While some workplace stress is normal, excessive stress can interfere with your productivity and performance, impact your physical and emotional health, and affect your relationships and home life. It can even mean the difference between success and failure on the job. According to HSE’s 2024/25 statistics, 964,000 workers in great Britain reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety, marking a record high. This represents over half (52%) of all work-related ill-health cases, with 22.1 million working days lost and an average of 22.9 days lost per case. Many employees are reluctant to talk about stress at work. There is still a stigma attached to stress and people still think they will be seen as weak if they admit they are struggling. But stress is not a weakness and can affect anyone at any level of an organisation. Some of the most common causes of workplace stress At Ajuda we have compiled a list of things to do to help reduce Stress in the workplace. Sometimes the best stress-reducer is simply sharing your stress with someone close to you. The act of talking it out and getting support and sympathy—especially face-to-face—can be a highly-effective way of blowing off steam and regaining your sense of calm. The other person doesn’t have to “fix” your problems; they just need to be a good listener. Try to develop good relationships with your colleagues – this can help to create a support network at work. Too many of us get into the bad habit of eating lunch at our work desk. This would mean that you spend all day at the computer and not allowing yourself to take a break. The best way to step away at lunch time is to leave the office and go for a walk. If you’re lucky enough to be close to a park then that is ideal, or just a walk around the block will help. Even if it is just for 10 minutes so you have time to sit down and eat your lunch. Exercise is also very beneficial when it comes to stress and mental health. During stressful times it’s easier to eat junk food or snack on crisps, sweets or chocolate. Try and go for fruit instead. You will start to feel much better. Eating small, frequent and healthy meals, for example, can help your body maintain an even level of blood sugar, keeping your energy and focus up, and avoiding mood swings. Low blood sugar, on the other hand, can make you feel anxious and irritable, while eating too much can make you lethargic. Try going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Aim for 8 hours a night—the amount of sleep most adults need to operate at their best. Turn off screens one hour before bedtime. The light emitted from TV, tablets, smartphones, and computers suppresses your body’s production of melatonin and can severely disrupt your sleep. Avoid stimulating activity and stressful situations before bedtime such as catching up on work. Instead, focus on quiet, soothing activities, such as reading or listening to soft music, while keeping lights low. It’s ok to ask for help or say if you’re taking too much work on. Learn to say no if you can’t take on extra work or responsibility – make sure you’re able to explain why. Work regular hours and take the breaks and holidays you’re entitled to – it’s important to take time off work.
We have our Free Stress & Anxiety Webinar on 16th April Register for free tickets here We also have an online training course that you can take https://www.ajuda.org.uk/stress-management/
How to deal with Stress?
Want to know more about Stress Awareness in the workplace?
To find out more email the team at admin@ajuda.org.uk or give us a call on 02920 576883
Author: Dawn Evans
Time for Defibruary!
Around 30,000 people in Britain every year suffer a sudden
cardiac arrest in the community and around 8,000 people suffer in Wales from
the same reason. They can affect anyone at any time – from young children at
school, to adults when they are at work or at home. In that case it seems to be
important to know what a defibrillator is, how to use it and where to find it –
isn’t it?
What does #defibruary actually stands for?
The combination of words defibrillator and February aims to create an action which will increase the awareness of defibrillators importance. The Welsh Ambulance Service dedicated the whole month for educating people how to use those lifesaving devices to decrease the negative effects of cardiac arrests. The victim’s chances for survival are close to 90% if defibrillator is used within the first minute of collapse. For every minute that defibrillation is delayed, survival decreases by 7% to 10%. Delay for over 10 minutes decreases the chance of survival in adults to less than 5 percent. The greater knowledge about defibrillators the greater chances to save lives!
Defibrillators – all you need to know
Defibrillator called also AED – automated external defibrillator is a
portable lifesaving device used to
administer an electric shock to the heart and restore the heart’s normal
rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest. If the heart can be shocked quickly with an
AED, a normal heart rhythm may be restored. Due to being portable,
automated and easy to use defibrillators can be used in public places and
at home.
How to use them?
Although not all defibrillators look the same, they function broadly in
the same way. The most important thing you can do if you come across the
unconscious and unresponsive person is to call 999 and start CPR to keep the
blood flowing in the organism. Every minute without CPR and defibrillation
after experiencing a heart attack reduces someone’s chance of survival by 10%.
