and regalia. Charles Herbert (1846-1924), a winner at the sports in 1869, 1870 and 1875, became the honorary secretary of the Amateur Athletics Association and a member of the International Olympic Council from its foundation. He was regarded by Pierre de Coubertin, the creator of the modern Olympics, as one of the key figures who made the first Olympics possible. The CSAA Championships continue to this day and the CSAA regularly hosts numerous blue-ribbon events such as 5K running and wheelchair races, 10K events, and track and field championships at the world-famous Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

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100 YEARS

Top row L-R Civil Service Athletics Association at Stamford Bridge; Grace Morgan, captain of CS Women’s XI ,1937 Bottom row L-R Civil Service Cricket Team; Joslyn HoyteSmith, 1978; physical training, 1938

Civil Service versus Australia

The cricket match against the Australians at Chiswick, played on 4 and 6 September 1926, was a great and celebrated event in our history. The match was played on the Saturday and Monday, since in those days Sunday was firmly considered to be a rest day for everyone. The estimated attendance on the first day was between 4,000 and 5,000 spectators – a record at the time for a Civil Service event. The Monday’s Times newspaper carried a long report on Saturday’s play in which glowing tribute was paid to the fielding and bowling of the Civil Service team, who ended up completely tired out! Civil Service cricketers continued to host events throughout the year and throughout the country. Most

recently on 29 July this year, they played the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in a representative match at High Wycombe Cricket Club, to commemorate our centenary. With the MCC being one of the oldest cricket clubs in the world (it was founded in 1787), it was our very great pleasure to host this momentous occasion – having first played the MCC way back in 1923. And our enjoyment of the commemorative event was made all the sweeter by the victory of the Civil Service Cricket Association (CSCA). That’s not all. In fact, next year Civil Service cricketers will play the RAF – whom they first played in 1922, which was in fact the first ever representative match between the Civil Service and the armed forces. The team hope to replicate that historic victory against the RAF, in which they won by six wickets.

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out and about

The world outside your door

PHOTOGRAPHS: Leonidas Santana/istock

We know it’s good for us and many of us got more of it during lockdown. With the return to work, how many of us will still get some each day? Of course, we’re talking about getting out into the great outdoors… By Sally J. Hall Over the different lockdowns, many of us were forced to change our exercise routines. Yoga bunnies found their studios closed, gym addicts worked out at home and parents got out of the house each day to keep themselves and their kids from driving each other mad. Indeed, this trend was so strong that it was noticed by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The ONS studied how lockdowns altered our exercise habits – and the results are surprising. With 30 per cent of us asked to work from home, the ONS reported that an amazing 60 to 70 per cent cited exercise as the primary reason for leaving the house. Out of this number, 30 to 40 per cent visited local parks or playgrounds and between 10 and 20 per cent visited beauty spots and tourist attractions. Lockdowns were hard on many, especially those shielding or who lived in cramped conditions with limited access to outdoor space. Feelings of isolation contributed to increased depression and poor mental health for whole

swathes of the community in 2020. Those who found they could get out more, however, reported that being outside helped improve and maintain good mental health, as well as fostering increased fitness. In fact nine out of 10 people said they agreed that being outdoors boosted their mental health and wellbeing. Luckily, this is not just a feeling but scientific fact. Researchers at the University of Exeter found that those who allowed themselves 120 minutes per week in nature benefited from an improved sense of wellbeing. Published in Scientific Reports, the study found that just 20 minutes per day, or two hours per week, had benefits – though interestingly, less time than this did not. “It’s well known that getting outdoors in nature can be good for people’s health and wellbeing but until now we’ve not been able to say how much is enough,” the study’s lead, Dr Matt White, explained. “The majority of nature visits in this research took place within just two miles of home,

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so even visiting local urban green spaces seems to be a good thing. Two hours a week is hopefully a realistic target for many people, especially given that it can be spread over an entire week to get the benefit.”

Sunday in the park

Given that just 20 minutes per day can improve mental health and wellbeing, how can we incorporate time spent outdoors into our daily routines? One way is to ensure that, even if you live and work in mainly urban areas, you choose a route that crosses a local park or green space on your way to work, to the shops or on the school run. Weekends can allow for more exploring, and you might be able to get a little further afield (pun intended).

Company

PHOTOGRAPHS: tirc83, monkeybusinessimages/istock

lane network, it can be a safe and enjoyable way to take in more miles than you could on foot. Circular walks are great for exploring a new area and Consider buying a decent bike. A helmet is the most ideal for getting you back to a convenient car park, bus important piece of gear – with CSSC great offers, you won’t stop or train station. You can join the Ramblers through have to skimp on this and can easily replace it if it gets a CSSC’s discounted membership, and find inspirational knock. Dress appropriately, pack some waterproofs and walks to try. From easy local walks to exploring Ministry you’re all set. Cycling UK (see our discount on the website) of Defence land, there’s something for everyone. Ordnance has lots of great tips for how to get Survey has a wonderful range started, building up your stamina, of maps and guides to help you what to wear and where to go. And explore and never get lost. Unless Just 20 minutes indeed, cycling is a great method of course that’s all part of your of commuting when you do return plan to relax. You might decide a day in nature, to work. Congestion cost this to join a group walk, where you country £6.9 billion last year and could meet like-minded people. or two hours a road users lose 115 hours per year You can also enjoy the gardens and in traffic, so do yourself and the grounds of properties owned by week, had benefits environment a favour! English Heritage (English-heritage. And if, like many cyclists, you org.uk) and The National Trust prefer the social side of biking, (nationaltrust.org.uk), which there are loads of communities to join to share tips and between them conserve palaces, houses and even castles routes for getting the most out of your exercise, like CSSC’s and in whose extensive grounds you can walk. Many are national cycling Facebook group. accessible, have special exhibitions inside the houses – great to escape showers and warm up a bit – and of course, most have fabulous cafes and gift shops. Into the woods Many of us love being among trees and discover a different kind of calm experiencing the wind through the leaves Passion and the quality of the dappled sunlight. They are amazing If you want a slightly harder workout, jogging and places to take children and grandchildren, with flowers to running have flourished since the 2012 London Olympics search for and birds to identify, and they are also great for and many of us have started, or increased, our running dog walking. regimes. The NHS reported that around a million people downloaded its fitness app, Couch to 5K, in lockdown – a 92 per cent increase on the previous year. If you want to get into running, you need a pair of great running shoes. Ready to explore? Get advice and ensure a good fit, supported insteps and ankles and a stable sole to prevent overpronation. Find loads of great offers and partners with CSSC

Merrily we roll along

Another great way to explore the country is to get cycling. If your experience thus far is wobbling around the park as a child, or some BMX moves as a teen, it might be time to rethink this great form of travel and exercise. With an increasing number of UK councils improving their cycle

n n n n n n

Free family entry to English Heritage sites Free family entry to Cadw sites Historic Scotland National Trust for Scotland Great-value Ordnance Survey maps Discounted Ramblers membership

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Getting into the open air is a benefit we really shouldn’t lose

OUT AND ABOUT

The Japanese enjoy a more immersive form of enjoying forests called ‘shinrin-yoku’, which means ‘forest bath’. You are encouraged to take in the trees through all your senses, to literally bathe in the atmosphere of the forest. The book Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness, by Dr Qing Li, discusses how this concept promotes health. Dr Qing Li, who is one of the world’s most eminent experts in forest medicine, says forest bathing can reduce stress and high blood pressure, boost your mood and strengthen your immune response. He explains: ‘There are many different activities you can do in the forest that will help you to relax and to connect with nature … forest walking, yoga, eating in the forest, hotspring therapy, T’ai chi, meditation, breathing exercises, aromatherapy, art classes and pottery, Nordic walking and plant observation. It doesn’t matter how fit – or unfit – you are. Shinrin-yoku is suitable for any level of fitness.’

Pacific overtures

Even as we head into the colder months, it helps your wellbeing to continue outdoor trips. In addition to all the other benefits, as the days draw in the opportunity to get some daylight can help reset our circadian rhythms – and the experts agree that this is also the best way to stave off seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

The advance of the seasons is no reason for ditching open-air activities, as the Norwegians will testify

Of course, those in countries where days are short and weather cold laugh at our tendency to hunker down indoors in the winter. In Norway, the concept of ‘Friluftsliv’, or open-air living, is surprisingly embraced, even as the mercury plummets. Marit Loveland, who lives in Trondheim, Norway, with British husband Simon and their two daughters, says: “‘Friluftsliv’ is part of our everyday life from birth. Today I made jam from fruits in my garden, while my husband and kids picked blueberries in the forest.” What’s more, she adds, it’s absolutely normal for them to camp outdoors with kids, too. “We just got back from a four-week trip visiting our summer house by the fjord and our hut in the mountains. We spent time hiking, fishing and swimming with the kids. Though I lived in London for years, the quality of life here is better, with more emphasis on access to nature; it’s second nature to get out into the countryside.”

A little night music

If camping in snow is not your thing, consider indoor activities such as trips to a concert, the theatre, cinema and exhibitions as a way to incorporate exercise too. Walk or cycle there, warm up for a while, then have dinner and enjoy a journey home under the stars!

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savings CSSC

One of our most popular benefits is our retail platform CSSC savings (formerly My Savings+). It’s your gateway to all our retail offers, discounts, vouchers and cashback

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CSSC Savings

It’s a one-stop shop for everything you need to pursue your hobbies, save on utilities, and lower your grocery spend. Through CSSC savings, members have saved over £500 a year, using either discount codes, vouchers, reloadable cards or accumulating cashback. So, it’s no wonder our members love using CSSC savings for everything from their weekly food shop and gifts to occasional luxuries like experience days, holidays, sofas and electricals.

