Staff Wellness Week

24 - 28 June 2024

Programme of events

We’re delighted to announce a week of wellbeing activities for all colleagues in June. 

We hope you enjoy the activities within the programme and where appropriate, check with your manager to agree that they are happy for you to attend activities during your working day. 

Monday 24 June

Maximising Income workshop
10.00am - 11.00am

This workshop, which will help you look at ways to maximise your income and minimise expenditure, is part of our Financial Wellbeing offer from money management charity Navigate

Walk and Talk  
12.00pm - 12.45pm

The Walk and Talk sessions provide an opportunity to meet staff from across the University as well as encourage physical activity during your working day. Meet in front of the Buckley building and from there we will walk around South Park or towards Marston and the University Parks.

Wellness Week Cafe
12.30pm - 1.30pm, Marston Road

Join us in the Marston Cafe for a social get together, a chance to chat with colleagues and meet staff members from other faculties and directorates. Hot drinks and cake will be provided - no registration required

Tuesday 25 June

Staff Campus Tour
10.00am - 11.00am

For new employees! Join us for an exciting campus tour that will help employees navigate Oxford Brookes while meeting colleagues! This is the best way to kickstart your journey with us and learn about the vibrant culture and community we have to offer. The People Directorate and Student Ambassadors lead our welcome tours, which last approximately one hour and are open to paid staff.

Personal Time Management workshop
10.00am - 12.30pm

How to make the most of your time is a key skill for anyone and brings huge benefits for managing stress and productivity. This session focuses on the principles and habits of effective personal time management, with many practical tools and techniques that can be implemented immediately.

Wellness Week Cafe
12.30pm - 1.30pm, Harcourt Hill

Join us in the Refectory Cafe, Harcourt Hill for a social get together, a chance to chat with colleagues and meet staff members from other faculties and directorates. Hot drinks and cake will be provided - no registration required

Wednesday 26 June

Financial Products and Services
10.00am - 11.00am

Join us in the Refectory Cafe, Harcourt Hill for a social get together, a chance to chat with colleagues and meet staff members from other faculties and directorates. Hot drinks and cake will be provided - no registration required

Crafternoon Tea: crochet workshop
1.00pm - 3.00pm in the Garden Room, Headington Campus

There will be someone to support complete beginners, or materials and instructions to make fidget toys for more experienced crocheters. 

You are also welcome to come for the tea and company, or bring your own craft project.

Wellness Week Cafe
12.30pm - 1.30pm, Swindon

Join us in the 14Forty Cafe, Swindon campus for a social get together, a chance to chat with colleagues and meet staff members from other faculties and directorates. Hot drinks and cake will be provided - no registration required.

Wellness Wednesdays

Wellness Wednesdays allow for all Oxford Brookes students and staff to use our Headington and Harcourt Hill, Brookes Sport gym facilities for free, all day on Wednesdays. 

Walk and Talk
12.00pm - 1.00pm

Staff Walk and Talk runs every Wednesday from 12.00pm until 1.00pm, meeting outside Brookes Sport, Headington. The Walk and Talk sessions provide an opportunity to meet staff from across the University, as well as encourage physical activity during your working day.

Thursday 27 June

Mental Health Aware
9.30am - 2.00pm, Headington Campus 

This introductory course raises awareness of mental health including understanding of what mental health is and how to challenge stigma; a basic knowledge of some common mental health issues; an introduction to looking after their own mental health and maintaining wellbeing and improving confidence to offer support someone in distress or who may be experiencing a mental health issue.

Reframing Negative Thoughts
2.00pm - 3.00pm

A one-hour interactive workshop including recognising common negative thought patterns, how they can affect you and how to reframe your thoughts to positive ones to support your wellbeing.

Wellness Week Cafe
12.30pm - 2.00pm, Headington Campus

Join us in the  Forum (John Henry Brookes Building Headington) for a social get together, a chance to chat with colleagues and meet staff members from other faculties and directorates. Hot drinks and cake will be provided - no registration required.

Brookes Sport

Brookes Sport has put together a range of activities and classes to keep you feeling fit and well during Wellness Week and beyond. 

Staff Walk & Talk

Staff Walk and Talk sessions run every Wednesday from 12.00pm until 1.00pm, not just during wellness week. Meeting outside Brookes Sport, Headington the Walk and Talk sessions provide an opportunity to meet staff from across the University, as well as encourage physical activity during your working day.

Wellness checks

Wellness checks are a good starting point for those at the beginning, restarting, or well into their health and wellness journey. It is a 15-20 minute consultation with a member of Brookes Sport, measuring weight and body fat percentage.

Brookes Active including Free Yoga sessions

The Brookes Active programme consists of Staff Active and facilitates opportunities to be more active more often which is fundamental to positive mental health. These include free weekly yoga sessions for staff and a free weekly swimming session

Other activities from the Multifaith Chaplaincy

Get involved in gardening

Email Kate Harford (kate.harford@brookes.ac.uk) if you would like to do some gardening outside Buckley this summer - there is no formal event planned but you can access tools and spend some time outside on your own or with colleagues.

Interfaith Friendship Walk with the Oxford Council of Faiths 

The Oxford Council of Faiths (OxCoF) annual Friendship Walk provides an opportunity to meet and walk with people from Oxford’s many different faith communities.  There are several stops along the way for reflections from members of different faith traditions. However you express your faith or spirituality, or if you don’t align yourself with any particular beliefs, you are welcome. 

The walk begins at 6.00pm from the Jewish Centre in Jericho and ends at about 8.00pm at a mosque in East Oxford. You do not need to do the full walk and can join for as much or as little as you would like. 

The Multifaith Chaplaincy has a long relationship with the Council of Faiths, and several chaplains join the walk each year. If you would like to walk with the chaplains and other staff and students email the Multifaith Chaplaincy (chaplaincy@brookes.ac.uk) so we can arrange a place to meet.

Read more on the Council of Faiths website.

Mental Health First Aider training

In addition to the various wellbeing workshops above we also have spaces on the Mental Health First Aider course.  This is a two-day course in total split over four days and you need to be able to commit to attending all the session dates:

  • Monday 24 June, 9.00am - 1.00pm
  • Tuesday 25 June, 9.00am - 1.00pm
  • Wednesday 26 June, 9.00am - 1.00pm
  • Thursday 27 June, 9.00am - 1.00pm

If you are not able to attend these dates there are further opportunities to attend later in the year. Please see Staff Learning for more information.