If you do have a defibrillator these are a few steps that you need to follow:
- Turn the defibrillator on with the green button
and follow its instructions. - Peel off the sticky pads and attach them to the
patient’s skin as it’s shown in the picture on the defibrillator (one on each
side of the chest). - Once you attach the pads, stop CPR and don’t
touch the patient. - The defibrillator will analyse the patient’s
heartbeat and assess whether a shock is needed and if so, it will tell you to
press the shock button (an automatic defibrillator will shock the patient
without prompt). - The defibrillator will tell you when the shock
has been delivered and whether you need to continue CPR. - If so, continue with CPR procedure until the
patient shows signs of life or the defibrillator tells you to stop so it can
analyse the heartbeat again, or until the ambulance arrives.
Locate your nearest AED
Make sure that you know where the nearest defibrillator in your area is. The AED location map can be found at http://www.heartsafe.org.uk/aed-locations. It has developed over 12 years to assist people living in communities to know in advance where their local public defibrillator may be positioned in case of emergency. These are places in Cardiff where you can find AEDs:
Importance of AED in your workplace
Every workplace has to invest in certain items to protect its staff members and keep them safe from harm. These include first aid kits, fire blankets and fire distinguishers. However, AED is often left off the list and so we have to make sure that this lifesaving device is located in our workplace. Survival rates of sudden cardiac arrests are very low – without immediate treatment, a massive 90 to 95% of SCA victims will not survive. For optimum survival rates, a person suffering from an SCA needs a shock from a defibrillator.
A shocking 13% of workplace fatalities are due to
someone suffering from SCA, which just shows
how important it is to have a defibrillator in the workplace. Business owners
and HR managers need to understand the risks. When it comes to SCAs, the
severity of the potential risk is incredibly high. For
the cost of a new computer or a round of drinks at the office party,
you could purchase a device that can, quite literally, be the
difference between life and death.
Apart from having the AED at your workplace, managers should also prepare their workers for various situations by giving them specific first aid trainings. Our company can help you deliver them to both your workplace and individually. Check out our classroom and online training courses at https://www.ajuda.org.uk/ and make sure your workers can feel safe at the workplace!
JOIN #defibruary
This campaign exists to raise awareness of the impact of using a defibrillator. It also encourages the public to sign up to free first aid training classes and to raise money and fundraise to place more defibrillators within the community. At https://www.thewave.co.uk/news/local/welsh-ambulance-live-saving-campaign/ you can find all the additional information about the action and some materials to share. We encourage you to be the part of it and help us spread awareness!
Be the one who makes a change!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
We are closing at 16.30pm on the 24th December 2025 and re-opening on the 5th January 2026.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your custom over the past year, and wish all of our clients, old and new, a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.
2025 has been a special year for us at Ajuda and we are looking forward to what is to come in the new year.
Our open courses will be running throughout 2026 at our training academy in Cardiff Bay.
Enjoy your break and we’ll see you in 2026!
Make your Christmas memorable for the right reasons
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), more than 6,000 people will end up in hospital on Christmas Day and over the Christmas period more than 80,000 people visit A&E and these numbers appear to be rising.
Not only is there an increase in admissions due to common winter illnesses, hospitals in the UK see thousands of people treated for Christmas-related injuries. Christmas sees injuries from knives, trips (e.g. from fairy light wires), food poisoning and burns. With serious incidents such as house fires also being more common than during other times in the year; People are 50% more likely to die in a house fire over Christmas than at any other time of year.
Approximately 350 people a year are hurt by Christmas tree lights, according to RoSPA. Injuries include people falling while they’re putting them up, children swallowing the bulbs, and people getting electric shocks and burns from faulty lights. RoSPA’s advice is to ‘Test your lights and the wiring before you put them up, as they can deteriorate over the years. If you have old lights, buy new ones that meet higher safety standards, don’t overload sockets, as that’s a fire risk.’
