Social events

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  • Social events

    Based on the feedback from the staff events survey in 2016, a range of social events are being introduced designed to enhance the staff experience across the University. These events aim are designed to improve colleagues’ wellbeing and support a sense of community and fun in the workplace.

    Upcoming events

    Staff Christmas Quiz & quiz-off 

    Friday 1 December 2017

    As the weather is turning colder and the days shorten, let’s get together and make this a December to remember.

    We are kicking off 2017’s festive season in style! Please come back and join us for the second Brookes Staff Christmas Quiz on Friday 1 December.

    Dazzle us again with your knowledge and compete with teams from across the University. There will be six quiz rounds with a winning team for each campus, who will go on to take part in a Quiz Off in the new year (date to be confirmed). The theme this year is the Grinch and there will be a prize for the best Grinch outfit, and another prize for the best Christmas jumper.

    Details of the quizzes and how to sign up your teams can be found in Onstream.

    christmas 2017 quiz

    Recurring events

    Craft workshops

    Wednesday 1:00pm

    Every Wednesday at 1.00pm you are welcome to join the Crafternoon Tea sessions in the Multifaith Chaplaincy Garden Room (BCK G.20) at Headington Campus. Crafternoon Tea is a space for staff and students to get together and share craft skills over a drink and a chat. You may come for the whole session, or drop in as you wish. You are welcome to bring your own craft work in progress, or join the group in a charity project.

    Keep an eye out in in Onstream for special themed craft sessions; past session have included festive themed Crafternoon Tea sessions and Chinese arts, crafts and calligraphy run by the Confucius Institute.

    Crafternoon tea

    Black History Month and BME Staff Network

    October

    Each year in October we mark Black History Month. Events during this month and beyond celebrate and promote knowledge and awareness across all communities of the experience and contribution of black people of African and African Caribbean heritage to British and global society. The programme, which is open to all, includes public lectures, performances, workshops and create projects.

    You are also warmly invited to join the BME Staff Network; a safe and inclusive space for all self-defining BME staff, to support autonomy and enhance visibility and voice for BME staff in the University. The group meets regularly, organises events and activities, promotes career progression and supports engagement with University policy development.

    Explore the  2017 Black History Month programme on the EDI webpages. 

    Black history month logo

    LGBT History Month and staff networks

    February

    We are proud to be part of the annual celebration of LGBT History Month, joining universities, schools, local authorities, voluntary organisations and employers, with a programme of events and activities to highlight the history and achievements of LGBT+ communities and perspectives on LGBT+ inclusion.

    You can join a number of staff networks and forums which aim to connect and support staff, based on shared identity or experience. These networks can assist in personal and professional development, organise events and activities, act as a sounding board for policy development and review, and provide a consultative forum for the university to gather views and feedback.

    Discover the LGBT+ History Month programme for February 2018 on the EDI webpages.  

    LGBT Awareness Day

    Past events

    Staff Celebration Tea

    May 2017

    On Wednesday 24 May, as part of our second Founders’ Day, there was afternoon tea on our campuses for staff, each hosted by a member of the Senior Management Team. All staff were invited to attend and spend some time with colleagues over tea and cake. 

    As it was 25 years since Oxford Polytechnic became Oxford Brookes University, the tea was also an opportunity to recognise colleagues who have worked at Oxford Brookes for over 25 years.

    founders day cupcakes

    Staff Christmas Quiz

    December 2016

    Thursday 1 December 2016 saw the launch of the first Staff Christmas Quiz. Forty-one teams from across the University battled through six quiz rounds and  the winning team from each campus went  on to compete for the prestigious title of Brookes Quiz Champions at the Brookes Quiz-Off on Wednesday 5 April, which was presided over by none other than the Chancellor of Oxford Brookes: Dame Katherine Grainger.

    Team ‘Simon Says’ from Wheatley Campus were named the ultimate brains of Brookes; closely followed by silver winners ‘Universally Challenged’ from Harcourt Hill Campus and bronze went to ‘Raiders of the Lost ARP’, from Headington Campus.

    The audience was able to pit their brains against the teams by answering the questions online and staff members Dan Whitton and Michelle Montgomery both beat the best with a score of 60 out of a possible 72 marks.

    christmas 2016 quiz