Explore our newest partners and offers

We’re continually introducing new offers and favourite retailers to CSSC savings including:

And we’re constantly improving the functionality to simplify and modernise how members navigate the platform and find the deals they’re looking for, such as introducing CSSC savings on your Apple Wallet. Members can now add selected reloadable cards and digital vouchers to Google Pay and Apple Pay, meaning you can simply use your phone to pay for goods.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Ridofranz/istock

Making life even simpler with the CSSC savings app

Using CSSC savings is very simple. By just searching for the product or retailer you’re looking for, from the thousands available, you can easily find which deals they’ve got and follow the instructions to start saving. But with our latest improvement we’ve made it even easier to save, while on the move. To coincide with the new name, we’re launching the new CSSC savings app. As you might expect with an app, it has loads of useful features to help make shopping and saving simpler for you, whether you use Google Play or Apple. It offers full access to the thousands of retailers and discounts, including reloadable cards, vouchers, and cashback. n Its simple layout makes it easy to navigate and store all your favourite retailers and products in a digital wallet.

n You can use biometric login with face or

fingerprint recognition. n You can opt to be automatically kept up to date with the latest offers and exclusive deals. n It’s synchronised to the website, so it’s every bit as secure and keeps you completely updated. To download the app, simply go to either your Google Play or App Store, search for: CSSC savings and follow the instructions. That’s all! And once it’s downloaded and synched to your membership, you’re ready to get saving.

Local discounts

We love local and we care deeply about supporting high streets and independent retailers, so we’ve introduced our brand-new local discounts scheme on CSSC savings. Members can now show their digital membership card or local discount card for their CSSC savings online account and save at thousands of local and independent retailers. Loads more shops and services are joining the scheme all the time, so when you’re out and about remember to check CSSC savings to see if you can save.

Savings calculator

We’ve made a bold claim that you could save hundreds of pounds on your weekly shops and luxury purchases. But you don’t have to take our word for it. One of the newest tools on CSSC savings is our savings calculator, to help show you just how much you could save every year. It’s really simple to use. Just move the sliding scales to estimate how much you might spend on groceries, electricals, DIY or health and beauty each month and you’ll clearly see a monthly or annual total of potential savings. What’s more, we’ve added a handy link to our relevant offers, so you can start saving straight away. Don’t just take our word for it. Try the calculator for yourself. A year in the life of a member* Purchasing

Monthly spend

Annual saving

Groceries

£400

£192

Clothes

£50

£48

Gardening

£50

£48

Health and beauty

£50

£30 TOTAL £318

Luxuries

One-off luxury

Holiday

£4,000

Annual saving

Television

£1,000

£50

Sofa

£1,000

£30

Decorating and remodelling

£5,000

£480

£200 TOTAL £760

*Savings rates vary and depend on the retailers you use. Savings rates correct at time of going to print on 1 November 2021.

You can see how easily the savings on everyday shopping really add up. And once you include the odd special purchase, the savings are truly spectacular. To help make CSSC savings even simpler, you can set up a monthly Direct Debit, so you never forget to top up. We’ll always let you know about new retailers and offers. We even increase the cashback rates from time to time for special occasions. Withdrawing your cash couldn’t be easier. You can apply it to a reloadable card for a special treat or transfer to your bank account and spend it on whatever you want. Log on to your CSSC savings account from the CSSC home page to explore our offers and get started. If you need any assistance, there’s a handy search function and user guide to help you navigate and start saving.

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MEMBERS DISCOUNT UP TO

10% OFF *

CRUISE WITH FRED. OLSEN New Sailings just launched We are so proud to announce the launch of new cruises for early 2022, sailings that have been handcrafted by our itinerary planners to get us and our guests back to doing what we love. On our smaller ships, we’ll take you on journeys to experience the scenery and soothing winter warmth of the Canaries; go in search of the Northern Lights amongst Norway’s Arctic wilderness; sample Caribbean culture and encounter South American wildlife; and much more. CSSC members who are existing Fred. Olsen customers can benefit from a tempting discount of up to 10% off, with a 5% CSSC discount in addition to their 5% Oceans Loyalty Club discount. CSSC members that are new to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can save 5%, and that’s on top of any current offers. 14

For more information or to book please call 0800 0355 108 quoting discount code CSSC5 *All bookings are subject to Fred. Olsen’s (FOCL) standard terms & conditions, available on our website & on request. All prices quoted under the CSSC members discount offer are exclusive to qualifying members & their travelling companions only, members must quote their discount code at time of booking. Membership discounts cannot be applied retrospectively. Bookings must be made via the booking hotline number 0800 0355 108. CSSC membership Number will be required at the time of booking. Offers cannot be extended to any unrelated third party, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn or amended at any time without prior notice. From time to time FOCL may run special offers which cannot be combined with this discount, including selected group travel deals Fred. Olsen Oceans members are entitled to a 5% CSSC discount. Subject to the same terms & conditions, to be applied after the standard Oceans discount, where applicable. In this instance, Oceans terms & conditions apply. New to Fred. Olsen guests can also save 5% through their CSSC membership, subject to the same terms & conditions. Flights are excluded from any discounts. Offer ends 31/12/2021. E&OE.

COMPETITION

WIN

1 How much cashback can a member receive by recommending CSSC to a friend with our ‘invite a member’ scheme? 2 When was CSSC’s 100th birthday? 3 What is the top prize in the CSSC community lottery? 4 How much does it cost members to use the health and wellbeing platform CSSC life? 5 How many children can you take with you for free to an English Heritage site?

Photograph: Daisy-Daisy/istock

6 What percentage can you save off a three-month Hussle membership? 7 What is the name of CSSC’s scheme to save on gas and electricity energy bills?

Please see CSSC podium prize draw for full terms and conditions.

To be in with a chance of winning a new smartwatch worth £99, simply explore the CSSC website to find the correct answers to these 10 questions and tiebreaker. To enter the draw, simply answer the questions, fill in your name and email address and send to us before the closing date of 5 February 2022. We’ll draw a winner from all the correct entries and choose our favourite tiebreaker response.

8 What is the name of the award given to notable CSSC volunteers? 9 How much can you purchase a three-year TOTUM PRO discount card for? 10 Name one of the Facebook communities members can join.

Please complete this tiebreaker: My favourite CSSC offer or activity is because

Join CSSC For 100 years CSSC has supported life’s true champions, taking care of those who protect, defend, heal, teach and serve others. Our mission is to unite and inspire the public sector through great-value sports, fitness and recreation. We help over 150,000 public sector colleagues and their families maximise their free time, look after their wellbeing and make unforgettable memories, doing the things they love, with the people they love. If you’re looking to explore new opportunities with exciting ideas to stay fit, keep active, save money and spend time with your loved ones, you can join CSSC for just £4.50 a month and open up a world of possibilities at cssc.co.uk/experience.

Name: Email: Please either complete the online entry https://www.cssc.co.uk/podiumcompetition form on cssc.co.uk/podiumcompetition; or cut this entry form out and send to: PODIUM prize draw, CSSC, 22-24 Temple End, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP13 5DR

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Going ‘for the burn’ with Jane Fonda in the 1980s

A century of fitness fads From Jane Fonda to CrossFit, which exercise enthusiasms do you remember – or did you try? By Rosalind Ryan

1910s and 1920s

Over 100 years ago, women weren’t encouraged to exercise – sweating in public wasn’t something a ‘lady’ should do. Instead, light stretching classes were considered more suitable, or gentle callisthenics. That was until CSSC was formed. Ever ahead of the curve, in 1922 CSSC created a women’s committee to ensure women’s sport was fairly represented and actively encouraged. Callisthenics are simple bodyweight exercises such as push-ups or sit-ups. They

became popular after fans of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, the father of gymnastics, spread his fitness regime across Europe and America. Today, callisthenics form the basis of many exercise trends and are used in army training for both men and women. Pilates was also born in the early 20th century. Joseph Pilates believed there was a strong connection between mental and physical health. He opened a studio in New York in the 1920s and his method is still taught all over the world. It’s one of the most

popular online classes on the CSSC life platform, with hundreds of members taking part in free classes every day.

1930s and 1940s

In 1930 the Women’s League of Health and Beauty was founded with its motto ‘Movement is life’. The members even had a ‘uniform’ of sleeveless white silk tops and black satin shorts. Sessions included all types of exercise such as yoga, aerobics, dance fitness and,

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ACTIVITY

most famously, huge demonstrations in places like Hyde Park. The organisation grew to 166,000 UK members by 1937, and when war broke out, the League was asked to promote physical fitness as ‘a matter of national importance’. The organisation is still going strong – although it was renamed the Fitness League in 1999 – and still loves a large public display. (In April 2010, members from the UK and branches all over the world took part in a demonstration at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate their 80th anniversary. Eyes right, ladies!) Throughout WWII, CSSC was commissioned to set up sports and social clubs for Government departments evacuated out of London, to help maintain the value of sport and unity throughout this difficult period.

1950s and 1960s

Fitness started to get fun: enter the hula hoop. But hula-hooping wasn’t just a fad for the 1950s – classes are still incredibly popular today and use weighted hoops to up the intensity. Keeping the plastic hoop circling your waist can help tone your stomach, hips and thighs, and burn 165 calories in 30 minutes. Other gadgets are best left in the past. The Trim Twist was a small platform attached to ball bearings that you stood on to twist your way to a trimmer figure. Another bizarre device was a vibrating belt. You put a huge rubber belt around, for example, your waist or thighs, turned on the machine it was attached to, and simply jiggled yourself into shape. The drawback was that there’s absolutely no evidence that either of these devices worked...

PHOTOGRAPHS: RyanJLane, ullstein bild/Getty Images

1970s

The decade of disco also ushered in some groovy fitness fads. Jazzercise was introduced to the world – a mixture of aerobics and jazz moves – and never really left; classes are still incredibly popular. Roller skating became more fashionable as a way to keep fit, and

joggers were soon a familiar sight on many streets. Maybe the strangest-looking invention was Nautilus fitness equipment. The circular metal contraptions exercised individual muscle groups – sound familiar? – and eventually evolved into the machines you see in every gym, everywhere.

week on a no-frills boot camp while ex-army trainers terrify you into top shape. Indoors, spinning classes have taken off – although they’re done on static bikes – while Zumba has taken over the world. The highenergy class blends Latin music with salsa, flamenco and aerobics, and gained 14 million fans in over 180 countries.

