Maintaining Resilience & Strengthening Support Across Newcastle City Council

Newcastle City Council (NCC) delivers essential services to a diverse and sometimes vulnerable population, with staff working in roles that demand emotional resilience, strong teamwork, and the ability to support people through challenging circumstances. To strengthen these core skills, NCC partnered with New Guard Workplace Training to deliver a bespoke training programme focused on Maintaining Resilience, Supporting the Team, and Supporting People.
Each programme was designed specifically around the realities of public‑sector work. Staff across NCC face high workloads, emotionally charged interactions, safeguarding responsibilities, and the pressure of making decisions that directly impact people’s lives. Our training provided practical, immediately usable tools to help individuals recognise signs of stress, manage emotional load, and maintain personal resilience even in demanding situations. 

Through interactive workshops, real‑world scenarios, and open discussion, participants explored how resilience is built and sustained — not just individually, but collectively. The Supporting the Team module focused on communication, psychological safety, and how colleagues can create environments where people feel valued, heard, and supported. The Supporting People module equipped staff with sensitive, confidence‑building approaches to working with service users who may be distressed, vulnerable, or facing crisis.
Participants engaged deeply with the training, sharing honest reflections about the pressures of public‑sector roles and the importance of maintaining wellbeing while delivering high‑quality services. Many expressed that the programme helped them understand their own stress responses, communicate more effectively, and feel more confident supporting both colleagues and service users.

By investing in resilience and support‑focused training, Newcastle City Council has taken a proactive step toward strengthening its workforce, enhancing service delivery, and fostering a culture where mental health and wellbeing are openly acknowledged and prioritised. Our partnership reflects a shared belief that resilient teams create stronger communities — and that supporting the people who deliver public services is essential to delivering them well.
Feedback from teams and managers was overwhelmingly positive. Staff reported increased clarity, stronger coping strategies, and a renewed sense of connection within their departments. Leaders highlighted that the training aligned with NCC’s commitment to prioritising staff wellbeing and building a resilient workforce capable of delivering safe, compassionate, and effective services.

testimonials

 I thought it was really beneficial. The instructor was able to engage the whole group and dealt with heavy, emotive, subjects in a manner that really engaged and informed without becoming overwhelming. Really good training and would recommend. 

Newcastle City Council
Emotional Resilience and Wellbeing

 We required this kind of course at least once a year! With new, enhanced points and research, because society change very quickly... thank you! 

Newcastle City Council
Emotional Resilience and Wellbeing

 It was a very interesting and a massive learning curve. Definitely give you food for thought and helped understand situations from a different viewpoint. 

Newcastle City Council
Emotional Resilience and Wellbeing

 Really brilliant and delivered in a fantastic way. Emotive subject that was handled with excellence. Food for thought as I make some changes in my own life. 

Newcastle City Council
Emotional Resilience and Wellbeing

 I have worked in local government for 27 years and this is the best and most relevant course I have attended. 

Newcastle City Council
Emotional Resilience and Wellbeing

 Chris was very down to earth, friendly and made the course interesting and informative. Some of the content was common sense but valuable to remind us of strategies to use at work & at home. 

Newcastle City Council
Emotional Resilience and Wellbeing