Staff Away Day 2024 - Connection, Collaboration and Contribution

It was an exciting experience to be surrounded by the bright minds and energetic spirit of ACHers. We were also joined by guests from Prime Wellness, who led us through a wonderful morning and early afternoon of wellness activities. The games started with a lively round of “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Cup,” which tested our speed and coordination. Next came the ball-kicking word puzzle and the marshmallow tower challenge, which put our teamwork, focus, and problem-solving skills to the test. While some teams built impressively sturdy towers, other towers didn’t stand a chance against the (imaginary!) English wind, a few collapsed faster than they were built - but all in good fun!

After the games, Charlie and the Prime Wellness team guided us through a session on the importance of health and well-being, both at work and in our personal lives. The discussion covered essential topics like sleep, breathing techniques, and mindfulness, reminding us how crucial it is to take care of our mental and physical health in today’s busy world. We also participated in practical exercises to learn how to incorporate these wellness practices into our daily routines.

No ACH event is complete without great food! We enjoyed a delicious spread of hot drinks, food and snacks before moving on to an inspiring talk from our CEO, Fuad Mahamed. Fuad expressed his gratitude for the team’s hard work and dedication, welcomed new team members, and gave us an exciting sneak peek into the future of ACH and how we will continue supporting our communities.

The day continued with a series of awards to celebrate our team members who had been with us for a period of five and ten years. We also had lighthearted award categories like “Caffeine Lover,” “Class Clown,” “Shortcut to Everything,” “Office Dancer,” and “Note Taker” brought plenty of smiles and laughter across the room. The highlight, however, was the presentation of the ACH Values Champion award, given to an individual who embodies our core values of Caring, Empowerment, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence. This year, the award went to Farhiya Yassin, who truly goes above and beyond in everything she does.

With over 37 nationalities represented across our team, our away days are always a unique opportunity to connect with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and cultures. It's a powerful reminder of the unity in our diversity, and how our collective experiences and perspectives make ACH such a vibrant, forward-thinking, and inclusive organisation.

We can’t wait for next year’s Staff Away Day and all the fun, learning, and connection it will bring!