1980s

2010s

This decade is synonymous with one fitness fad thanks to one woman: Jane Fonda and her aerobics. Although aerobics had been around since the 1960s, it wasn’t until Jane pulled on her leg warmers that the trend went stratospheric. Her book Jane Fonda’s Workout was made into a VHS (how daringly modern!) and became one of the best-selling workout videos of all time: 17 million copies sold worldwide. Many of us still have one lurking somewhere!

1990s

The late 1980s and early 1990s was the golden age of fitness gadgets. The Thighmaster looked like a giant bulldog clip you put between your legs and the Ab Roller, a little circular wheel you rolled backwards and forwards, was more likely to put your back out than train your abdominal muscles. The celebrity workout video was still big news – who can forget Cindy Crawford’s Shape Your Body, even though none of us ended up with the body of a supermodel? And yoga shifted from hippies to A-listers. Madonna posing with her legs behind her head in 1998 helped launch a thousand yoga studios across the globe. CSSC’s role in the 1990s focused on providing workplace gyms, to help employees stay active during long workdays. Opening 300 fitness centres positioned CSSC as the largest corporate sports provider in the UK.

2000s

The choice of how and where to exercise has mushroomed in the new millennium. If you don’t fancy joining a gym or hiring a personal trainer, you can sign up for outdoor fitness classes in a local park or spend a

This was the tech-fit decade, as new technologies emerged to help us exercise. Wii Fit was a fitness ‘game’ that involved standing on a balance board for activities like yoga or step aerobics, while wearable trackers like Fitbit and the new Apple Watch helped keep an eye on your steps, heart rate and calorie burn during daily exercise. Exercise-that-didn’t-look-like-exercise boomed, such as pole dancing, cheerleading and burlesque, alongside more intense workouts. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) (which CSSC offers through CSSC life, the free wellbeing and fitness platform), performing short sets of vigorous exercise, came to define fitness in the late 2010s.

2020s

We’re only at the start of a new decade but the Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the way we exercise. Online fitness classes – either streamed live or watched via YouTube – kept many of us active during lockdown, while HIIT workouts could easily be done between Zoom meetings. Couch to 5K, the free running app for beginners, has been downloaded 2.36 million times since the start of the pandemic, and sales of smart exercise bikes – an interactive exercise bike where you ‘join’ remote classes – have jumped 172 per cent! Gentle forms of exercise such as walking and yoga have been rebranded low-intensity steady state (LISS) activities, too. So, where does fitness go from here? If the past 100 years are anything to go by, we’ve got decades of crazy gadgets, celebrity endorsements and classic callisthenics to come. But the key is to find something you enjoy, even if it’s Jazzercise.

Check out our: Discounted membership at FIIT for over 500 online courses and classes in HIIT, Pilates, yoga and more Loads of top savings on equipment, clothing, nutrition and technology with My Active Discounts Great-value memberships at gyms, health clubs, spas, studios and fitness centres with My Gym Discounts Explore CSSC life, our comprehensive, free, health and wellbeing platform, packed full of advice, tools and courses Find cashback deals on loads of great sports retailers for all your equipment and gear with CSSC savings PODIUM ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021 | cssc.co.uk/PODIUM

A nice day at the Working practices have changed hugely over the past 18 months and venturing back into the office can seem daunting. Here’s how to prepare… By Heidi Scrimgeour

As we gear up for going back to the office, many of us are already pondering what we’ll miss from this strange period of our working lives. According to research by Office Furniture Online, 28 per cent of us will miss being able to work in our pyjamas, while 42 per cent will mourn the days of not having to get up so early for work. However you’re feeling, it’s natural to have some apprehension about returning to the office.

From mixing with people again to adapting to new health protocols, there’s a lot to get to grips with.

Reflect on your concerns

Even for those who are itching to get back to the office, the adjustment will require enormous amounts of mental energy, says Inez Cooper, Managing Director and co-founder of William Russell, a global

insurtech business serving expats which conducted an internal survey. The company found employees had three main concerns about the prospect of returning to work: getting ill, using public transport, and having no reliable solutions for childcare. As a result, the business took proactive steps to prioritise employee wellbeing and staff safety ahead of reopening its offices.

Even for those itching to get back, the adjustment will require a lot of mental energy

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BACK TO WORK

office

“The reintegration of remote teams back into the office will face challenges, not least of which is the fact that employees may not want to return,” agrees Katie Hamilton, HR Manager at CSSC. To ease the process, CSSC encourages employees to take 90 minutes a week to do something for their wellbeing.

Ease yourself back slowly

Harley Street therapist Olivia James advises easing yourself back to the office slowly, bearing in mind that we viewed other people as a potential threat to life during the pandemic. “We developed survival strategies by avoiding others so it’s going to take a while to unlearn those – many of us are still

feeling hypervigilant,” she says. “Some of the most confident and outgoing people I know have developed mild social anxiety, and their capacity for ‘peopling’ has dropped dramatically. Put simply, our capacity for dealing with people has diminished.”

Monitor your anxiety level

If you’re feeling anxious about returning to the workplace, talk about it. It doesn’t have to be with your manager – you could contact your HR department or, if you’d rather keep the conversation out of the workplace, book time with a therapist. “Mismanaged anxiety can impact your health and relationships – some people find it difficult to sleep, while others might become rigidly legalistic to regain a sense of control,” says Katie. “Whatever you’re feeling, it’s vital to acknowledge and address it.” Commuting may be especially stressful, adds business coach Vonnie Alexander. “We have

been in a more sanitised, isolated bubble and suddenly being in close contact with hundreds of strangers heightens anxiety.”

Establish boundaries

If you’re in a management or leadership role, you may be expected to have all the answers when it comes to health policies and protocols. “You may be asked questions for which no satisfying answer exists,” cautions Katie. “Providing honest responses and proactively alerting people to any impending changes is key to showing good leadership, as is letting people know what you’re doing to stay informed on their behalf. Effectively managing others’ expectations also means issues are less likely to become obstacles in an already complicated transition.”

Flexibility more than ever Pressing pause on commuting blurred the boundaries between working and

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back to t h e o f f i c e

Fail to plan: plan to fail

The office environment may have changed drastically since you were last there, so it’s important to prepare mentally for these changes. That includes the daily commute: arrange a trial run to determine how long the journey will take you (and do it at the time when you will actually be travelling). This is especially important if you started a new role during the lockdown and haven’t yet worked in the office. “Preparation in this way will hopefully help to relieve first-day nerves,” recommends Mark Taylor, Managing Director of Office Furniture Online. “Take some time to familiarise yourself with the new rules, and communicate any questions or concerns you might have with your manager before your first day back.”

Don’t forget the people still working from home

The office environment may have changed drastically since you were last there Offer help to your colleagues One of the best ways to make the transition back to the workplace smoother, Katie believes, is by finding ways to help make it better for others. “Strike up conversations that create a sense of light-heartedness among your team, as humorous and inspiring stories can give rise to a new sense of community,” she suggests. “Be especially mindful of those colleagues who choose to continue working from home, and take extra steps to make sure they feel connected and included in the team.” If hugs or high-fives were standard pre-Covid office gestures, find creative ways to replace them too. “These things won’t necessarily eliminate stress, but will make things less intimidating as you bring joy to others, and in the process, to yourself.”

Acknowledge grief

Many of us have been bereaved over the past 18 months, and returning to work after loss can pose a particular set of challenges. Maria Bailey, Communications

and Education Coordinator at Grief UK, recommends mentioning it to your manager before you return to the office. Think, too, about whether you want colleagues to know, and factor in that grief may affect your performance. “Once you’re back at work after a bereavement, you may struggle to concentrate, become tired more easily, feel listless, or weary,” adds Maria. “You may feel sad, numb, or need to cry. These are all normal grief responses and it’s important to know that there are no time limits on grief. You may feel fine one day and then dip the next.” Feelings like this may be felt from other losses connected to the pandemic too, such as loss of safety or routine, and health or financial losses.

Stay focused on the future

The future is out of our control and the transition to the next phase of normality will feel different for everyone. “What we can manage is our response to our experience, and how we support others through theirs,” Katie reminds us. When the process feels tough, she recommends a prompt to refocus. “Try this question: ‘A year from now, if someone asks how living through Covid-19 changed you for the better, how do you want to answer?’ Despite the difficulties you’ve suffered, you get to decide how this shapes the person you become,” she says. “Ponder those possibilities daily and allow them to give you hope and courage whenever you need it.”

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ILLUSTRAIONS: Elenabs/istock

non‐working, meaning workers are likely to return with new priorities. Inez urges employers to “stock up on patience and flexibility” and points out that health and safety protocols will change as new information about the virus and variants becomes known. With restrictions easing and more businesses embracing a hybrid working model, part of what will motivate employees to come to the office is true flexibility, adds Nicky Hoyland, CEO of human experience platform Huler. “The office should be just one of many places we can work.” If you’re still working out childcare logistics or feel unsafe about your health, Katie recommends speaking to your manager. “Ask for flexibility, and voice your concerns in a considerate way that doesn’t convey a sense of entitlement or demand.” But do recognise, too, that your employer is doing their best to adapt to great uncertainty. Katie suggests reframing any changes to policy as a positive sign that your organisation is open to learning and improvement, rather than assuming it means they don’t know what they’re doing. “Be compassionate towards your manager and keep in mind that they are experiencing the added pressure of managing their own transition alongside helping you manage yours,” she says. “Until we learn and adjust to what works to keep people safe and productive at work, everyone will need extra measures of empathy and agility. Trust that things will get smoother as everyone learns together.”

Jill the runner. She loves cats, has three grandchildren and holidays in Spain. She has also just saved money on her car, home and travel insurance with us.

