Staff Health and Wellbeing Day - May 2026
A health and wellness day to promote and support the physical and mental well-being of staff.
Wednesday 6 May, 9.30am - 3.00pm
Medrus Conference Centre
- Come and meet key services and learn about the various health and wellbeing support and resources available for staff within the University and externally.
- Learn how to access and the various support available when needed (e.g., Employee Assistance Program).
- Gain awareness and identify strategies for improving physical health, mental health and building resilience.
- "Know your numbers" get your blood pressure and BMI checked with information and advice.
- Understand the importance of cultivating habits that promote long-term physical, mental, and emotional health.
Programme
Wellness Fair (09.30am - 3.00pm)
The internal departments and external services exhibiting at the Wellness Fair.
| Exhibitor | Stall information |
|---|---|
| Aberystwyth Arts Centre | Come and meet the Aberystwyth Arts Centre team and hear about their diverse programme of exhibitions, performances, workshops and community activities. |
| Aberystwyth Park Run | Aberystwyth parkrun and Aberystwyth junior parkrun: opportunities for participation (walk/run) and volunteering. |
| Department of Life Sciences: Sport Performance and Health Testing | You will have the opportunity to have a body composition assessment and learn about the commercial services offered in the Carwyn James Building including: Assessment of aerobic capacity, lactate threshold determination, comprehensive body composition assessment and your health package. |
| Department of Psychology: Well-being Research and applications |
Come and meet researchers who specialise in well-being research. Take part in or find out more about our research looking at mindfulness and walking in nature, understanding individuals factors that shape well-being and the Aberystwyth Longitudinal Psychology Study (ALPS)/Astudiaeth Seicoleg Hydredol Aberystwyth – ASHA. |
| Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service (DDAS) | Information and support available for any adult over the age of 18 with a drug or alcohol problem themselves or who are concerned about someone else’s drug and/or alcohol use. |
| Dyfed Powys Police | |
| Dysgu Cymraeg / Learn Welsh | Come and meet the LearnWelsh team to hear about the Welsh in the workplace (or at home) courses, the resources and support available to learn, and the various events that are planned. |
| Healthcare Education Centre |
Meet the nursing team within the University, who are registered nurses within a variety of specialist backgrounds. They will be happy to record your blood pressure, showcase some of our resources, and chat about ways to support your resilience and health choices. |
| Healthy food station |
15% off Foodhall voucher for those that attend. Visit https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hospitality/ for information available on healthy food options, value meals, promotion on gluten free range, allergens, menus. |
| Health, Safety & Environment | Meet the team, here to support you, not to police you! Increase your understanding of everyday workplace risks and safe choices. Have a go at the “Risk and Reward” quiz. |
| Human Resources & Organisational development | Meet the team and learn about the range of policies, resources and initiatives aimed at promoting employee health, wellbeing, and personal development. |
| Hywel Dda Community Development Outreach team (CDOT) | CDOT provide health information helping individuals to make informed choices on their health and well-being (including smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, immunisation and vaccinations and healthy eating and living). |
| Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue |
|
| NHS Health Coaching |
NHS Health Coaching offers patient centred partnership designed to empower individuals to improve their own health and wellbeing by gaining knowledge, skill and confidence for self-management and behaviour change. |
| Lifelong Learning |
Information on courses available that are suitable for both personal and professional development, and off stall demonstration through out the day. Lifelong Learning courses are FREE for all Aberystwyth University staff - Find a course for you. |
| Report and Support tool for students and staff | Come meet the Anti-harassment and Violence Support team to learn more about the Report and Support tool for students and staff - secure and confidential online platform to report incidents of sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment, discrimination or hate crime. |
| Sports Centre | Meet the team and get information on the range of classes, facilities, and membership packages available – with demonstrations and on the day challenges. |
| Staff Networks | Come meet members from our various staff networks and groups, hear about upcoming meetings and events and how to get involved. |
| Student Support and Wellbeing | Meet staff from across the Student Support and Wellbeing teams to hear how our ‘Supporting our Students Together’ Programme is designed to equip staff with knowledge of student-related matters so they can provide meaningful support and make effective, informed referrals, when they are required. |
| Trade Unions | UCU, UNISON and UNITE - information on the support available, membership and the benefits and services. |
Health and Wellbeing talks and workshops (09.30am - 3.00pm)
Programme of talks and workshops to be held in Medrus 3, Medrus 4 or Online
| Time | Talk/ Workshop | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9.30am - 10.20am |
Your Employee Assistance Programme | Register here Mohammed Khan, HA | Wisdom Wellbeing Come and meet your new Employee Assistance Programme provider, HA | Wisdom Wellbeing, who will introduce and guide you through the 24/7 confidential support, guidance, and services available to you and your immediate family members. |
Online via Teams |
| 9.50am - 10.30am |
Caring for self in relationship with others | Register here Alison Mackiewicz, Senior Lecturer in Psychology & Martine Robson, Lecturer in Psychology
Using tools and models from Transactional Analysis (TA), a type of psychotherapy, we will demonstrate how, in becoming more self-aware, you can address your own mental and physical needs, particularly in your relationships with staff members and others. By understanding the underlying dynamics of interactions with others, people can gain insight into the root causes of problem(s) and work towards resolving them. On a day-to-day basis, TA offers a wealth of benefits that can positively impact both personal and professional aspects of your life. This will be an experiential workshop, involving a short explanation of TA models, and then putting these into practice in small groups (if time allows).
