Mid Sussex District Council launches campaign to promote kindness and respect

- 19/01/2026

Mid Sussex District Council launches campaign to promote kindness and respect

Mid Sussex District Council has today (Monday 19 January) launched a new initiative aimed at fostering kindness, respect, and building a supportive community for staff and residents.

The campaign is being launched this week to coincide with Blue Monday, often described as the most challenging day of the year for mental health. At a time when many people may feel stressed or low, the Council is reminding residents that even small acts of kindness (such as a smile, saying thank you, or a moment of patience) can make a big difference to someone’s day.

The new campaign encourages everyone who interacts with the Council by phone, online, or in person to treat staff with courtesy and understanding. The initiative comes in response to abusive and aggressive behaviour towards public service workers, which can have a serious impact on staff wellbeing and service delivery. 

The campaign serves as a reminder that Council workers are human too and encourages members of the public to treat workers with kindness. The campaign promotes:

  • Respectful communication
  • A commitment to kindness
  • Support services for staff
  • Robust processes for incident responses
  • Safety and inclusivity for the whole community

Kindness and consideration go both ways, and the Council remains committed to supporting our staff through strong wellbeing measures and a clear Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect.

Councillor Anne-Marie Cooke, Cabinet Member for Communities and Communications said “Our staff work hard every day to support the community and deliver essential services. We value open conversations that can help improve our services and we believe that everyone has the right to share their views. This campaign is about encouraging kindness in how we communicate and treating everyone with respect.”

Residents are invited to learn more about the initiative and how they can help create a safe and inclusive environment by visiting: www.midsussex.gov.uk/promoting-kindness.

 
ENDS