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STRAPLINE

Active wellbeing Our mission at CSSC is to support life’s true champions and unite the public sector with sports, fitness, recreation and fun

For over 100 years we’ve been at the forefront of giving back to those colleagues who give so much of themselves helping to protect, teach, heal and serve others. Over that period, Active Wellbeing has become our most highly anticipated and influential programme to help everyone working in the Civil Service and the public sector look after their physical and mental health and wellbeing. Run in partnership with Civil Service HR, since 2018 Active Wellbeing has grown year-on-year to help get civil servants and public sector colleagues more active in the workplace, transforming the way offices and departments throughout the country take care of their colleagues.

Active Wellbeing 21

For so many reasons, 2021 was undoubtedly a year of change. If ever there was a time when the public sector would be called upon to support the nation, then last year will certainly go down in the history books. This year, for the first time ever, we launched Active Wellbeing in January. To coincide with the start of a new year, it gave participants a great opportunity to try something new and create a sustainable change, which they could take with them to form new permanent healthy habits – whether that was a new sport or activity, using online resources, or even starting a discussion with new communities about what happiness means to them.

Success breeds success

The main aim of Active Wellbeing was to help people enjoy being active so much that it encouraged new permanent healthy routines. Thanks to Active Wellbeing 21, 88 per cent of the thousands of participants significantly increased their activity levels and many pledged to maintain this momentum throughout the year. We still hear from members who love their new outlook so much that it contributed to their wellbeing throughout lockdown: quite an achievement at such a stressful time! A large part of that success was the support we gained from our wellbeing champions. We’re very grateful to Angela MacDonald, HMRC Deputy Chief Executive

PHOTOGRAPH: andresr/istock

Active Wellbeing 21’s initiatives and campaigns provided the tools, techniques and freedom to explore

5,000 badges won across the 30 days, encouraging members to push themselves to maintain their targets and momentum

Resources such as webcasts, interactive ideas and personalised presentations – you name it, we shared it, to prompt, provoke and propel loads of great ideas for getting involved

£5,000

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worth of prizes, including fitness technology, vouchers and other exclusive awards, to help motivate participants to increase their activity by 28%

AW22

A look forward to 2022

I think this is a great initiative to keep participants active and accountable and Second Permanent Secretary; Rupert McNeil, Government Chief People Officer; Mark Fisher, CSSC’s Chair and Director General and Secretary to the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry; and Simon Lee, Chief Executive Officer, CSSC.

Active Wellbeing 22 promises to improve on this phenomenal success, building on what we’ve already achieved. Indeed, the whole nation is looking forward to the promise of next year. Not only does January bring with it renewed hope and a sense of optimism (now more than ever), it also heralds our highly anticipated Active Wellbeing 22. We’re keeping all the details under wraps for now, but rest assured, come January, we’ll have some awesome opportunities for everyone who wants to get involved, to have fun, feel inspired and be challenged to become their best self. So keep your eyes peeled over the next two months for some sneak peeks into Active Wellbeing 22.

Get in touch If you’re passionate about helping to motivate and inspire your colleagues with sports, games, activities and challenges, why not get in touch and help us to launch Active Wellbeing for the best start to the new year. You can email activewellbeing@cssc.co.uk to register your interest and be one of the first to hear what’s coming up.

challenges and new ideas to improve the work-life balance of thousands of colleagues and friends

13,000 packs downloaded. We couldn’t be there in person this year, so we reached out with our tools, tips and treats to help spread the word

themes, designed to appeal to every age, ability and enthusiasm: 1 Active Outdoors 2 Active Indoors 3 Active Together 4 Active Work Life

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3,000

30-day pledges, helping over one-third of people to see the month-long challenge through to the end and begin their new healthy habit

A day in the life of a CSSC

volunteer 24

East Kent Area Association members enjoying their gin tasting

Volunteer Clive Arnold tells us what an event day is like for him Earlier this year we celebrated our winners of the Russell Scott award, East Kent Area Association. This award is given to the area association with the best all-round record in a particular year and this year East Kent was recognised for its commitment to delivering a rich and diverse membership offer, despite the challenges facing all of us in the last year. Clive Arnold, East Kent’s Chair, works with a fantastic team of volunteers, and between them they give a huge amount of time to CSSC, organising numerous trips, activities and offers for local members and creating a sense of much-appreciated community and belonging. We caught up with Clive to find out what it’s like to be involved as a volunteer on one of East Kent’s event days, and to hear some of his recommendations.

Clive, we know you’re a fantastic trips and events organiser for the East Kent Area. What is the first thing you think about on an event day? Is the coach going to turn up and is everybody going to make the coach? It’s an hour before the event… What finishing touches are required to prepare for the members? We arrive at the venue ahead of time so that the members can get a break or food and a drink before the event. How do you feel when the members begin to arrive at the event? Pleased that we are able to provide something for people, especially for the members who may be on their own, as it’s about bringing members together as a community to enjoy themselves.

CSSC East Kent kayaking day at Seapoint Canoe Centre in Hythe

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VOLUNTEERING

Inspired by Clive’s volunteer story? Why not check out our options for volunteering (cssc.co.uk/ https://www.cssc.co.uk/volunteering/vacancies volunteering/vacancies) to find out how you can help in your local area? We’ve got hundreds of ways you could help your fellow members have fun, stay active and get involved. If it’s sport you love, we’ve got dozens of opportunities in snooker, angling, golf, darts, swimming, running, tennis, netball, football and loads more. However, you certainly don’t have to be physically fit or particularly into sport. We’ve got lots of options for organising trips, days out and other events. Or if you’re passionate about leading or administration, why not look at our office champion, committee or leadership roles? Alternatively, you could help us celebrate our centenary and become part of history as a volunteer centurion at one of our various sites across the country. If you’re thinking of giving back to your local community, volunteering with CSSC is a great place to start. You’ll be supported throughout by a dedicated team of colleagues; you’ll receive continual training, and expenses for your time. You’ll feel empowered and rewarded by helping others, plus you’ll gain confidence and invaluable life skills to take with you in your career and future endeavours. Meet some more of our volunteers https://www.cssc.co.uk/being-a-volunteer at cssc.co.uk/being-a-volunteer to find out what it’s like to share your passions and hobbies and inspire others. We look forward to hearing from you! https://www.cssc.co.uk/volunteering/vacancies

Clive limbers up for the coach trip to watch the 42nd Street theatre show in London

How long does a CSSC event usually last? This can really depend on the event, but they can range from one hour through to 10 days! Are you on volunteering duty the whole time, or do you get to soak up some of the atmosphere at the event yourself? Most of the time I get to be involved with the event and soak up some of the atmosphere. I think it is important for members to see volunteers enjoying the events they have organised too, as it may encourage them to volunteer as well. What is your favourite thing about organising CSSC events? When it’s all over and it has been successful. Seeing members come together for an

East Kent members get to grips with paddleboarding

I think it is important for members to see volunteers enjoying the events too enjoyable experience you have put together is really rewarding. What happens once the event is over? I tend to run a ‘wash-up’ or hot debrief to see how the event went and whether we would run something like it again. Sometimes if the demand is high we can run it multiple times and other times just the once. What would you say to anyone looking to get into volunteering with CSSC? I love volunteering for CSSC. It is very enjoyable, it’s good for your personal development and very rewarding. CSSC volunteers like Clive are the lifeblood of the organisation. They give their time and commitment to CSSC so that members can enjoy a variety of experiences and opportunities, learn new things, gain new hobbies, meet new people and get the very most out of being a member.

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severely injured herself. Instead, she handled it beautifully, turning We know the damage stress can inflict on us but the last two years the crisis into an opportunity to advocate for her and others’ mental have amplified this. Some kinds of stress are like a physical workout: health. And in terms of her own performance she even recovered we build resilience. But if we’re pushed (or push ourselves) too hard, enough to win a bronze medal with a safer routine. we risk injury. Most of us don’t have that level of pressure, but as far as our The positive kind of stress, where we work within our limits and bodies are concerned, any time our stress response is triggered, ultimately increase them, is called eustress. Toddlers learn to walk our nervous systems and brains respond as if imminent death by with eustress. Each time they ‘fail’ to stand up, while they experience sabre-toothed tiger or woolly mammoth is frustration, they learn from it. They get back possible. The simple thought of an email can up, do it again and ultimately learn to walk. create a stress response. And of course, the Unfortunately, as we become more pandemic has brought a new dimension into socialised, we forget this inner drive to grow, Each time toddlers our lives. Unlike our ancient ancestors, who’d and take on other people’s expectations (from parents, teachers, sports coaches, employers ‘fail’ to stand up, they have run from the woolly mammoth and got on with their otherwise peaceful week, our and so on). This can lead to distress – which nervous systems have been being flooded is the kind of stress we mostly talk about. This get up, do it again with stress hormones for nearly two years. is the kind of stress that can lead to anxiety, Obviously, this has taken its toll. For depression and burnout if we don’t make time and ultimately walk a tragic number of us, there’s been the to rest, recharge and to actively do what helps threat of serious illness and/or death. And us enjoy life. for the rest of us, there’s been a range of For years, breaking gymnastics record stressful experiences: you may have been unable to visit loved ones after record, Simone Biles seemed to thrive on the eustress her in hospitals or care homes; maybe your career suffered; perhaps you sport demanded, till she experienced distress in front of the world were suddenly forced to homeschool (something that had probably at the Toyko Olympics. In her case, stress led to the ‘twisties’, where never crossed your mind); you might have felt trapped in your home gymnasts lose their place mid-air – in the team qualifiers, she had with everyone in the household always there; or else you were in been aiming for a 2.5 twist on vault but at that moment, her body lockdown alone and missed company. Can you imagine if, back in didn’t comply. (Even writing that sentence increases my stress March 2020, we’d been told that it would go on for as long as it has? levels.) If she’d decided to ignore her realisation that it wasn’t going Many of us have been relying on social media more, too, and that can to be possible, and had competed regardless, she could have died or PODIUM ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021 |

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PHOTOGRAPH: Eshma/ISTOCK

Take care

MIND AND BODY

Everyone’s stress levels have ramped up over the past couple of years. What techniques and approaches will help us cope best? An expert talks us through... By Eve Menezes Cunningham bring its own stresses: from misinformation and scare stories to just comparing one’s own day to other people’s carefully curated images. According to the Stress Management Society, 65 per cent of people in the UK (from a sample of 2,000) said they’ve felt more stressed since March 2020 because of Covid-19, and it’s hardly surprising. Fortunately, we can do something about stress, even when it’s ongoing and so much is out of our control. As we cope with this enormous forced change and its effects, we can use it to help us decide how we want to move forward. We get to experience what works and what doesn’t in a way in which pre-pandemic living didn’t offer. I hope these ideas will help you.

