Mental and emotional wellbeing

Supporting your mental wellbeing

If you have concerns about your mental wellbeing, are having difficulties at work, in your personal or family life, there are several services that can offer confidential help and support.

If you are going through a difficult time in your life and need someone to talk through things with, the Chaplaincy team are here to listen to you, to pray with you or for you, and provide spiritual guidance or mentoring.

The team are based at Neuadd Rathbone, College Road, Bangor, LL57 2DF and can be contacted on 01248 382024 or by email. You may also like to visit their website

Meet the Chaplaincy Team and learn about what the support they can provide

 

Bangor University Security Team
The Security Team has responsibility for the security of students, staff, and visitors, as well as the University estate. All security staff are qualified first aiders and can offer advice and support on general issues or arrange for help. Security is based in Main Arts and provide cover 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the event of an emergency on the campus please dial 333 from any internal phone or 01248 382795 from a mobile. Security should be informed immediately if any of the 999 emergency services have been contacted.

If you have immediate concerns regarding a student's mental wellbeing and or safety please refer to the emergency mental health flow chart which guides you through the steps to find the appropriate and timely support.

C.A.L.L Mental Health Helpline for Wales
Community Advice and Listening Line offers emotional support and confidential advice on a range of mental health related matters as well as a comprehensive list of support services in your local area and information on how to access them. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service.
Helpline: *0800 132 737 or text ‘help’ to 81066 *Free to call from a landline, charges from mobile phones will vary considerably

Email: callhelpline.org.uk

CALM
Anyone can hit crisis point. The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide and run a free and confidential helpline and webchat for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems or find information and support. CALM also support those bereaved by suicide, through the Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP).
Helpline: 0800 58 58 58 - open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year

Mind Cymru
Provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing or supporting someone with a mental health problem. Mind’s Infoline offers information on types of mental health problems, where to get help, medication, treatments, and advocacy.
Infoline: 0300 123 3393  - open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays.
Email: info@mind.org.uk.
Local Minds provide mental health services in local communities across England and Wales. There are four Mind charities across North Wales. Find your local Mind

NHS 111 Wales
The 111 service brings together NHS Direct Wales and GP out-of-hours services to provide health information, advice, and access to urgent, but nonlife-threatening, out-of-hours primary care.
Helpline: 111 or 0845 4647


Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre North Wales
Provide specialist support and therapy to anyone in North Wales who has experienced sexual abuse or violence
Helpline: 0808 80 10 800
Email: info@rasawales.org.uk

Samaritans
Offers a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way, about whatever’s getting to you.
Helpline: 116 123 (English); 0808 164 0123 (Welsh).
Email: jo@samaritans.org
The English services is 24/7 and the Welsh service is open daily 7pm to 11pm.

Local centres that support wellbeing


Canolfan Abbey Road supports better mental health to people over 18 in Gwynedd, Conwy, and Anglesey. The centre offers activities such as reading groups, creative writing, art, craft, gardening as well as projects with animals depending on availability.  You can access counselling, complimentary therapies, support for dependency and  a variety of therapeutic approaches. 

North Wales Women Centre, located in Denbighshire, provides a wide variety of courses, events, social activities, and volunteering. The centre provides a safe, non-judgemental, and professional environment, which is female only between the hours of 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. If you want to learn more about the centre or find out what’s on offer, please call us on 01745 339331 or say hello on Facebook and Twitter

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) provides information and signposts to range of local community-based services to support mental health and wellbeing. These include GP practices, I CAN Community Hub, Primary Care Mental Health Service, Active Monitoring, and therapies. To learn about the complete range of services and support available please visit the BCUHB mental health website

BCUHB’s Self Care Office runs a range of free health and wellbeing courses for adults living in communities across North Wales to help improve wellbeing and effectively manage long-term health conditions. Courses include, Five Ways to Wellbeing, Connecting with People, Foodwise for Life, Healthy Hearts and many more.

The aim of Occupational Health is to promote and preserve mental and physical wellbeing in the workplace through fostering a culture of support and respect.

All University staff can receive advice and consultation to support a positive relationship between their work and health and manage risks in the workplace that are likely to give rise to work-related ill health. Please visit Occupational Health for information on the range of services and referral routes.


SilverCloud

People across Wales, experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, depression or stress, can now access free online therapy without needing to go through their GP. SilverCloud is an online therapy platform that uses proven methods like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help people manage their problems by encouraging them to change the way they think and behave.

