12 - 16 June 2023
We’re delighted to announce a week of wellbeing activities for all colleagues in June.
We hope you are able to enjoy activities within the Staff Wellness Weeks' programme and would encourage you to take part as your diary allows - where appropriate do check with your manager and agree that they are happy for you to attend activities during your working day.
Peace garden planting - Buckley Quad
1.30pm - 3.30pm
We are looking for staff and student volunteers to help plant a Peace Garden (Buckley quad, Headington). Breaking up your day with some time outdoors and contact with colleagues is good for your wellbeing, and we'd love to see you.
The aim of the garden is:
- To create a quiet, outdoor space for students and staff to use for reflection or small social groups, including a labyrinth (simple path) for meditation
- To improve the biodiversity on campus through the use of native plants and by creating habitats
- To improve the experience of staff working in the adjacent buildings by creating a pleasant view.
Volunteers will be helping with planting. When you have signed up we'll be back in contact with further details on where to meet, what to wear etc. All equipment will be provided, but if you have your own gardening gloves, please bring them.
Please note: Each date is limited to 10 volunteers. Places will be allocated first-come-first-served. We will be in touch either to confirm your place or to let you know that the dates are full. If you find you cannot attend the date you booked, please let us know as soon as possible so that your place can be given to someone else.
Staff social coffee morning - Harcourt Refectory, Harcourt Hill Campus
10.15am - 11.00am
Join us in the Harcourt Refectory for a social get together, a chance to chat with colleagues and meet staff members from other faculties and directorates. Hot drinks and cake will be provided - no registration required.
Creativity with comedian Steve Cross - Online via Zoom
10.00am - 11.30am
Steve Cross is a freelance communication and engagement consultant who spent many years in the museum and university sectors. He routinely left meetings without any action points and once dissolved a major university committee just to avoid a three hour meeting.
Tired of tedious training? You need a serious skills trainer who’s also a comedian.
This semi-serious session will cover how to have new ideas and develop your creative side at work.
Healthy habits in the virtual workplace - Online via Zoom
9.30am - 10.30am
As virtual working looks set to continue as an integral part of our lives, it comes with its benefits but also its challenges. It can feel tough to work in a healthy manner and stay energised. This one hour interactive session helps you identify your own virtual working habits and make small, impactful changes to build positive habits into your daily life.
Staff social coffee morning - Cafe Central, The Forum, John Henry Brookes Building
11.15am - 12 noon
Join us in Cafe Central in the Forum for a social get together, a chance to chat with colleagues and meet staff members from other faculties and directorates. Hot drinks and cake will be provided - no registration required.
Maintaining energy balance - Online via Zoom
11.30am - 12.30pm
This one hour interactive workshop will cover:
- what is energy balance and why does it matter?
- how to achieve it
- understanding the 4 energy states
- what energises you?
- learning how to switch off
Adopting a growth mindset - Online via Zoom
1.30pm - 2.30pm
This one hour interactive workshop will cover:
- what is a growth mindset?
- the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset
- ways to develop your growth mindset.
Brookes Books book group meeting - Garden Room, BCK G.20
3.00pm - 4.00pm
A friendly and informal gathering of staff who share what we’ve been reading and swap recommendations. Anyone is welcome. Please email events@brookes.ac.uk for more information.
We also have a Google space we use for chats between meetings - email kate.harford@brookes.ac.uk.if you would like to join.
Peace garden planting - Buckley Quad
9.30am - 11.30am
We are looking for staff and student volunteers to help plant a Peace Garden (Buckley quad, Headington). Breaking up your day with some time outdoors and contact with colleagues is good for your wellbeing, and we'd love to see you.
The aim of the garden is:
- To create a quiet, outdoor space for students and staff to use for reflection or small social groups, including a labyrinth (simple path) for meditation
- To improve the biodiversity on campus through the use of native plants and by creating habitats
- To improve the experience of staff working in the adjacent buildings by creating a pleasant view.
Volunteers will be helping with planting. When you have signed up we'll be back in contact with further details on where to meet, what to wear etc. All equipment will be provided, but if you have your own gardening gloves, please bring them.
Please note: Each date is limited to 10 volunteers. Places will be allocated first-come-first-served. We will be in touch either to confirm your place or to let you know that the dates are full. If you find you cannot attend the date you booked, please let us know as soon as possible so that your place can be given to someone else.
A huge thank you to staff at Brookes Sport, who have put together a range of activities and classes to keep you feeling fit and well during the week, and beyond!
Staff Walk & Talk
Staff Walk & Talk runs every Wednesday 12 - 1pm meeting outside Brookes Sport, Headington at 12pm and then outside the JHB Building (near the Co-op) at 12:10pm. The Walk & Talk sessions provide an opportunity to meet staff from across the university as well as encourage physical activity during your working day. Walking and talking both positively help your mental and physical wellbeing. More details can be found here.
Staff Football
Staff Indoor Football sessions run every Thursday, 12.00pm - 1.00pm in the Brookes Sport, Headington, Sports Hall. It is an open football session where all ages, genders, and abilities are welcome. The goal is to improve fitness, wellbeing and have a decent workout over a longish lunchtime and occasionally some good football is played! If interested, please drop Sam Gilbert an email (sgilbert@brookes.ac.uk) for more details or to get signed up to the mailing list.
Staff Yoga
Staff Yoga runs every Thursday in the SKW Hall Flat, 5:15pm - 6:15pm. How to book and more details can be found here.
Free gym use at Harcourt Hill
Throughout Staff Wellness Week, colleagues based at Harcourt Hill are able to use our gym facilities for free. Simply show your Staff ID card at reception and you will be able to use the gym. Opening times are shown here. Please ensure you have also read through the Health Commitment Statement ahead of visiting.
Wheatley Campus
For colleagues based at Wheatley, we also have a free gym for all Oxford Brookes staff and students. To gain access to the gym, please complete this short Google Form and read the Health Commitment Statement for unmanned gyms. If you have any questions or concerns about this space, please email Richard, our Fitness and Wellness, Sport Manager: rormiston-rees@brookes.ac.uk.
Wellness Checks
Wellness Checks are a brilliant starting point for those at the beginning, restarting or well into their health and wellness journey. It is a 15-20 minute consultation with a member of our friendly fitness team, measuring weight and body fat percentage, using our InBody scanner. During Wellness Week, we are running sessions 11.00am - 1.00pm on, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. To book a slot, please email Richard, our Fitness and Wellness, Sport Manager: rormiston-rees@brookes.ac.uk.
Free Fitness Classes (Brookes Sport, Headington)
Monday 12th June
Pilates - 9.15am
Bag Box Bass - 12.10pm
Tuesday 13th June
Pilates - 1.00pm
Circuits - 7.00pm
Circuits - 7.00pm
To book the free fitness classes, you must first sign up as a Pay As You Go (PAYG) user here (details on PAYG Members can be found here) and then you will be able to book the classes via the Brookes Sport app on Android or IOS, via our web Book Online portal, or by speaking to our friendly reception team.
Staff Volunteering Policy
Did you know that Oxford Brookes offers a staff volunteering policy, offering one day of paid leave to enable you to volunteer for a good cause?
Financial wellbeing
Oxford Brookes has partnered with Navigate, an experienced charity who offer financial coaching to support individuals experiencing financial hardship or emergency.
Campus health walks
The University has created some short routes through attractive surroundings close to all Oxford campuses. They are designed to take about 40 minutes, depending on your speed.
Staff Learning Portal
There are several sessions on wellbeing and personal effectiveness on the staff learning portal - extra sessions have been scheduled so take a look at the courses on offer.
