Staff benefits and wellbeing update
06 May 2022
Highlighting a number of health awareness days, free Will writing service, mental health resources and staff survey reminder!
Walking
May is Living Streets' National Walking Month. This year, they're encouraging you to #Try20 - and walk for 20 minutes each day during May. The University’s MCR Strollers will be supporting National Walking Month with lunchtime walks on Thursdays throughout May. The first walk will take place on Thursday 5th May. Please meet under the arch of the John Owens Quad at 12 noon for a 12.05pm departure to Whitworth Park. The walk will only be 30 mins at a moderate pace. Everyone is welcome. For more information email mcrstrollers@manchester.ac.uk
Deaf Awareness Week
It is Deaf Awareness Week from the 4-9 May 2022. The aim of Deaf Awareness Week is to raise awareness of hearing loss in the UK and its impact on people's lives. Remember that people who are deaf or have hearing loss have individual communication needs and you should ask someone how best you can communicate with them. The RNID has tips for how to communicate with someone who is deaf or has hearing loss. If you are concerned about your hearing the RNID has an online hearing test. If you need support, help with adjustments or advice on better supporting a colleague, the Disability Advisory Support Service is available.
Mental Health Week 9 - 15 May
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event when there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago. Loneliness is the theme for this year’s awareness week. The University offers a number of mental health resources and support services:
- University’s in-house counselling service
- Validium - A free to call 24/7 helpline provided by an independent external provider. It offers access to support from trained counsellors and advisors who are ready to listen and provide help on everything from emotional and physical health, mental health, relationships, managing stress and anxiety, money issues and more. Validium also provide free counselling for our staff, as well as an online Wellbeing portal.
- Togetherall online community
National Day for Staff Networks - 11 May
On Wednesday, 11 May we will mark National Day for Staff Networks and over lunchtime staff will have the opportunity to visit our celebratory stall, pick up resources, sign up to our mailing lists, and speak to our Staff Network Chairs in Café Benugo, by the entrance to the Simon Building. You can come along and find out more about the work the different groups do, activities that they are involved in and how you can participate in any of their work. No registration needed – just come along anytime between 11.30am – 1:30pm and see what you can learn.
Staff survey
The all-staff survey is now live and will run until the 17th May. You should have received an email from People Insight with the subject line ‘The Staff Survey is open! Tell us what you think’. If you haven’t received the email, first check your spam, junk or ‘other’ folders then contact support@peopleinsight.co.uk. Alternatively, you can visit www.peopleinsight.co.uk/manchester2022 to complete the survey – you just need your staff number (on your ID card and payslip) to verify that you are a member of University staff.
It’s so important that the University hears from as many members of staff as possible to ensure a better representation of all your views. For every survey completed, the University will support Eden Reforestation Projects by planting one tree.
Your benefits
Food in advance
Don’t forget to call in at our FoodonCampus outlets on campus. You can get 10% discount by using your Staff ID card via FoodInAdvance.
Be Active
The University has hundreds of different opportunities to get involved in sport and activities to get you more active. You can sign up for the eight-week Be Active exercise classes. You can enjoy sessions in the Wellbeing Rooms (Simon Building), Sugden Centre and Aquatics Centre. There is also one to one support and a Physio Clinic based at The Armitage Sports Centre.
Discounts
If you haven’t already registered with Vivup, simply visit vivup.co.uk and simply register with your university or personal email address. You will need to enter your employee/payroll number when registering - you can find this on your payslip online or front of your staff ID card. You can also access locally negotiated offers via UniDiscounts that include national deals with Hotpoint, Cotswold Outdoor, Runners Need and much more.
Free Will writing - webinar Tuesday 10th May at 12:30
Dunham McCarthy is a member of the ‘Institute of Professional Will Writer’s' and aim to encourage people to make their Will at a younger age. In order to achieve this they work with authorities, charities, NHS trusts, schools and Universities by providing an entirely free Will drafting service. The next webinar about their service will be on Tuesday 10th May 2022 at 12:30. Click Here to Join
The video below shows the day in the life of Katie who lives with hearing loss.
For more information visit staff benefits and wellbeing