You can choose from one of 17 online mental health and wellbeing programmes to complete at your own pace over 12 weeks. Programme options include help with anxiety, depression, stress, sleep, and money worries.

Click here to find out more

   
VIVUP

VIVUP provides the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) on behalf of the University, and are there to provide colleagues with confidential support when needed the most. 

Core to the EAP is face to face and virtual counselling provision, but have a look at these pages and you’ll see a range of other resources such as self-help workbooks and podcasts, as well as access to the ‘Your Care’ portal, with evidence-based interventions and support tools have been designed to help you build mental resilience and strengthen your personal, emotional, and financial wellbeing to help you live your best life .

Click here to find out more

RCS Wales Counselling

If you are sick off work, or struggling at work, RCS Wales provide rapid access to range of free one-to-one talking therapies to help you manage stress and build resilience, reduce anxiety or deal with changes at work.

Click here to find out more

 

Promoting your mental wellbeing

Access the range of resources and training to improve awareness of, and help you look after your own mental wellbeing, and that of others.

  • Languages for All offers a range of evening classes in five languages, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese (Mandarin). Courses are available to Bangor University staff and students, as well as to those outside the University.
  • If you wish to learn Welsh or improve your Welsh, the University provides many opportunities for staff or varying abilities, to learn and use Welsh in various situations, both at work and socially.
  • Staff and students are welcome to join the University Choirs and Symphony Orchestra. Bangor University Symphony Chorus is a large SATB choir, made up of staff and students from across the University, and singers from the local community.  Bangor University Symphony Orchestra is North-West Wales’s premier full-size orchestra, with a membership made up of students and staff, along with the very best instrumentalists from the surrounding area.
  • The Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice offer free mindfulness meditations. If you prefer practicing mindfulness live and with other people, you can also join a range of free online ‘live’ zoom meditation sessions hosted by their associated charity The Mindfulness Network, these sessions are guided by a mindfulness teacher and are held at least weekly.
  • Bangor Bird Group, which has links with Bangor University, was set up 70 years ago. It Is open to staff, students (free of charge) and the public and holds an excellent range of lectures as well as field trips at weekends. The Bird Group meets on Wednesdays, 7.30pm during term time in Room 101, The Management Centre, College Road. For further information, please email bangorbirdgroup@gmail.com
  • The University has an extensive range of indoor and outdoor sport and recreation facilities across four sites. Visit our Physical Activity page to explore ways to keep active at Bangor.
  • Treborth Botanic Garden covers an area of 18 hectares on the shores of the Menai Strait and has been owned by Bangor University since 1960. The gardens are open during daylight hours. Glasshouses are open during events and volunteering days.

Please let us know if there are any local events, groups, or networks that you would like to include on this page. These may help form connections with others, encourage time outdoors, build new skills, give to others, or promote wellbeing in creative ways. Please email d.l.williams@bangor.ac.uk with your suggestions.

Financial wellbeing is about a sense of security and feeling as though you have enough money to meet your needs. It's about being in control of your day-to-day finances and having the financial freedom to make choices that allow you to enjoy life

Alongside the University's pension schemes, (e.g., Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and the Bangor University Pension & Assurance Scheme (UPAS)) with generous employer contribution, the University endorses a variety of non-salary and salary sacrifice benefits that offer the change to make tax and Nation Insurance saving on various purchases and schemes.

Bangor Benefits offers more information on eligibility and on how to access these benefits.

Financial wellbeing resources

Budget Planner puts you in control of your household spending and analyses your results to help you take control of your money

Help with scams advice for spotting, avoiding and recovering from scams.

Mental health and money advice helping you understand, manage, and improve your mental health and money issues

Money and mental health (MIND) poor mental health can make earning and managing money harder. Here, you can find out more about organising your finances, claiming benefits when you have a mental health problem, dealing with services, and looking after your mental health when you’re worried about money.

National Debt Helpline team of expert debt advisers offer free and confidential debt advice. Here you will find guides, fact sheets, budgeting tools and sample letters to help you write to your creditors.

Helpline: 0808 808 4000 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm

Stepchange offers free debt advice that is based on a comprehensive assessment of your situation, practical help and support for however long it’s needed.

Helpline: 0800 138 1111 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

The University offers a range of personal and professional development opportunities for staff of all levels. Please visit the staff development page for details on how to enrol.

