Workshop series - Student Health and Wellbeing CoP

Linda Taschenberger, co-Lead of the Student Health and Wellbeing Community of Practice (CoP), tells us about the CoP's workshop series.

What is the project?  

Student Health and Wellbeing CoP workshops are a series of fortnightly sessions where a range of speakers present on different aspects of health and wellbeing. Following a successful pilot in 2020-21, our workshops continue to attract staff interested in student health and wellbeing. 

The aim of the series is to equip staff with the knowledge and tools to support UCL students and colleagues.  

We run 4-5 workshops each term that bring together 30–80 attendees. Workshops take the form of a 30-minute presentation, followed by a 15-minute discussion or Q&A. Some of our most popular sessions have included:  

• The mental health conversation at universities: What's going wrong? 
• Disability equality and awareness 
• Mental health issues and neurodivergence - do they always coincide? 

What impact do you hope the project will have on the practice area? 

The SHW CoP was established to support the Student Health and Wellbeing Strategy and improve collaboration across campus. Our aim is for staff to feel confident in conversations about mental health, and work together in a holistic and proactive way to make wellbeing a priority across the university. 

How does the project impact the CoP?

We've received very positive feedback from CoP members, for example:

““[The workshops] have given me more confidence to have conversations with students and to make departments that I work in more aware of how we can better help students.  

I like the fact that each presentation is part of a year-long programme of perspectives, not just an occasional one-off event. The programme format itself communicates a commitment to the topic. We are offered more than one view from inside UCL. We can see themes emerging. Some information is produced from within the organisation and some from outside, providing a good mix of perspectives. 

How have the project leads benefitted?

The CoP provides a great networking platform to meet brilliant colleagues working across different areas of UCL. It provides the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and learn new skills, such as strategic thinking, project management skills, and the facilitation of productive working relationships. Overall, it gives a great sense of achievement and belonging.  

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Find out more

• Join the Student Health and Wellbeing CoP
• More about Communities of Practice at UCL