You do have choices: take care of your mind

One of the biggest daily stressors people are dealing with is around control. We’ve probably never experienced such restrictions to our daily lives as adults. We’ve had public health guidelines around how we can work, how far we can go from our homes, what we can do and who we can see. Any one of these would have been challenging for our pre-pandemic selves, and of course they’ve had an impact. But it’s possible to recognise the things we can control and the choices we have. This will also improve the way we talk to ourselves – that constant inner voice that’s incredibly important to how we feel. A calming, soothing inner voice helps to calm the whole system as it signals safety to the brain. If you want to get better at handling pressure, try noticing when you deal with life’s stresses in a way that’s positive as well as times when you feel the strain. This isn’t about beating yourself up, but getting to know yourself so you can put better supports in place. Nor

does it mean cutting out all pressure altogether. As I’ve explained above, with eustress, there can be satisfaction and pleasure in working harder at something. Before a singer steps onto the stage or a speaker presents, you’ll often notice that they’re silently reassuring themselves “You’ve got this”. CSSC’s health and wellbeing platform, CSSC life, can help you dramatically reduce your stress with its comprehensive range of guided mindfulness sessions and loads of useful tools and techniques to cope in stressful situations.

Listen to your body’s own warning signals

Get to know your body’s stress signals to make changes before whispers become screams. For example, you might notice little niggles that appear before you’re on the floor unable to move because of backache or migraine! Some common stress signals include feeling nauseous, breathing shallowly, holding tension in the jaw, shoulders, knees or some other area. Once you’ve noticed them, take a break, stretch, lighten your emotional load in some way, drink some water, nap or do something else to potentially break the pattern and stop things getting worse. By listening to your body’s wisdom instead of ignoring it, you can potentially stave off a full-blown episode. There’s a reason why exercise is known as a stress-buster too. Strong movement – whether that’s a run or a walk, a handstand or push-up, some yoga Sun Salutations or a swim – helps burn off excess stress hormones and honours the body’s natural fight or flight impulse in a 2021-appropriate way. You can do a mindful breath practice anytime, anywhere. Start by making yourself comfortable and noticing your natural breath.

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MIND AND BODY

Where do you feel your happiest?

Take steps to do the things that you love

Apart from the life and death challenges of the pandemic, we’ve not been able to plan as many of the things that make life so delightful. Now that life (at time of writing) is more ‘normal’ again, it’s possible to do more of the things that reduce our stress levels in other ways. And again, there is a physical reason for this, rooted in our physiology. By doing what enables us to feel safe, welcome and loved, we enhance our ventral vagal wellness. The vagus nerve, which sends 80 per cent of the signals up to the brain, offers us a shortcut in terms of feeling better, and this then cascades down through the whole system. Feeling good actually enhances our health overall. Get into the habit of pausing when you’re enjoying yourself, on a day out or at home. Where are you most aware of this joy? Getting to know how joy feels helps us make better decisions for our whole lives. Investigate how joy feels in your body to build on it, making

more decisions that support it and doing that on purpose. Right now, you might want to remember or imagine a time when you felt really good. Notice what you’re most aware of in your body. How does it feel to even think about feeling joy? Do you notice your fingers unclenching? A lightness around your heart? A smile spreading across your face? Calm spreading through your chest? Laughter bubbling up? Something else? Once you identify what feels good (swimming, roller-coaster rides, time in gorgeous gardens?) do as much of these things as possible, knowing it’s not only enjoyable but that feeling good helps to counter the negative impacts of stress. Positive feelings like love, pride, awe, hope, joy and so on help us create DHEA, a natural performance enhancer which lowers your stress levels naturally.

Don’t force yourself too hard into the future

Life is opening up again, but many of us are still working with less ‘bandwidth’ and our minds simply can’t hold as many conscious thoughts at the same time. Ongoing low-level (sometimes high) stress with the pandemic as well as other issues may mean that it’s harder to concentrate and juggle as much as you used to. Instead of fighting it, honour it. Connect with your heart and ask yourself, in any given moment, what you need. People talk about the survival of the fittest: well, increasing evidence shows that gentleness is a sign of ‘fitness’ just as much as strength is. And one thing to remember is that just by surviving the past couple of years, you have built resilience simply because you got through it. Taking care of our members’ physical and mental health and wellbeing is our primary mission. CSSC has been looking after those who dedicate their lives to looking after others for over 100 years, and for all that time we’ve never stopped innovating and providing new and inventive ways of maximising your free time. Explorehttps://www.cssc.co.uk/things-to-do cssc.co.uk/things-to-do to find your next stressbusting weekend of entertainment.

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PHOTOGRAPH: borchee/ISTOCK

Would you say you’re breathing from the top of your lungs? The middle of your lungs? Your lower lungs? When we’re exercising or stressed, we breathe more shallowly, so try deepening your breath so it comes up from your belly; that immediately starts sending signals up to the brain that you’re more relaxed and at ease, which in turn has a pretty quick impact on the whole body. You can enhance this by noticing the lengths of your natural inhalation (in breath) and exhalation (out breath). People often say, “Calm down, take a deep breath”, but the longer exhalation is what actually helps us activate the rest/digest response of the nervous system. You might want to breathe in for a count of two and out for three or four; you might want to find a ratio that works better with your natural lung capacity; or you might ignore counting altogether (some find that stressful) and simply aim for a slightly longer exhalation with every breath. Any time your mind wanders (it will, you’re human), congratulate yourself for noticing and gently bring your attention back to your breath. For extra guidance, the ‘Be Calm’ section of CSSC life has loads of really useful programmes including three- to 30-minute sessions to help you on the go or at home.

CHARITY FUNDRAISING

On a wing and a dare

Ian Tighe-Ford’s amazing wing walk for two major charities... and his comments on it! Nothing focuses the mind quite like hanging upside down on a biplane, whizzing through the air at 100 mph. And we suspect that nothing gets you checking and rechecking your fasteners more before take-off than the prospect of a wing walk for charity. But that’s exactly what member Ian Tighe-Ford completed, in order to raise money for Cancer Research and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Having just raised over £2,500 for these amazing charities with his first wing walk and another £2,000 with his first skydive, Ian was determined to up the ante on his next aerial assault and go one step further by performing a loop-the-loop and barrel roll. Now, we would be in awe of anyone attempting this fearless act of bravery, especially for such worthwhile causes, but given Ian is 78 years old and coping with progressive multiple sclerosis, we just had to share our admiration for his tenacity. Never one to stand on ceremony, Ian tells us “It was interesting”, which

The sky’s the limit – and so are Ian Tighe-Ford’s fundraising ambitions

will probably go down in history as one of the most understated quotes we’ve ever had. So far, Ian has managed to raise over £4,800 for Cancer Research and the MS Society by performing this latest stunt. We’re led to believe this will be his last aerobatic adventure! Not everyone has Ian’s head for heights, but if you’ve been inspired by his adventures, why not follow in his vapour trails by finding out what you can do to help raise funds for a cause you’re passionate about? PODIUM ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021 |

If you’d like to help Ian’s fundraising take off, you can visit his page at virginmoneygiving. com/IanTigheFord

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=IanTigheFord&pageUrl=1

cssc.co.uk/PODIUM

In distinguished company We look through the CSSC archives for some eminent former members, including some who may surprise you!

Geoffrey Boycott had to choose which career path to follow PODIUM ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021 |

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CREDIT CREDIT

LOOKING BACK

Throughout its 166-year history, the UK Civil Service has certainly seen some changes: from its early work in the 18th century as the Office of Works and the Navy Board, to providing today’s modern and diverse range of services, employing nearly half a million people. But since its very beginnings the Civil Service has always embraced sport as a way of entertaining, relaxing and uniting an often disconnected and geographically widely distributed workforce. Colleagues have always been encouraged to come together and form associations and sports teams, to help foster togetherness, camaraderie and friendly competition. With such a broad range of talents and opportunities, it’s no surprise when sporting enthusiasts turn their hobbies into a passion with the help of the service and go on to turn their passion into a profession. We’ve scoured the CSSC archives to find some former members, along with Janis Cammell OBE’s recollections of treading the boards.

Mr Boycott must make up his mind

Over the years a small number of clubs and associations, including HASSRA, Plymouth Area Association and Cygnet Rowing Club, have created books telling their story. A History of Civil Service Cricket, by former Chair Sir Richard Hayward and Vice Chair Tony Phelps, was published in the early 1990s and included these interesting paragraphs: ‘In 1961 at Chiswick a young Clerical Officer called Geoffrey Boycott appeared for the Service, helping them to an innings victory over the Navy. He scored 66 and shared in a first wicket partnership of 124 with his captain Roy Sewell, of the Valuation Office. This was his one representative match for the Service. He had joined in 1960 and worked at the Barnsley office of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance; but he was already beginning to make his way in the Yorkshire Colts and 2nd XI. ‘Former colleagues recall how he volunteered to work every Saturday morning during the winter months so that this would increase the amount of leave he could take to play cricket in the summer. In 1963 he applied for special leave without pay in order to play more cricket and see if he could secure a regular place in the Yorkshire 1st XI. His application was considered by the authorities in the Ministry and the Treasury, and the bureaucracy decided that “Mr Boycott must make up his mind whether he wishes to be a Civil Servant or a cricketer” – or words to that effect. He did, and the rest is history.’