Bespoke in-house training and development sessions

The University’s Human Resources team regularly delivers in-house sessions tailored to different roles and interests, such as ‘Time Management during Challenging Times’, ‘Coaching Skills for Managers’, ‘Managing Wellbeing’, ‘Taking Effective Minutes’ and much more.

Coaching and academic mentoring

These dual schemes help staff to address specific work-related challenges and gain advice, guidance and encouragement regarding their work and career development.

I-act training

I-act is the UK’s leading evidence-based and accredited mental health and wellbeing programme for understanding and managing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. The course is focused around a comprehensive, evidence-based manual which contains a wide range of excellent and useful tools and strategies for promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for staff and colleagues.

Keeping Mental Health in Mind

This E learning package, developed by the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, is designed to give non-specialist staff the skills, knowledge, and confidence to offer a first line of support to students who may have mental health issues. It is particularly recommended for staff with pastoral responsibilities. To access this leaning opportunity, please click here

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Wales

This programme is run in-house by our team of mental health advisors and is available through the Staff Development Training Schedule for booking. It is suitable for staff with direct contact with vulnerable adults and students suffering because of a mental health problem. This course teaches the effective skills that could make a difference to a person in a mental health crisis

Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence

This course is designed to support staff in how to effectively receive a disclosure of sexual violence from a student. The course is interactive and features several short films, case studies, news articles and activities. It should take you approximately 1-2hrs to complete. To access this course, please click here

 

University interactive tools and practical guides

Looking after your mind outlines tips and tools to support good mental health habits and methods to identify and effectively deal with the causes of distress. Practical support is given to recognise symptoms of poor mental health in yourself and others, and specialist advice on the steps to take if you know someone exhibiting self-harm or suicidal behaviours.

Managing stress and wellbeing positively is a practical guide that introduces key considerations in relation to managing the normal stresses that come from adapting to change.

Stress at work introduces the University’s stress policy and provides tailored guidance and self-assessment tools relating to the identification and management of workplace stress. These resources outline the responsibilities of managers and staff, respectively, in preventing and reducing workplace stress.

The Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice offer free mindfulness meditations. If you prefer practicing mindfulness live and with other people, you can also join a range of free online ‘live’ zoom meditation sessions hosted by their associated charity The Mindfulness Network, these sessions are guided by a mindfulness teacher and are held at least weekly.

Local centres that support wellbeing

Canolfan Abbey Road supports better mental health to people over 18 years of age in Gwynedd, Conwy and Anglesey. The centre offers activities such as reading groups, creative writing, art, craft, gardening as well as projects with animals depending on availability.  You can access counselling, complimentary therapies, support for dependency and a variety of therapeutic approaches. 

North Wales Women Centre, located in Denbighshire, provides a wide variety of courses, events, social activities, and volunteering. The centre provides a safe, non-judgemental, and professional environment, which is female only between the hours of 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. If you want to learn more about the centre, find out what’s on offer please call 01745 339331 or say hello on Facebook and Twitter .

Podcasts and presentations

  • BBC Sounds - Health and Wellbeing explore the BBC's rich archive spanning diverse topics on health and wellbeing.
  • Give Me Strength with Alice Liveing what makes a strong person to you? Bestselling author and personal trainer Alice Liveing interviews extraordinary women about the importance of building mental and physical resilience and how this can empower us to live happier, stronger lives.
  • How To Fail With Elizabeth Day celebrates the things that haven’t gone right. Every week, a new interviewee explores what their failures taught them about how to succeed better.
  • Live Happy  here you will find dozens of interviews with positive psychology and wellbeing thought leaders who bring you ideas and research on how to live a happier and more meaningful life.
  • Mental Health Foundation discover the range of wellbeing podcasts, interviews and videos, including topics on mental health in children, young people, families, in later life, and prevention resources and tools, and much more.
  • Talks for when you feel totally burned out worn out? exhausted? bleary-eyed? If you need a little something to ease your frustration and get you back in the spirit, this collection of talks should help.
  • Past Imperfect can early events shape future success? Times’ columnists, Rachel Sylvester and Alice Thomson talk to outstanding people about how moments in their early lives informed their identities, their careers and their drive to succeed.
  • The Happiness Lab Yale professor Dr Laurie Santos will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will alter the way you think about happiness.
  • The Naked Professors life coach and writer Ben Bidwell brings you open and relatable conversations about mental health, mindset and personal growth. The Naked Professors represent the new breed of masculinity by stripping things back to have deep and vulnerable discussions about what's most important in life and how we actually feel.

Bangor University staff and students have created a series talks to improve understanding and ways to effectively support mental and emotional wellbeing.