To put these risks into perspective, here are just a few Christmas accident statistics:
– Since 1996, 31 people have died from watering their Christmas tree with the lights plugged in
– 1 in 10 people burn themselves while setting fire to Christmas pudding
– 350 people a year are hurt by Christmas tree lights
– 1,000 people a year are hurt when decorating their homes
– 30 people die from food poisoning each Christmas
– People are 50% more likely to be in a house fire at Christmas than at any other time of the year
Here are some handy hints to keep your house safe:
– Do not leave candles unattended (this advice should be followed throughout the year)
– Ensure Christmas cards and wrapping paper are kept clear of open flames (e.g. do not hang cards above the fireplace and do not light candles near cards)
– To reduce the risk of trips, slips and falls, keep holiday clutter to a minimum (e.g. invest in a cable tidy to keep stray wires minimal)
– Watch out for small items that could cause a choking hazard, particularly in young children (e.g. Christmas cracker prizes)
– Open packaging with scissors not knives to avoid careless injuries
– If you have old Christmas lights, consider investing in new ones which will meet much higher safety standards
– Keep the lights switched off until the Christmas tree is decorated and don’t let children play with the lights (some have swallowed the small bulbs)
– Don’t overload sockets
– Don’t let bulbs touch anything that can burn easily such as paper (this includes decorations)
– Keep glass baubles out of reach of toddlers and pets
– Don’t be tempted to leave the lights on when going to bed or when leaving the house
– Follow the instructions on the turkey and don’t risk short cuts as it takes hours to cook a turkey thoroughly (uncooked turkey can cause salmonella poisoning, which can be life-threatening for vulnerable people)
– Do NOT drink and drive!
Take this advice on board to ensure that your Christmas is memorable for the right reasons. Have a lovely, safe Christmas and a very Happy New Year. If you have any other suggestions on ways to stay safe over Christmas, please Tweet us on @ajuda_training.
To book yourself onto any of our valuable, life-changing courses (such as, First Aid, Health and Safety or Food Hygiene) in the New Year, please see our Course Calendar and use our new online booking system to book your place. To view our Christmas opening hours, please click on the picture below.
Front Line Manager Skills
Course Overview:
This Front Line Manager E-learning course starts by delving into the various roles that a front line manager is accountable for. You will explore how effective managers balance these responsibilities to create a productive work environment.
Furthermore, this E-Learning course goes in depth about the potential challenges that may arise when transitioning into a management position. Providing insight into overcoming common obstacles and adapting to new responsibilities with confidence.
You will explore the importance of planning and organization in management and will cover techniques to effectively manage time and resources, ensuring that projects are completed efficiently and goals are met successfully.
Moreover, you will learn about the skills involved in questioning, listening, and leadership. These skills are crucial for effective communication and team management, allowing managers to lead their teams with clarity and empathy.
And finally, strategies for effective problem-solving and conflict resolution are explained. This E-Learning course will provide tools to address and resolve conflicts in a constructive way.
Target Audience
This course is designed for employees who are developing into a management or supervisory position.
E-Learning Advantages
Online training is flexible, efficient and cost effective meaning the candidate can progress through the modules at their own pace and in their own time, so they can fit the training around their work and personal life.
Duration of the course
50 minutes
Modules
5
Cost
£49
SMART Objectives
Course Overview:
This micro online E-learning course explains what SMART objectives are and why they are important to employers and employees. Clear objectives help prioritise tasks, enabling employees to better manage their time and resources.
This E-learning SMART objective course is designed to teach you how to craft effective objectives that lead to tangible outcomes. It discusses why goals and objectives are vital, identifies common obstacles to achieving them and how to overcome these obstacles, explains what SMART objectives are and how to formulate them, and offers advice on setting objectives effectively.
Target Audience
Supervisors and managers who are responsible for performance review and objective setting along with staff who may want to understand why their objectives are structured in this way.
E-Learning Advantages
Online training is flexible, efficient and cost effective meaning the candidate can progress through the modules at their own pace and in their own time, so they can fit the training in around their work and personal life.
Duration of the course
15 minutes
Modules
1
Cost
£35
Implementing a Workplace Mental Health Policy Course Overview
Course Overview:
When people have good mental health, they are more likely to fulfill their potential. That means they enjoy work and cope easily with work situations. They have a happy family life and good social relationships.
This E-Learning Implementing a Workplace Mental Health Policy course, covers the steps that organisations should consider when developing and implementing a comprehensive workplace Mental Health Policy.
Target Audience
This course is aimed at employers and employees responsible for developing and following a workplace mental health policy.
E-Learning Advantages
Online training is flexible, efficient and cost effective meaning the candidate can progress through the modules at their own pace and in their own time, so they can fit the training around their work and personal life.
