21 July 2015

University awarded for innovative student experience initiative.

An innovative University of Chester project to improve the student experience has been recognised at the fourth annual College and University Business Officers (CUBO) Awards.

The CUBO Awards 2015, held at the University of Liverpool, recognise the achievements of hard working staff within the higher education sector.

The University’s Student Support and Guidance Department won an Innovation Award (sponsored by ASK4) for a recently launched Wellbeing Project. This three year, proactive initiative is designed to assist the increasing number of students entering higher education with mental health problems, aiding them to become more independent, confident and resilient individuals before entering the world of work.

Over recent years, increasing numbers of university students across the country have been reportedly experiencing mild mental health problems which may escalate into more serious mental health conditions, if not addressed. The University’s figures reflect the national statistics reported by Mind, that one in four people in the UK experiences a mental health problem each year.

The initiative includes:

  • access to the Exercise for Health programme;
  • a number of courses focussing on managing low mood and reducing stress and anxiety;
  • development of a steering group with the remit for reducing alcohol related harm in students;
  • a programme of Suicide Awareness training sessions for all staff;
  • establishment of mental health peer support in partnership with the charity Re-Think Mental Illness;
  • regular liaison with Chester Students’ Union sports and society captains to reiterate their importance in combatting isolation and promoting wellbeing.

The Rev Dr Lesley Cooke, the University’s Dean of Students, said: “We are delighted to have won this prestigious award. The University is very proud of our Wellbeing Project and it is great to have it recognised on a national level.

“It provides a wide range of activities to help students move from a scenario of ‘safety net’ to one of ‘spring board’:learning to manage their own wellbeing more effectively. It also means that our specialist services can be reserved for students who have more complex issues.”

A link to the Awards can be found here:

Caption:

Pictured with the CUBO Award are: Kerry Mattock from ASK4 (sponsors of the Award); Jamie Morris (Student Welfare Project Officer); the Rev Dr Lesley Cooke (Dean of Students); Simon Weston OBE (who presented the Award); and Martin Chalker (Chair of the CUBO Awards Panel).

ENDS

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07841 250221

Nan Pickering

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Alex Williams

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