  • Getting a better understanding of our emotions Professor Swales, an international expert in treatments specialising in emotions, from the School of Psychology, describes how to get a better understanding of our emotions. She covers the main emotion ‘families’ and why we experience them before then moving on to describe when to act on our emotions and when and how to reduce emotions that are too intense.
  • Top Tips for Good Mental Health Bangor students, past and present, from the School of Psychology offer their advice, and reflect on the personal strategies they use to support their mental wellbeing.

Seven Ways to Wellbeing

Evidence suggests there are simple steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing. The Five Ways to Wellbeing was developed by the New Economics Foundation in 2008 with the aim of prompting people into thinking about those things in life which are important to their wellbeing and perhaps should be prioritised in their day-to-day routines.

We have added two new ways, Self-Care, and Care for the Planet, as we think that practicing self-care is fundamental to a meaningful and balanced life, and caring for the planet is intricately connected to the wellbeing of future generations and survival of species and habitats.

Give them a try - you may feel more positive and content, able to get more from life, and make a genuine difference to the lives of others.

Connect

Connect with the people around you, friends, family, colleagues, neighbours, at home, work, school or in your local community. Try not to rely on technology or social media alone to build relationships. Invest time, show consideration and respect to nurture new or strengthen existing connections.

Be active

Discover a physical activity that you enjoy. Try activities that bring your focus to the mind-body connection. Step outside and be amongst nature. Discover your local environments through walking, cycling, running, and swimming.

Take notice

Be inquisitive and curious. Question. Remark on the unusual and rare. Savour the present moment. Observe the changing seasons. Be aware of the world around you. Acknowledge the impermanence of life and the passing of your thoughts and feelings.

Keep learning

Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learn something useful that will strengthen your mind or body, a new practical skill or instrument. Learning new things can reinforce a sense of purpose and build self-esteem, as well as being fun.

Give

Do something kind for a friend or stranger without expecting anything in return. Offer to help. Smile. Volunteer your time. Thank someone. Actively listen to others. See yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community.

Self-care

Be kind to yourself. Have patience. Do not be afraid to fail. Learn from regrets. Treat yourself and give yourself the same advice, as you would a loved one or friend. Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.

Care for the planet

Make small changes to your life that will reduce your energy use. Recycle. Reuse. Choose non-toxic chemicals in the home and office. Buy ethically and responsibly. Choose sustainable. Educate yourself and help others understand the importance and value of our natural resources.

Self-help and information resources to support mental wellbeing

Action for Happiness everyone's path to happiness is different. Action for Happiness have identified 10 keys to Happier Living that consistently tend to make life happier and more fulfilling.

Can you tell if someone is struggling? If a friend was feeling anxious, would you notice and know what to do? See how you could support them.

Every Mind Matters here you will find expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.

Mental Health UK It's easy for work to get on top of us, and the stress can eventually lead to further mental health problems. Learn new ways and ideas to help you manage your mental health and wellbeing so you can be your best at work

Mind UK provides information on types of mental health problems, drugs and treatments, helping others, legal rights, and many other topics.  

NHS Mood Zone browse the guides, tools, tips and activities that can improve your mental wellbeing, including 'stress busting' advice, ways to raise low self-esteem, and breathing exercise for stress

Stress Busting brings you everything you need to know about the symptoms, causes and treatments for stress

As part of the Wellbeing Strategy work is progressing to establish a network of Wellbeing Champions in each Academic School and Professional Service with an aim of having this support available for September 2022.

In addition, a group of 21 staff from across the University are currently undertaking wellbeing coaching training which will enable them to offer 1:1 support to individuals who wish to explore wellbeing-related matters.

Further details of both initiatives will be made available through the Staff Bulletin and Heads of Schools and Departments in due course.

Apply to Staff Wellbeing Champions

Below you will find more information about the role of Staff Wellbeing Champion, including a job description and how to apply. If you have any questions about the role after reading these documents, please contact Anna Quinn a.quinn@bangor.ac.uk

This role is an opportunity to become the staff wellbeing champion (SWBC) in your school or department. We are looking for people with enthusiasm and commitment to support staff wellbeing. You'll make a valuable contribution to the University and its staff by enhancing wellbeing and job satisfaction. For small schools/departments, one SWBC will be appointed, and for medium and large schools/departments, up to two SWBCs will be appointed.

Note that there have been recent communications about staff coaches (wellbeing), which are staff who are trained to offer 1-to-1 coaching to staff. This is unconnected to the SWBC role.

