Author, Pamela McGee is Student Success Inclusion Lead in Student Experience and Enhancement at the University of Liverpool.
When we look back over the last two years, it’s clear that the pandemic created a sense of disconnection, loss of confidence, and exacerbated mental health struggles for many.
With this in mind, and as Covid restrictions started to lift, the Student Success Team (part of Careers & Employability) turned our thoughts to wellbeing and “belonging” and focused on a fresh approach to help students explore academic and extra-curricular interests, make connections and friendships, and access the support available, particularly through our Student Support Services.
Developing a framework for wellbeing programmes
Through student focus groups and consultation with departments from across the University, we co-created a new approach to wellbeing based on students’ feedback around connection, work/life balance and having fun, underpinned by professional support. The ‘5 ways to Wellbeing’ have formed the basis for previous wellbeing programmes and for our latest offer we maintained this approach, adding the 6th element of ‘Be Sustainable’ and extended our existing programme to run for a month for all staff and students – Feel Good February. Our message was simple – to try ‘one thing’ and take a small, sustainable step to enhance your wellbeing.
Highlights from the month
This month we have run over 200 online and in-person events, competition and challenges across campus. We also celebrated key points in the month such as Lunar New Year, Time to Talk Day, Safer Internet Day, Student Volunteering Week and LGBTQ+ History Month.
Here are a few highlights of our busy month:
Take Notice
Chinese New Year celebrations led by the Confucius Institute, Cheshire Falconry display from the Sustainability team and SWAG delivering sessions on mindfulness, meditation and learning to de-stress.
Be Sustainable
The Guild offered Bee-Keeping and hedgehog-friendly campus sessions, and Sustainability provided bike workshops and information stalls with their eco-friendly giveaways.
Be Active
Sport Liverpool led the way with the campus 5k, month-long step challenge, mini golf, weekly health walks, and a huge range of exercise classes and turn-up-and play sessions such as dodgeball and rounders. Our Fresh Thinking Day made the links between exercise, healthy eating and brain power as students pedalled to make a free smoothie!
Keep Learning
The KnowHow team led a wide range of study support sessions and the Library held book swaps and book clubs. The Guild offered crafternoons and tours of city’s sights, cathedrals and museums. SWAG offered sleep-improvement and budgeting workshops and our fantastic Digital Coaches offered advice on ‘Tech day’ along with Merseyside Police.
Connect
The Guild Refresher’s fair helped more students find a society to join and our Time to Talk pop up café was a huge hit with free hot chocolate, cake and wellbeing journals. Online, students connected through the Guild’s Tea Talks and, of course, our National Pizza Day and Random Act of Kindness competition brought students together in person and online.
Give
Our month-long student survey gave students a way to donate for free, with over £200 raised for Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service.
Student support underpinned all of these activities – we launched with a Support Services Fair, our wonderful student Peer Mentors supported at many events, and the Careers team ran their Love Liverpool campaign connecting students to local jobs. Not forgetting UoL colleagues, HR offered many ways for staff to access support, with workshops and information sessions open to all.
Feel good all year round
It’s been fantastic to see the impact of Feel Good February, and I hope you enjoyed however much, or little, you participated. For now, though remember, wellbeing is something that is important all year round and our Student Services team are here to make sure you get the support you need, when you need it. Find out more on their webpages.