The University and our Department has always taken the wellbeing of staff and students seriously, but is has gained greater importance since the COVID-19 Coronavirus epidemic started in March 2020. Since then, the department has moved it's regular "LE Does Coffee" events online so staff can still connect with each other while working from home - they just have to bring their own tea and cake.
Our Wellbeing Advocate, Pam, sends out a weekly Wellbeing Wednesday email to all staff packed with useful ideas and links to help people stay connected while remote working and to help cope with the uncertainties of the coronavirus pandemic. Some successful initiatives have included the annual January Step Challenge, the launch of a new online book club, online yoga sessions and even a bread-making workshop.
And every few weeks, a special Green Gardening edition is emailed out by Lynda (our Green Impact Coordinator), with advice on caring for the many houseplants that staff and students had to relocate home when the department was closed; seasonal gardening tips and suggestions (e.g. how to chit potatoes) and recipes to use the fruit, herbs and vegetables that people are growing at home.
For an up to date list of resources for staff, as well as scheduled events, visit Wellbeing | (cam.ac.uk).
Dedicated sources of support for student wellbeing can be found at Student Wellbeing | (cam.ac.uk).