Key roles:

Specific tasks:

  • Complete the training prerequisites (see below) to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed for the role

 

  • Give staff clear information about and signposting to the University’s support services to enable staff to make informed choices about their personal wellbeing

 

  • Encourage colleagues to access opportunities from relevant health and wellbeing resources

 

  • Act as a role model to inspire colleagues to proactively look after their own health and wellbeing
  • To develop and share ideas and initiatives with the SWBC network, and colleagues within your school/department in order to encourage a culture of supporting staff wellbeing on a daily basis

 

  • Attend and contribute to wellbeing champion network meetings (a meeting approximately every 6 weeks)

Frequency of contact

  • As often as needed/appropriate, on a “light touch” basis and will vary through the year (e.g. when there are specific campaigns or initiatives there may be a need for more intensive event promotion). This will be between 3 and 6 hours per month as a guide.

General approach

  • To help deliver activities that support the University’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy (key university events and campaigns)
  • Being available as someone whom staff in your school/department can approach if they have concerns about their wellbeing
  • Practice supportive active listening to colleagues who may wish to talk about their wellbeing
  • To offer a holistic approach to wellbeing, not confined to the workplace, but linked to the University’s health and wellbeing thematic strategies (mental health, physical health etc)

Note

  • The role of wellbeing champion is centred upon staff wellbeing, and the remit does not include work around student wellbeing (although there may be overlap or useful shared practice).
  • You are not expected or encouraged to offer counselling or advice to colleagues – instead, offering a listening ear and signposting to available resources are key parts of this role.

Pre-requisites of the role

What do you gain as a staff wellbeing champion?

  • Training in health and wellbeing
  • An introduction/ orientation skills session to the role of SWBC
  • i-act 3.5 hour manager training (if applicants have not already participated in this training)
  • Wellbeing champion training workshop/s
  • Collaboration and networking
  • You will be part of a network of fellow wellbeing champions with an aim to support your own wellbeing within the role, while sharing innovations and best practice across the university.
  • Support
  • Regular Staff Wellbeing Champion Network Meetings providing support, opportunities to network, and sharing of new information/good practice
  • CPD sessions for wellbeing champions as arranged by the University.

Person specification

To be a staff wellbeing champion you need to be able to demonstrate the following:

  • Have a keen interest in health and wellbeing and making a positive difference to peoples’ lives
  • demonstrable clear and effective communication and listening skills. Be able to actively listen and show empathy towards fellow staff members who may need support with their health and wellbeing
  • ability to represent school/department by collecting feedback and presenting ideas to the SWBC network meetings
  • a track record in networking, ability to motivate, and being supportive towards others

In addition, the following skills and qualities would be particularly welcome:

  • applications from underrepresented groups are encouraged to ensure a greater diversity of staff undertaking health and wellbeing roles across the university. As health and wellbeing roles tend to be made up mainly of women, we would particularly encourage applications from male, transgender, or non-binary members of staff. We are also looking for a good balance of bilingual applicants.
  • previous training/skills in any aspect of supporting wellbeing (e.g. physical, emotional, social)

Staff Wellbeing Champion (SWBC) Opportunity:

INFORMATION EMAIL/SHEET FOR STAFF

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce we are now recruiting up to 30 staff wellbeing champions across the University (our aim is to have at least one wellbeing champion per school/department, and up to two for large schools/departments). If health and wellbeing is your passion and you would like to find out more and apply for this voluntary role, please read on….

What is a staff wellbeing champion?

Staff wellbeing champions will help to promote and support health and wellbeing to staff within their School or Departments through signposting, providing knowledge of available support, organising and promoting occasional wellbeing activities and encouraging healthy lifestyles and positive mental health. They will also be available for simple, supportive conversations with colleagues who wish to talk about their wellbeing.   (note: this is not an advice, coaching or counselling role, but a supportive and signposting one). Training and development for the role will be provided, and there will be regular meetings for all wellbeing champions to share initiatives and for mutual support– please see below for details.

Staff wellbeing champions will help to foster positive and supportive environments across the university community. They will facilitate and document local wellbeing activity, working collaboratively with other staff wellbeing champions. they will also be expected to influence managers in their areas by communicating any health and wellbeing issues that may arise. 

How might I benefit from being a wellbeing champion?

