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Joy gets top award for her support at Bay's Police HQ


August 06, 2020 - 867 views

North Wales Police have been jumping for Joy as her unwavering support for her colleagues with their health, fitness and wellbeing has earned her national recognition.

Joy Tipton has worked for North Wales Police for 32 years, providing fitness training to new police recruits and police officers who are required to pass fitness tests.

And whenever possible, in her own time, the 50-year-old mother of two provides free lunchtime fitness sessions for all at Force Headquarters in Colwyn Bay - always with a smile and a sense of humour.

In nominating her for the BAWP award, Amanda Hanson said: “Joy gives people the confidence to attend the sessions regardless of size or fitness and is able to ensure the classes are suitable for those who are very fit, and those who are not. No mean feat when you do not know who is coming each day!”

Recognising that not everyone can manage a lunchtime class in the allotted lunch break, since June 2019 Joy has also been running 7am fitness classes in Colwyn Bay HQ.

As with the lunchtime classes Joy never knows who will attend from day to day but she is always positive and thoroughly committed, and regularly shares new fitness techniques and healthy lifestyle tips with the attendees.

Joy gives up her own time to assist police colleagues who have concerns about passing the force fitness test. She guides and supports them and does everything possible to ensure they have the confidence and fitness level to achieve what is required, always prioritising the wellbeing of the individual and proving the best possible support.

As well as being a wellbeing champion for the force, Joy also volunteers as a Critical Incident Debriefer. She is trained to be equipped to understand the potential impact of trauma, and signs of post-traumatic stress disorder to provide a safe environment for individuals to discuss critical incidents and ensure they are aware of normal reactions.

She is a champion for diversity, particularly for women going through the Menopause and is not afraid to speak out and speak up for women going through this part of life. Joy is also an active member of the Gender Equality Network ensuring an inclusive response to issues that affect all staff.

Joy is a volunteer mental health peer supporter acting as a neutral friend offering to talk confidentially to colleagues with mental health concerns and signposting to other means of support if required.

She is a Maternity, Adoption and Paternity supporter, who offers support, advice and guidance to colleagues who are away from work during this exciting time, but may also be feeling isolated and worried about organisational change or missing opportunities for development.

“There is no doubt that Joy’s commitment to supporting her colleagues with their health and well-being is outstanding and goes way beyond what she is actually paid to do and she thoroughly deserves to be recognised for the BAWP award,” added Amanda.

On being told she had beaten over 300 nominations to win the Lifetime Achievement award Joy claims she was speechless: “It is something out of this world. I feel very privileged to have been recognised for doing my job.”

And despite the ceremony being postponed due to the current situation Joy will be presented when the event has been rescheduled.