National Mental Health Awareness Week was marked in College through an array of activities for staff and students intended to focus our attention on our personal wellbeing and ways to look after it. The official theme for this year was ‘anxiety’ and the week kicked off with live music in the Quad performed by some of our talented music performance students.

 This was accompanied by an ice cream van, Betty and Rosie, our therapy dogs, and arguably, the highlight of the week, Miller’s Ark ‘hands-on’ farm. The miniature donkeys, lambs, goats and pigs seemed to relish all the ear scratching and tummy rubs provided by our students and staff, with many people returning more than once to visit the animals. 

More than one member of staff declared it was ’their best work day ever’, an accolade trumped by a student who was heard to say it was ‘the best day of their entire life’!

The week ended with a culmination of all our hard work in the form of our Wellbeing Fair. Hosted in the Greenhouse, we had lots of external organisations and charities in College, offering tips and advice on how to maintain good mental health and manage mental health issues. There was a whole host of information and activities designed to improve wellbeing; students were planting seeds, decorating biscuits, and practising mindful colouring. 

An enormous thank you to the SU and to the numerous staff members who baked cakes, grew tomato plants, supervised activities, made banners, arranged music and helped organise the activities and tidy up. It was truly a whole-college event, and a reminder of how important it is to focus on your mental wellbeing and make time for yourself and others in your day.