As well as developing new knowledge and skills, you will be part of a growing network of colleagues from diverse backgrounds across the University Community with a passion for improving health and wellbeing whom you will meet on a regular basis and will also be a support network for you in this role. You will also be able to feedback to help shape the University’s health and wellbeing agenda. Also, these roles are becoming increasingly important across the UK university sector and may well help you in your own development and career progression.

What training and development do staff wellbeing champions receive?

Staff wellbeing champions are fully supported in their role. Initially they will attend an induction session to orientate them to the role, develop the skills to initiate wellbeing conversations with colleagues as well as skills in organising and managing events. Two externally run courses will also be available: i-act training and a wellbeing champion training. Staff wellbeing champions will also need to complete unconscious bias training, equality and diversity training, prevent training, and responding to disclosures of sexual violence training (these are all online courses which are already available for all staff, to access these courses, click here.) They will also participate in regular meetings in order to network, receive support and share information and best practice in health and wellbeing. Additionally, they will have priority places in occasional health and wellbeing training and development opportunities offered by the University.

Why has Bangor University developed the role of staff well-being champion?

Health and Wellbeing is one of four “transformational themes” underpinning the vision set out for the University in its Strategy 2030. The importance of supporting staff’s health and wellbeing was highlighted in the 2020 Staff Survey and the Covid-19 pandemic has added further urgency to this theme. Health and wellbeing are fundamental to enable staff to realise their potential, to flourish, to cope with the normal stresses of life, to work productively, and to contribute to the wider community.

To develop this work further, a University-wide Health and Wellbeing Strategy was developed and widely consulted upon in 2021. Under the strategic theme “Creating Positive Environments”, a commitment was made to “Create and embed a network of wellbeing champions to promote wellbeing across the Colleges and Professionals Services at Bangor University”. 

What other developments are there in Health and Wellbeing for staff at Bangor University?

A great deal of development work has taken place to ensure the University adopts a needs-led, evidence-based approach to promoting staff health and wellbeing. Already over 100 staff, including the Executive Team, have undergone evidenced-based training in managing and promoting positive mental health and wellbeing. In addition, a number of staff are trained coaches and offer up to three one-to-one wellbeing sessions for staff, and we have commissioned 10 mental health and wellbeing instructor training courses so we will have a group of “in-house” mental health and wellbeing trainers who can deliver i-act wellbeing courses for staff– the opportunity to become an i-act instructor will be open to staff wellbeing champions (using a  selection process due to limited places). All of these initiatives build upon a wide range of support services (including counselling), online resources, and development opportunities related to health and wellbeing that staff can access.

What is the difference between a staff wellbeing champion and staff coaches (wellbeing)?

  • You may have seen some communications about wellbeing coaches in the staff bulletin recently, so this role is not confused with the wellbeing champion role, the key differences between these two roles are highlighted below:
  • Staff Wellbeing Champions work across a whole school or department to have brief supportive wellbeing conversations and signpost staff to other health and wellbeing services/facilities – including to wellbeing coaches. They may also be involved in facilitating wellbeing activities within their school or department, and in supporting management by feeding back ideas and priorities from colleagues, around wellbeing areas.
  • Staff coaches (wellbeing) support staff on a one to one basis to explore in some detail their health and wellbeing and to plan actions with them to support this; Coaches will meet up to three times with coachees to support them towards their personal wellbeing goals.

Will this role be included as part of the WAM allocation?

This is currently being explored in terms of how this role best fits into the WAM model, and it will be expected that it will be counted as part of the WAM in the near future. For non-academic staff, it is expected that this role will fit in to usual hours, with adjustments made to ensure you can undertake the role effectively.

I’d like to apply to become a staff wellbeing champion. What do I do now?

If you would like to be considered for the role, please gain your line manager’s approval for this, then email your name, current professional role, and department to Anna Quinn, Health and Wellbeing Project Manager (a.quinn@bangor.ac.uk) together with a brief statement of no more than 400 words explaining why you’re interested in the role, and how you believe that you will be an effective Staff Wellbeing Champion.  To help develop your statement, please do refer to the role description below. The closing date for this round of applications is 27/05/2022.  We are very keen to seek applications from across the University. Where several members of staff apply from the same department, priority will be given to applicants who can demonstrate a history of consistent interest in H&WB development, including pastoral roles, and participationg in H&WB related training.

This is an excellent opportunity to become involved in a key area of staff support and development and be part of an exciting new initiative at Bangor University.  If you have any questions after reading this information, please do not hesitate to contact Anna Quinn on a.quinn@bangor.ac.uk