PHOTOGRAPH: GETTY IMAGES/Don Morley

Down memory lane for Janis Cammell OBE

From the mid-1960s, with the expansion of the Civil Service, London welcomed a huge influx of young entrants, often far from home, looking for entertainment and new friends as well as work. Many joined one of the drama clubs in and around the Whitehall area. These clubs came together under the umbrella of the Civil Service Drama Federation (CSDF). The period from the 1970s through to the late 1990s was the heyday of amateur drama in the Whitehall area. This was all made possible by a grant from CSSC to the CSDF to manage the Civil Service Theatre. The CSDF also organised an annual weeklong drama festival in late spring, open to all CSDF members. Some 15 to 17 groups would take part from all around the UK. Each group presented a short one-act play, or a self-standing act from a full-length play, and was judged by an independent theatrical adjudicator on both acting and technical ability, such as lighting and staging.

31 Middle-distance runner Joy Jordan, from the Ministry of Supply

The Civil Service Theatre was located in the Ministry of Defence’s Northumberland House, just off Trafalgar Square, the former home of the Duke of Northumberland. During the Second World War the building was requisitioned, and the MOD moved in and stayed until the 1990s. The large Victorian dining room was converted into the theatre, which had a seating capacity of around 150. The Hotel Victoria was where Lillie Langtry had rooms, and where Edward the VII used to visit her. (You can still see the separate entrance.) Other famous names said to have frequented the hotel bar on first nights include Oscar Wilde. We always felt that Lillie Langtry’s benign ghost wished us good luck for our productions. Today, history has turned full circle with the building now housing two hotels, and the theatre has been restored back to a grand dining room. The range of Civil Service productions was amazing, and it was like having a repertory theatre in residence – musicals, pantomime, classic drama, farce and comedy were all on offer. Personally I remember with affection (and this gives an idea of the range on offer) Private Lives, A Man for All Seasons, 1984, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Right Honourable Gentleman, The Apple Cart, Tom Jones, Confusions and Outside Edge. I must have been convincing because once during a ‘whodunnit’ I was in the process of being murdered on stage and my mother apparently shouted out from the back row: “Will you leave my daughter alone!”

Potted personalities

During his tenure as editor of CSSC’s Journal, Henry James introduced an occasional series called ‘Potted Personalities’ which featured a cross section of Civil Service sportsmen and women,

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LOOKING BACK

‘Wind of Change’ from the CS Sports Journal, March 1961

some CSSC stalwarts and a number of other renowned athletes in their chosen field. By the time Henry interviewed Geoffrey Paish in October 1955, Geoffrey was an established fixture on the international tennis circuit, but he was never too proud to grace such CSSC events as the Civil Service Lawn Tennis Championships and the inter-services matches at Chiswick. Born into a tennis family in Croydon in 1922,

For help developing your pastimes into more than just hobbies, explore CSSC’s offers, benefits and funding to see how far you could go.

Civil Service athletics – the early days The range of distinguished colleagues who have competed at sporting events hosted by the Civil Service Athletics Association is indeed varied: including a young Linford Christie OBE, who started his career at the Inland Revenue and competed in CSSC’s 60th Anniversary

Festival of Sport at Crystal Palace; and a fresh-faced 19-year-old from the Chief Secretary’s Office in Dublin, disqualified from the five-mile walk in 1868 for running the last 20 yards – stoking disappointment, which perhaps spurred on Abraham Stoker (right) to write Dracula.

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While not every member goes on to classic fiction or gold medals, it’s true to say the Civil Service and public sector are replete with talent, energy and enthusiasm. And throughout its history, CSSC has always fostered that passion with funding, inspiration and opportunities to help our colleagues grow, thrive and flourish.

PHOTOGRAPH: FluoritLaufer

he displayed an aptitude for the game from an early age, winning the Schoolboy Under Sixteen Championship in 1937. After the war, he joined the Inland Revenue and took up tennis at Chiswick shortly before being invited to join the 1946 Great Britain Davis Cup team, appearing at Wimbledon later the same year. In 1947 he teamed up with Tony Mottram, Britain’s Number One, and together they would become the undisputed duo of British men’s tennis for almost a decade. By 1955, Paish had won the Wimbledon Plate twice, had represented Britain 19 times in the Davis Cup and would shortly add the Warren Fisher Cup as the outstanding Civil Service sportsman of the year to his trophy cabinet. Between 1958 and 1962, Joy Jordan (Ministry of Supply) was ‘the untouchable force of middle-distance running in Britain’. Joy first appears in the pages of the Journal in 1956 as a rising star in the 100and 200-yard events, when she came a close second to Ann Sissons, a notable sprinter of the time. A gifted amateur, Joy displayed an early aptitude for running but, like Geoffrey Paish, took a laid-back attitude to training and diet. All of that changed when her husband, Dennis Jordan, stepped in as her coach, and by 1958 she was regularly leaving her mark in the half-mile (880m) at Women’s Amateur Athletics Association events and the European Championships in Stockholm. In 1959 Joy set a British record of 2:08.01 for the 800m at the Civil Service Championships. A few weeks later she broke this record against West Germany at White City, putting her firmly in the frame for the 1960 Rome Olympics and in a whimsical cartoon in the Journal. In Rome, Joy established herself as the sixth fastest female middledistance runner in the world. However, Welwyn Garden City a few weeks later would be the setting for her pièce de resistance, when she set a new world record of 2:06.01 for the 800m on 24 September, thereby inviting the accolade that she was the first woman world record holder the Civil Service had ever had. And, of course, she also had the Warren Fisher Cup ‘in the bag’ for 1959. Joy Jordan remained at the top of her game until 1962, when she won a bronze medal for the 800m at the British and Commonwealth Games in Australia.

LOTTERY

Our CSSC community lottery Our CSSC community lottery has already proved a phenomenal success. In addition to life-changing cash prizes, it’s been raising money for our community fund

PHOTOGRAPHS: tiero, JackF/ISTOCK

Supporting local

The CSSC community’s main aim is to help empower local initiatives and activities in communities up and down the country. To give back to those who give their all and support life’s true champions. Since we’re a not-for-profit organisation, 100 per cent of all CSSC proceeds goes back to our members, to help look after their health and wellbeing. But the CSSC community lottery has given us an extra chance to really focus on causes close to our members’ hearts: causes where they live, work and play with their colleagues, friends and families. Throughout the year, the CSSC community lottery has been helping to back the community fund, which you can learn more about throughout November and December. Funding can be used to pay for the cost of tools, materials or equipment needed to run a community project. It can also support the cost of venue hire and other expenses as well as running costs.

How does it work?

The CSSC community lottery is drawn weekly every Saturday, with the winning numbers announced on our website at 8pm. Each ticket costs £1 and players can have up to a maximum of five tickets per draw. Players must choose six numbers from 0 to 9, or they can choose a ‘lucky dip’ which randomly generates six numbers. How much a player wins depends on how well their numbers correspond to the ones drawn and the order in which they are drawn. Each ticket has a 1 in 50 chance of winning a prize, so it’s really open and exciting for everyone who gives it a go. Members could win £25,000 for matching six numbers in the right order. There are loads of other cash prizes and free tickets up for grabs for matching fewer numbers in order. 6 numbers = £25,000 5 numbers = £2,000 4 numbers= £250 3 numbers = £25 2 numbers = three tickets for the next draw

To find out more about the CSSC community lottery fund, https://www.cssc.co.uk/cssc-community-lottery visit cssc.co.uk/lottery.

33 So far we’ve had 134 cash prize winners, with 14 winners over £250

n “I am very happy to have won! It came at a brilliant time too, as we have a young child and have just moved home.” Anonymous n “I play football for the Civil Service FC. This was an opportunity to put a little back in, with the added benefit of potentially winning something!” Christopher n “I was quite excited when I heard about the new CSSC lottery and thought it was great being able to decide each month whether you want to enter. I had forgotten it had started so was shocked when I won £250.” Shirley n “When I first heard about the CSSC community lottery I didn’t hesitate in joining, especially as all the proceeds go back to local activities and initiatives. Obviously winning is always a bonus and happy to say my winnings will go towards my season ticket to Blackpool FC.” Rob n “Absolutely buzzing, I only signed up a few weeks ago and won £250.” Stephen

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Slow down but don’t stop Love football, or another sport, but don’t feel quite as nimble as you did? There’s no need to give up: just dial it down with a ‘walking’ version... By Adrian Monti

When Stuart Langworthy needed hip replacement surgery aged 47, he reluctantly accepted that his football-playing days would be over. But instead it kicked off a whole new chapter in his love of the beautiful game, which means today he’s playing as much as ever, even though he is now 60. Stuart’s unexpected extra time on the pitch is thanks to the growing popularity of walking football. The sport first took

off in this country back in 2011 courtesy of Chesterfield FC, which launched a then pioneering way to encourage those in its over-50s community to be more active. Soon this slower version of football was springing up across the UK and in many other countries too. Today, there are about 1,000 walking football clubs in the UK, with more than 60,000 men and women regularly playing at leisure centres, sports halls and

other suitable indoor and outdoor pitches. And each week even more people are trying it out, with a fresh resurgence of interest since lockdown restrictions eased. “I had played local league football to a decent level all my life, until my hip started to slow me down so I couldn’t run after the ball any longer,” explains Stuart, who’s from Gloucester. “But then a couple of years after my hip operation I read in our local

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GET ACTIVE

newspaper about walking football, so I gave it a go.” He adds: “It has given me a whole new lease of life both on and off the football pitch as well as a great new social circle. It’s been fantastic.”