Key learning Objectives (KLOs): You will learn how to realise what is shaping yours and others communication and interactions; Helping you become self-aware creates options and the possibility of doing things differently; Helping you gain and maintain autonomy; You can make more sense of the behaviour you see around you and put it into a wider context.
|
Medrus 4 |
|
10.30pm - 11.20pm |
‘Back Pain Myths & Facts – Do We Really Know Anything?’| Register here Hedd Piper, Clinig Corff Ystwyth The general theme is based on some of the common - and mostly unhelpful - misconceptions we have surrounding back pain. The talk will cover some of the more recent research on low back pain as well as providing some useful take-home messages for attendees and finishing with Q&As. |
Medrus 3 |
| 11.00pm - 12.00pm |
Needle felting session | Register here (limited to first 12 registrants) FULL Charlie Kenobi, Lifelong Learning Tutor: Art and Design At this staff wellbeing day you'll learn the basics of needle felting Lifelong Learning courses are FREE for all Aberystwyth University staff - Find a course for you. |
Medrus 4 |
| 11.30am - 12.20pm |
Introduction to the Smart Home Facility | Register here Patricia Shaw, Senior Lecturer Computer Science The Smart Home Lab will resemble an everyday home, with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms, but will also be equipped with sensors, robotic assistants, and full connectivity. Researchers will be able to test the likes of assisted living technology for those with mobility problems, voice activated devices, carry out remote check-ups by GPs and other healthcare professionals, and explore how robots and augmented reality can assist people within the home. Among the devices that have already been built for the home are a smart wheelchair, an autonomous vacuum cleaner, a mobile robotic arm, and a companion cat named “Pixel”. The home will primarily be used by the Department of Computer Science and Department of Psychology, but the longer-term aim is to open the door to inter-disciplinary research, such as studies to look at energy management or air quality. |
Medrus 3 |
| 1.00pm - 2.00pm |
Needle felting session | Register here (limited to first 12 registrants) FULL Charlie Kenobi, Lifelong Learning Tutor: Art and Design At this staff wellbeing day you'll learn the basics of needle felting Lifelong Learning courses are FREE for all Aberystwyth University staff - Find a course for you. |
Medrus 4 |
|
1.30pm - 2.00pm & 2.00pm - 2.30pm |
Smart Home Lab Tours | Register here
The Smart Home Lab will resemble an everyday home, with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms, but will also be equipped with sensors, robotic assistants, and full connectivity. Researchers will be able to test the likes of assisted living technology for those with mobility problems, voice activated devices, carry out remote check-ups by GPs and other healthcare professionals, and explore how robots and augmented reality can assist people within the home. Among the devices that have already been built for the home are a smart wheelchair, an autonomous vacuum cleaner, a mobile robotic arm, and a companion cat named “Pixel”. The home will primarily be used by the Department of Computer Science and Department of Psychology, but the longer-term aim is to open the door to inter-disciplinary research, such as studies to look at energy management or air quality. There will be 2 tours on the day – each lasting 30 minutes. To register your interest in attending either of these sessions please complete the following form - Register
|
Smart Home Lab |
| 2.10pm - 3.00pm |
Resilience in the Workplace | Register here Ian Archer, Skills Development Officer In today’s ever-changing academic working environment, resilience isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s essential for maintaining wellbeing. This interactive session aims to help you think about practical skills for working under pressure and navigating workplace challenges with more confidence. |
Medrus 3 |
Cariad Pet Therapy 10:00 – 11:30 and 13:30 – 15:00
Medrus 2
Come and meet Cariad Pet Therapy - therapy dogs and their volunteer owners - de-stress with a doggy date! Cariad Pet Therapy create consenting connections between humans and dogs for their mutual benefit.
Cariad Pet Therapy will be at the Wellbeing day at these times
10.00 am - 11.30 - Milo and Jackie
13.30 - 15.00 - Thor and Jo
Smart Home Facility Tours
13.30 - 14.00 & 14.00 - 14.30 | Register here
[Limited to a max of 10 per tour]
The Smart Home Lab will resemble an everyday home, with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms, but will also be equipped with sensors, robotic assistants, and full connectivity.
Researchers will be able to test the likes of assisted living technology for those with mobility problems, voice activated devices, carry out remote check-ups by GPs and other healthcare professionals, and explore how robots and augmented reality can assist people within the home.
Among the devices that have already been built for the home are a smart wheelchair, an autonomous vacuum cleaner, a mobile robotic arm, and a companion cat named “Pixel”.
The home will primarily be used by the Department of Computer Science and Department of Psychology, but the longer-term aim is to open the door to inter-disciplinary research, such as studies to look at energy management or air quality.
There will be 2 tours on the day – each lasting 30 minutes. To register your interest in attending either of these sessions please complete the following form
Wellbeing Walk
Wellbeing Walk (13.00 – 14.00)
Come join the University Walking Club for a wellbeing walk (approx 45 mins) around campus and woods. It’s a great opportunity to get away from the desk, explore nature, and chat with others!
- Meet at University Reception (Penglais Campus) at 1.00pm
- the only considerations to make whilst walking is that colleagues wear suitable footwear, suitable clothing for the terrain and weather and to keep the pace to the slowest participation.
- Optional litter picking on route.
You will find future calendar dates and route updates on the Walking Club Teams site (2 walks per month on Penglais campus and Gogerddan campus).