The Staff Wellbeing Champions Network is a group of colleagues who volunteer their time to support the wellbeing agenda across the University. They are a positive and proactive voice for wellbeing in the workplace, signpost employees to the University wellbeing services, promote national health and wellbeing days, promote and support University wellbeing campaigns and events and arrange locally based wellbeing initiatives to engage staff.
The network community connects through our Teams Channel, Network meetings and in-person events.
If you would like to express interest in becoming a Staff Wellbeing Champion, please email wellbeing@manchester.ac.uk. Don't forget to seek your line manager's permission in advance.
We have recently completed a mapping exercise of the Staff Wellbeing Champions, if you would like to find out if you have a Staff Wellbeing Champion in your local area, please contact wellbeing@manchester.ac.uk
What does a Staff Wellbeing Champion do?
A Staff Wellbeing Champion will be expected to:
Training
- Complete Staff Wellbeing Champion Role training/Refresher training when required.
- Engage with training and development opportunities.
Positive Role Model
- Be a positive and proactive voice for workplace wellbeing, helping to promote a culture of wellbeing across the university.
- Champion and promote the wellbeing programme/messages where relevant.
Signposting to Support
- Promote a culture of wellbeing by signposting colleagues to University wellbeing opportunities and services via poster displays, email, social media and other relevant communications channels.
- Be a ‘listening ear’ if a colleague approaches you about their wellbeing and signpost to appropriate support services/opportunities that may be helpful.
- Know the boundaries of their role as a Staff Wellbeing Champion.
Engagement
- Engage and contribute to:Staff Wellbeing Champion Network meetings, Staff Wellbeing Champion Microsoft Teams Space and provide feedback to the Colleague Wellbeing Team where appropriate.
- Keep a record of your activity via the Staff Wellbeing Champion Activity Log 2024-25.
- Disseminate the Staff Wellbeing Champion Bulletin in your area.
- Connect with local staff wellbeing champions where possible.
- Organise your own local wellbeing activities where possible.
Who we are looking for?
- Be enthusiast about wellbeing. This doesn’t mean you have to have all aspects of wellbeing sussed! We are looking for the type of person who is committed to wellbeing for themselves and others.
- A positive, approachable nature and able to respect confidentiality.
- Supportive attitude to those who may be experiencing difficulties.
Commitments
- A minimum one year commitment to the Staff Wellbeing Champions Network.
- Participate in the Staff Wellbeing Champions Network Teams Space.
- Attend meetings where necessary.
- Feedback on activities undertaken at local level.
- Contribute ideas and feedback to the Staff Wellbeing Champions Network.
Benefits of being a Staff Wellbeing Champion
- You will be able to share information and advice that could help improve the wellbeing of yourself and colleagues.
- You will have the opportunity to feedback and help contribute to wellbeing developments.
- The role helps you connect with other colleagues across the University.
- It’s a personal development opportunity.
Reach out to your local Staff Wellbeing Champion
You can find out if there is a Staff Wellbeing Champion in your area by contacting wellbeing@manchester.ac.uk
You may want to speak to your local Staff Wellbeing Champion:
- If you are new to the University and need an overview of wellbeing services
- Current employees who are looking for the latest information on wellbeing services
- You want advice on becoming a Staff Wellbeing Champion (there is no restriction on the number of Wellbeing Champions in an area, but we ask that Champions work together if in the same area to avoid overlap)
Become a Wellbeing Champion
Please email wellbeing@manchester.ac.uk for more details or to express your interest in the role.