A truly friendly match

Walking football is a slowed-down version of the game most of us are familiar with. There are also various other rule changes to make it safer and more inclusive for older players and those with health issues. Players are not allowed to run, and if they do, the opponents are awarded a free kick. Other key differences include the ball not being allowed above head height, and encouraging only low-impact tackling, so outlawing any potentially dangerous sliding tackles. Matches are often made up of small-sided teams (ideally six or seven in each team), with each half lasting 30 minutes at most. The emphasis is usually firmly on fun rather than on winning at all costs. “I play three times a week, which has kept me physically and mentally fit,” says Stuart, who set up walking football at his Abbeymead Rovers club. “I usually come off afterwards sweating and with a raised heart rate because it’s basically doing a power walk while playing football. But as it’s not as demanding as normal football, it’s open to any level of fitness, any age and even people with mobility or major health challenges.”

Team spirit at its best: everyone’s included

Stuart is a director of the Walking Football Association (WFA), one of the game’s governing bodies, which, along with the Football Association (FA), continue to grow the game. He is also the manager of the WFA’s over 60s England team, which includes two ex-professional footballers in its ranks. Although representative teams and

The emphasis is usually firmly on fun rather than on winning at all costs

photos: RicardoImagen, SolStock/istock, stuart langworthy

Keeping going in other sports It’s not only football that is dropping down a gear or two to welcome those with a few more miles on the clock. Many popular sports have now developed a slower version. Walking team sports include basketball, hockey and netball, while a simpler form of slowed-down rugby is successfully keeping many older players still in the game. The walking version of cricket, for instance, uses a softer ball; even the ‘runs’ are walked and all the fielding is at a more sedate pace. In walking tennis you can allow the ball to bounce twice before playing your shot. And if you fancy the hugely popular phenomenon that is parkrun, you can walk the 5km course alongside the joggers if that’s more your speed. Remember, CSSC offers funding to cover entry fees for some running, cycling, wheelchair, triathlon and walking events over five miles. Explore how to claim online at cssc.co.uk/activity-subsidy-scheme.

competitive club tournaments are a goal for some who take it up, for the vast majority, it’s simply a way to stay fit and make new friends. “Some people play it once a week, while for others it might be more often,” he explains. “Many matches are quite informal, so everyone gets to play. It really is about the enjoyment and banter on the pitch rather than being competitive. Afterwards we go for a coffee or a drink and have a chat and a laugh. It’s this social side which means many try it, like it and stick with it.”

Getting it started in the UK

That’s certainly the ethos at Barnet FC, which welcomes about 100 men and women each week to enjoy a game of walking football. The club’s community-led Hive Trust set up the club’s walking football team more than five years ago. “I had never been much of a footballer at all until I was in my 50s,” admits Shaun Sherrick, who’s the team organiser at Barnet FC. “But then the club asked me to help set up a walking football team. The first week only a couple of interested players turned up, but now it has grown to more than 100 a week, including both men and women. The split is that about 70 per cent have played football in the past but are not ready to hang up their boots just yet; and the other 30 per cent want to give it a go as it sounds more suited to them because it is less physically demanding.” Shaun often finds himself refereeing matches if he’s not playing, which he finds is equally satisfying as he feeds off the positive vibe of others enjoying their football. “It’s great we can have all ages and abilities on our pitches here. GPs are now doing more social prescribing (when health professionals suggest non-clinical ways to improve someone’s health). So we are finding people who may have been told to lose weight, manage diabetes with activity or are

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GET ACTIVE

looking to recover from the likes of cancer or strokes coming along to join in. We joke that if you can breathe and walk you can play walking football too.”

Something for everyone

In the past few years there’s also been a huge increase in women turning to walking football, not least because the game relies more on neat passing rather than physical strength. Among its new devotees is mother-of-two Jenny McCafferty, 49, who took it up three years ago. She now plays once a week at her local sports centre in Greater Manchester. “When I was growing up, girls didn’t do football at my school and there were no local teams,” she says. “Instead I could only play hockey and netball at school, which meant I never got the chance to get involved in the way that girls can today. So when I heard about this women-only session, I went along the next evening and instantly loved it. After

a day sitting at a computer doing my job, it’s a great way to de-stress and keep fit. Because walking football is slower, you can really focus on your passing or shots more than if it was played at breakneck speed. I hope I can carry on playing for many more years; we’ve got one player here who is in her late 60s, so she’s now my inspiration.” There are now projects extending football to disabled people too, including a WFA one encouraging people with Parkinson’s disease to take it up. Some people with this

progressive neurological condition have found even if their normal walking has become unsteady, they are able to be more stable if they have a football at their feet. “In the past, when you couldn’t chase the ball down or put in a tackle, you assumed your days of playing football were over,” Stuart concludes. “But that’s not the case now. Walking football gives you another chance to carry on doing what you loved doing, as age is no barrier.” It’s a great way to stay in the game.

Feel inspired? We’re looking to expand our range of slower sports this spring. If you’d like to try something new, get in touch or check with your local clubs and associations for upcoming events near you.

https://www.thefa.com/ alking football:https://thewfa.co.uk/ W thewfa.co.uk or the English Football Association at thefa.com https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/ https://walkinghockey.com/ Walking hockey: englandhockey.co.uk or walkinghockey.com Walking basketball: https://www.basketballengland.co.uk/ basketballengland.co.uk https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/ Walking netball: englandnetball.co.uk Walking rugby: https://www.walkingsports.com/ walkingsports.com Walking cricket: https://justgetactive.co.uk/ justgetactive.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHS: pixdeluxe/istock

Walking rugby is a fantastic sport and can be played in mixed teams of any age or ability PODIUM ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021 | cssc.co.uk/PODIUM

AWARDS

Kensington Palace

HRH the Duchess of Gloucester

Throughout our centenary year we’re holding events and activities to celebrate our birthday, commemorate our history and look forward to the next 100 years Back in September we began our year of centenary celebrations in style, at Kensington Palace, hosted by our long-time patron, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester. Each year, we recognise the incredible achievements of our volunteering community through the CSSC Awards. Despite the impact of the pandemic over the last 18 months, our volunteers have continued to organise and arrange many outstanding events for members. To acknowledge this, especially since last year we had to cancel the usual celebratory evening, we thought it was only right to make up for lost time and find a suitable venue for this year’s awards. And Kensington Palace proved to be the most stunning backdrop to a magnificent evening. The 400-year-old Jacobean palace has been home to the royal family for over 300 years. It was the birthplace of Queen Victoria and is now the main residence of the Duke and Duchess

Kensington Palace and gardens

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Turnbull Award for Volunteer of the Year – Robert Gillies

The John Whittaker Fellowship Award – Debra Allott MBE

Innovation of the Year – Maria Kerr

of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the latter being our patron. Over 200 CSSC members from all over the country attended. They included permanent secretaries, our key partners, our award winners and selected other dignitaries. Also attending the awards celebration were 50 lucky ballot winners (who were selected from over 3,000 entrants), together with members of the CSSC Board, and our Chair, Mark Fisher. Her Royal Highness commemorated our centenary with the presentation of five volunteer awards to recognise our volunteering community for its outstanding contributions and achievements.

Once the formalities were out of the way, Her Royal Highness joined the evening’s guests in the pavilion and gardens, where everyone basked in the warm glow of fine company and spectacular surroundings – as you can see from the photographs! The public areas of the palace and gardens remained open for guests to explore and absorb the history of this magnificent setting, as the glorious evening wound down. Congratulations to all our ballot winners. And most of all, we’d like to issue a huge thank you to everyone who attended the evening and indeed everyone who helped make this most spectacular of evenings possible, most notably HRH The Duchess of Gloucester for graciously allowing us to use her home.

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AWARDS

Reception and entertainment

39 King’s Gallery

PHOTOGRAPHS: Stuart Wilson

Reception evening drinks

2019/2020 award winners

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Christmas your survival guide

Forget the usual ‘countdown to Christmas’ lists: what most of us really need is a guide to get us right to the end of January. We take you through… By Judy Yorke

For everyone who sees Christmas as a time to relax, have fun and draw family close, there’s an equal number who regard the whole thing as a complete hassle and secretly long for it to be over. The shopping, the expense, the wrapping paper running out with two presents to go, the dry turkey, the in-laws… and even when it’s all over, the long, grey, impoverished weeks of January lie in wait. So what’s the best way to go about it – and maybe even feel better in February, for once?

Decking the halls (easily)

There’s often one person in each household who shoulders the lion’s share of the planning burden. If that’s you, be smart. Delegate what you can – if the teenagers want to stare at a screen, they might as well do the online shopping – and be organised about the rest. “I’m the one who plans all the family presents and I start thinking about it in October,” says Kate Richardson from Watford. “There are often sales in November so I pounce when something’s on special offer. I have a spreadsheet showing what I’ve ordered and when, whether it’s arrived and where it is (bottom of the wardrobe or under

the bed, for example) because I’ve mislaid stuff in the past. It just makes me worry less about the whole present buying frenzy.” The key to delegation is to find out who likes doing what so it doesn’t feel too much of a chore. Some people love wrapping presents as it gets them in the Christmas mood, while others find joy in writing cards or putting up decorations. If you can get everyone to put themselves forward for a couple of jobs, you’ll unload some tasks while keeping younger family members occupied at the same time. It’s a win-win. And remember, there is nothing wrong with taking the simplest option. “We no longer wrap stocking fillers – it saves time, money and waste. I also leave bigger gifts in the

If the teenagers want to stare at a screen, they might as well do the online shopping

box they were delivered in,” says Richard Smithers from Brighton. “I colour-code presents – someone has red wrapping paper, someone else has green and so on – to save on labelling.” What about the not-so-close family members and friends? One of the most wearying things about guests arriving two days before Christmas is the need to produce endless cups of tea and plates of nibbles. “Make yourself at home – here’s the kettle, and the Christmas cake is in the tin over there!” you can chirp warmly after you’ve made the first couple. And if they’re the type to ask in advance “Is there anything I can bring?”, the answer is not “Just yourselves”; it’s “Something for Boxing Day lunch, please”. (And they can get it ready, too.) Don’t forget exercise – there are many parkruns on Saturdays as well as Christmas and New Year’s Day, offering a perfect reason to get out of the house and run or jog 5K – Santa hat optional. CSSC may be able help you with your race entry fees and if you enter some of CSSC’s organised runs you get entered into ballots to win prizes. If you’re on the coast, stroll to the beach to watch hardy (or bonkers) swimmers take their Christmas Day dip.