Duration of the course
10 minutes
Modules
1
Cost
£15
Instagram Marketing Strategies
Course Overview:
Our full suite of interactive video-based online courses can be white-labelled and distributed by you.
This E-Learning Instagram Working Strategies micro course, explores the essential elements of an effective marketing strategy to maximise the value of your Instagram account. The course also explains how to use hashtags to increase the reach of your account.
Target Audience
This course is aimed at anyone who is involved in promoting and marketing their business online. It provides insight into how Instagram can be used to promote the company as well as using brand identities, content strategies, hashtags and working with influencers.
E-Learning Advantages
Online training is flexible, efficient and cost effective meaning the candidate can progress through the modules at their own pace and in their own time, so they can fit the training around their work and personal life.
Duration of the course
10 minutes
Modules
1
Cost
£15
Cyber Security – An Overview
Course Overview
Employees, managers and directors should all have a good understanding of the threat posed by cyber-attacks and the importance of guarding against data breaches.
This short online E-Learning course on Cyber Security will explain why cyber attacks and data breaches happen and provide practical advice on how to set up effective defences.
The E-learning course will identify potential ‘cyber threat actors’ who initiate cybercrime, along with looking at the main motivations behind cyber-attacks on individuals and organisations and why they target certain businesses.
Target Audience
This course is aimed at anyone who is involved in promoting and marketing their business online. It provides insight into how Instagram can be used to promote the company as well as using brand identities, content strategies, hashtags and working with influencers.
E-Learning Advantages
Training staff in cyber security is vital to protect your business from these ever present online threats.
Online training is flexible, efficient and cost effective meaning the candidate can progress through the modules at their own pace and in their own time, so they can fit the training in around their work and personal life.
Duration of the urse
15 minutes
Modules
1
Cost
£15
Facebook Advertising
Course Overview:
In this e-learning micro Facebook advertising course, we’ll examine effective ways to boost engagement – including how to define your target audience, choose the right ads for your audience and effective ways to design and build your ad content.
Finally, we’ll show you how to test, track and evaluate your ad campaigns using key metrics.
Target Audience
This course is aimed at anyone who is involved in promoting and marketing their business online.
E-Learning Advantages
Online training is flexible, efficient and cost effective meaning the candidate can progress through the modules at their own pace and in their own time, so they can fit the training around their work and personal life.
Duration of the course
10 minutes
Modules
1
Cost
£15
Team Development and Leadership
Course Overview:
Our full suite of interactive video-based online courses can be white-labelled and distributed by you.
This Leadership skills, Team Development and Leadership E-Learning course explains what a team is and discusses how it will grow and develop over time.
It talks about team members and behaviours that you will see within a team and It also then goes onto explain about the 5 stages of the Tuckman theory on group development. Finally it touches on leadership.
Team Development and Leadership Target Audience
This course is aimed at supervisors and managers that want to develop more effective relationships with members of their teams. The course can be a great starting point for people new to their leadership role as well as more established managers that want to enhance their skills. This acts as a great introduction to the subject.
Team Development and Leadership E-Learning Advantages
A strong leader will motivate their team, improving morale and efficiency and ensure that their team is of a common purpose.
Online training is flexible, efficient and cost effective meaning the candidate can progress through the modules at their own pace and in their own time, so they can fit the training around their work and personal life
Duration of the course
12 minutes
Modules
4
Cost
£15
Introduction to Generative AI
Course Overview:
Welcome to this course which starts by explaining what generative AI is, how it works, and why it’s such an impactful technology in today’s world.
It then moves on to explore the history and evolution of generative AI, seeing the innovations that, through time, have paved the way for today’s advancements in the field.
Next, the course covers the different types of generative AI models, detailing the various ways AI can generate new content, setting out the strengths and limitations of each approach.
Following this, the course showcases some incredible real-life examples of how generative AI is being used across different industries.
And finally, the course peeks into the future of generative AI, looking at emerging trends, as well as the ethical and societal implications posed by the technology.
Target Audience
This course is aimed at beginners and professionals from all industries who are curious about AI.
E-Learning Advantages
Online training is flexible, efficient and cost effective meaning the candidate can progress through the modules at their own pace and in their own time, so they can fit the training around their work and personal life.
Duration of the course
35 minutes
Cost
£35
Modules
5