Starting well

03 Jan 2025

A message from Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor.

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a chance to relax and recharge over the break. We enjoyed our first Manchester Christmas this year, with family and friends visiting from Australia and the US. The days were short, but the nights long and enjoyable.

Unfortunately, towards the end of the break, severe flooding hit our region. If you or your loved ones have been affected, my thoughts are with you, and I hope you’re getting the support you need.

Starting well

January can be a challenging month. The days are dark, routines need rebuilding and shaking off that post-holiday haze isn’t always easy. But it’s also a time full of potential – a chance to try something new and set a positive tone for the year ahead.

To support this, our Colleague Wellbeing team is relaunching the ‘Starting Well’ campaign. Running from now until early February. There is a great programme of events focused on four key aspects of wellbeing: mental, physical, social, and financial.

This year’s theme is simple: ‘Do One Thing.’ What’s one small action you can take to support your wellbeing in 2025? For me, my ‘one thing’ is making sure I take proper breaks away from all the screens we look at each day- getting outside, even if it’s just for a short walk down Oxford Road to stretch my legs or grab a sandwich. It’s something I know makes a big difference for me.

I’d love for you to think about your ‘one thing’ and share it with your teams, friends – or even with me, if you feel like it! (in person, when you see me, or on Linkedin, X, or via email).

The campaign will conclude with ‘Time to Talk Day’ on 6 February, a national initiative encouraging open conversations about mental health. I hope teams across our University will find time to connect, check in with each other, and take part in activities that build understanding and openness about our mental wellbeing.

If you’re not sure where to begin or want to learn more about the campaign, our Wellbeing Champions are here to help.

Supporting students

As well as supporting each other, we have an essential role in supporting our students. Often a simple check-in or a compassionate conversation can make a meaningful difference. If you’re unsure how to do it, there are resources available on StaffNet to help you feel more confident in offering support.

Wishing you all a positive start to 2025. We’ve got a big year ahead.

Best wishes,

Further information

If you have any thoughts or feedback on this week's message, please contact president@manchester.ac.uk