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SEASON’S GREETINGS

When the party’s over: getting to grips with a new year

PHOTOGRAPHS: RomoloTavani, Difydave, kali9/ISTOCK

A genuine ‘week off’

Those days between Christmas and New Year can be dull, they can be stressful – or they can be fun and relaxing. It’s good to plan a few things to do, as long as you balance that with some ‘do nothing’ days too. If there’s something you’ve been intending to do for ages – an exhibition, a film, an escape room – it’s the perfect time to do it and take any lingering house guests along. It will give you something to do together as well as something new to talk about. In fact, rather than going to the pantomime the week before Christmas to get you in the Christmas mood (when frankly you’ll probably be fitting it in between other engagements or longing for a quiet sit-down), why not book it for now to keep the Yuletide flame burning? You could make up for any Christmas splurging by saving loads off your films with CSSC’s great-value cinema tickets to all the major chains. And remember writing ‘let’s try to meet up soon’ in your Christmas cards? Well, now is the time to put that into practice. With everyone likely at a loose end like you, you could meet friends for a walk, a pub lunch or both. Chances are they’ll be delighted to get out of the house too. Having said that, do make sure you get some me-time. If you usually have a daily run or weekly gym class, carry on doing it. And it’s perfectly acceptable to take the novel you’ve carefully requested for Christmas and settle yourself down with it for an hour or two.

One of the worst things about Christmas is that, before you know it, it’s January. The decorations come down, the credit card bill comes in and you’ll probably feel obliged to do something good for body and soul like Veganuary or Dry January. That’s before you even get to the New Year’s resolutions. So why put yourself through it? If you want to diet, put it off till spring or summer, when lovely fresh salad ingredients and fruit are in season anyway. It’s surely classier not to follow the crowd, so if you want to avoid

alcohol or anything else for a month, you could do that at a different time (how about February, which is three whole days shorter?). Instead, make a New Year’s resolution to do something you have always wanted to do but that, crucially, will enrich or excite you. With over 4,000 savings and things to do, why not explore CSSC’s range of hobbies, activities, crafts, courses and lessons for some inspiration? Get some plans in the diary now, and suddenly the new year will look much, much brighter.

A bit of energetic exercise will refresh and restore you before you head back for a mince pie and TV film

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HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT...

It’s an Olympic sport, it’s easy to learn and there’s a court near you. Should you explore playing badminton? By Sally J. Hall

Badminton PODIUM ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021 | cssc.co.uk/PODIUM

Many of us last tried badminton as children, at sports holiday camps. Half an hour of trampolining, some ball games and wall climbing, then on to a frenetic game of badminton, with little attention to the rules. Perhaps it’s time to revisit this sport – as thousands of others are doing right now.

History and origins

Two thousand years ago, people in ancient Greece, China and India played a game which became the badminton of today. In 1863, The Cornhill Magazine described the game as ‘battledore and shuttlecock played with sides, across a string suspended some five feet from the ground’. Thought to have been brought to England by soldiers who had been stationed in India, the game was renamed after the Duke of Beaufort’s Badminton House in Gloucestershire and people began to play it in the halls of grand country houses. Shuttlecocks were chicken feathers in cork bases; bats were small, with circular heads and short handles. By 1934, the Badminton World Federation was formed, and the game spread to village halls and sports centres. In 1972

it was included at the Olympics for the first time. Today, according to Badminton England, there are over 22,000 badminton courts across England alone and more than 3.3 million adults play each week. Surprisingly, it’s more popular than rugby or cricket and is the world’s second most popular participation sport, according to the BBC Sport Academy. Players range from six to 75 years, and it is remarkably genderbalanced, with almost as many women as men playing. And surely one of its most appealing virtues, in the UK at least, must be that it’s played indoors!

Getting started

Suitable for everyone

Health benefits

Badminton is incredibly accessible, not just in terms of affordability but for all levels of ability – even for beginners. If you previously played a racket sport but haven’t picked up a bat for decades, this may be a good way to get back into aerobic exercise without risk of injury. The light racket and shuttlecock minimise arm strain. “At one of the clubs where I teach, the age range can be from 22 to 55; 46 is the average age,” says badminton coach Mani Frempong. Groups for disabled people are open across the UK too and at the Wimbledon Racquets & Fitness Club they have a fully accessible club with special facilities and wet rooms. Lorraine Brydie leads the sessions and promotes wheelchair badminton, offering tasters to children with physical and learning difficulties. From one court and one player, they now have three courts, 16 users, a coach and some helpers. They have a player training with Surrey Under 15s who never misses her sessions at the club; it has helped the children have a broader experience of enjoying sport.

PHOTOGRAPH: coffeekai/ISTOCK

Quick and easy ways to get started n Explore CSSC’s comprehensive range of badminton offers, tournaments, teams and clubs throughout the UK. n Find a local court – head to the websites of the sport’s governing bodies in https://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/ https://www.badmintonscotland.org.uk/ England (badmintonengland.co.uk), Scotland (badmintonscotland.org.uk), https://www.badmintonscotland.org.uk/ Wales (badminton.wales) and Northern Irelandhttps://ulsterbadminton.com/ (ulsterBadminton.com) for https://www.meetup.com/ details of clubs near you. A lot of games are also advertised on meetup.com. n Try a session with a coach, who’ll be able to give you a bit of professional advice and support: a great way to find out if this might be for you.

CSSC offers loads of great opportunities to play, locally and nationally. You can hire a local court, though you might want to join a club – it’s a great way to make friends as well as helping you keep active. The rules are simple to master, and before you know it, you are rallying back and forth. “If you want to try out the sport I’d advise you to go to an organised session rather than booking your own court,” Mani says. “Turn up and you’ll be partnered with someone of a similar ability, and many people end up socialising with the others after a game.”

Playing a game has many health benefits and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) calculates that a 50-year-old can burn 385 calories during a game lasting just one hour. What’s more, the BHF advises that even those with a heart condition can safely play, as it strengthens the heart muscle, reduces ‘bad’ cholesterol and limits the risk of blood clots. It offers a full-body workout as you run, jump and dive for the shuttlecock, plus it engages not just your hitting arm but your core, legs, calves, hamstrings and quads too. It reduces your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and can increase bone density if played throughout your life. A study in Denmark showed that playing a racket sport can increase your life expectancy by six years – two years more than for football! It’s great for hand-eye coordination and the split-second decisions needed when returning the shuttlecock help improve your reflex actions. Added to this are the additional bonuses of better muscle tone, stamina and endurance, weight loss, flexibility, stress relief, better cognitive function and better sleep. Mani sums it up: “It’s a good cardiovascular exercise, it’s sociable, especially when you play doubles, and the gear is affordable, with rackets from £30, so it’s easily accessible even for kids.” Give it a go: what have you got to lose? Buy a racket and shuttlecocks from one of CSSC’s sporting goods partners like Decathlon Sports or Sports Direct for great-value equipment. Prices start at around £12.

PODIUM ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021 | cssc.co.uk/PODIUM

The CSSC Games X

Our flagship sports event, the CSSC Games, is back for 2022

PODIUM ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021 | cssc.co.uk/PODIUM

The games

45 Next autumn Loughborough University will once again play host to our premier sporting tournament, showcasing a wide range of different sports, games and other activities.

It’s back: bigger and better

Next year we’re introducing a brand-new element to the games, encouraging competitors to take part in two events over the two days. So, whether you want to specialise and pour all your energy into the one event, would like to try something new or challenge yourself with multiple disciplines, check out the details and sign up for what interests you!

A Games designed for all

Whatever your passion, whatever your talent, whatever your experience, we hope that you’ll find it in this year’s CSSC Games. We’ve brought together some classic competitions and new contests and tournaments across our broadest range of activities yet, to thrill and inspire you for the whole weekend. It doesn’t matter if you’re a veteran, expert, novice or armchair critic: the CSSC Games is always packed full of friendly but fierce competition, fun, laughter, spirit and camaraderie. All that’s missing is you.

Flying solo or flying in formation

The CSSC Games is created to lift everyone up and bring everyone together. It welcomes teams, pairs or solo competitors from across the country. We help individuals find a team and we help teams find comrades. PODIUM ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021 | cssc.co.uk/PODIUM

The games

If you can’t get a crew together, you won’t have to miss out. Get in touch and we’ll do everything we can to get you to the Games.

Become a CSSC Games maker

If you love sports, but just the thought of running around brings you out in a sweat, why not bring that enthusiasm and passion to the Games as a volunteer? The competitors are the beating heart of the CSSC Games and the volunteers are the soul which drives them forward. The Games would not be the fantastic success it is, year after year, without the enthusiasm, commitment and dedication of our team of volunteers. Whether you wish to specialise in your area of expertise, or simply share your energy with everyone, you can capture the spirit of London 2012 and become a CSSC Games maker. It’s not all sport, sport, sport either. Even Olympians like to blow off some steam. So, making its return is the world-famous fancy-dress party, guaranteed to kick things up a notch. But if you prefer something a little more sedate, we’ve got you covered too, with our chill-out zones and places of peace. Keep your eyes peeled for early entry in January 2022. Find out more from our website! PODIUM ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021 | cssc.co.uk/PODIUM

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HOLIDAY CERTAINTY IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD

Explore the rich and unique history of the Civil Service Sports Council, over the last 100 years.

Limited to just

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Purchase your special edition copy for just £9.99 at: cssc.co.uk/book

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Podium Magazine Issue 1 | Autumn 2021

Articles inside

Forerunners

Slow sports