Healthy University

UCLan’s Healthy University (HU) initiative was established in 1995 and has become a national and international leader in this field, leading to the development of a national HU Network, website and guidance packages.

The HU approach aspires to create a learning environment and organisational culture that enhances the health, well-being and sustainability of the UCLan community and enables people to achieve their full potential.

UCLan utilises the HU initiative to combine expertise and skills across the University and with external partners to make the most of our resources, creativity and skills.

The HU action plan focuses on a range of issues relevant to students and staff, such as mental health, alcohol, relationships and sexual health, food and exercise. HU activities include policy development, training, information, campaigns and curriculum developments.

Staff and students are involved in working groups, through curriculum, research and volunteering opportunities. The HU action plan involves staff and students from across the University and brings benefits to the whole campus and its close neighbours.

Preston was designated a World Health Organisation Healthy City in 2009. Preston's commitment aims to improve the health of the city’s population through a range of partnerships and actions.

A Framework for Action 2009-2013 has been developed by a collaborative partnership between Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council, UCLan, NHS Central Lancashire and Preston Strategic Partnership (see Terms of Reference).

Healthy Safe and Sustainable Food +

Healthy Safe and Sustainable Food

The Healthy, Safe and Sustainable Food working group aims to increase the consumption of healthier and sustainable food by UCLan students, staff and visitors.

Colleagues from across UCLan and the Students' Union work together to ensure UCLan maintains its commitment to being a healthy university. The Healthy, Safe and Sustainable Food group aim:

To move towards a healthier and more sustainable food supply chain.
To increase the provision of affordable healthier food for the diverse UCLan community.
To improve consumer information through provision of clear and consistent food labelling.
To raise awareness of and promote the benefits of eating healthier, food safety and sustainable food.
To improve students’ skills relating to healthier eating, including food safety.
To increase understanding and knowledge about food, health and sustainability through research and teaching.

Examples of work

‘Grub Club’ student cooking demos, monthly in the Atrium, to join Facebook group search – ‘UCLan Grub Club’

Development of a food co-op with fruit, veg and salad bags for staff, students and local community.
UCLan staff and students interested in working with the Healthy, Safe and Sustainable Food working group should contact Sharon Doherty shdoherty@uclan.ac.uk +44 (0)1772 893761.

Mental Wellbeing +

Mental Wellbeing

The HU initiative has a significant role in promoting the mental wellbeing of staff and students at UCLan. We implement policies, provide training and information and run campaigns with the aim of improving the mental wellbeing of the UCLan community.

Rethinking Student Mental Wellbeing

This is a well-established project at UCLan, and its success is highlighted on the National Healthy University website, where it is listed as a case study.

Work includes;

Campaigns promoting mental health, information and services
Headspace, a new SU society that aims to campaign against mental health stigma
Headroom webpages created on the SU website to be an easy ‘one stop shop’ for UCLan, SU and external services for students
Developing new services such as M and M wellbeing mentors and relaxation sessions for students.
Any UCLan staff or students interested in being involved in promoting mental wellbeing should contact Sharon Doherty, shdoherty@uclan.ac.uk +44 (0)1772 893761.

Staff Mental Wellbeing

The HU works with Human Resources, Safety, Health and Environment and a range of other colleagues to develop a number of schemes which promotes and contributes to staff wellbeing. These include:

Staff health policies such as stress management and smoking, alcohol and drug education, prevention and response.
Promotion of health campaigns, information and services for staff
Staff training- offered through Safety, Health and Environment and Human Resources, such as stress management.

Relationships and Sexual Health +

Relationships and Sexual Health

The HU has a long-standing commitment to promoting positive and healthy relationships at UCLan.

As part of this the UCLan sexual health working group has developed a number of campaigns and projects. Most recently the HU has worked in partnership with ‘C-Wize’, the Central Lancashire Chlamydia Screening programme, to raise awareness of the importance of chlamydia screening. For more information about chlamydia and testing go to the ‘Best 2 Know’ website.

The HU is a partner of the ‘Touch’ student volunteer project, managed by the Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership. Touch recruits and trains students to work in pubs and clubs across the UCLan campus to promote information about sexual health, alcohol and drugs. Touch provides ongoing support and campaigning on health topics throughout the academic year. Students have the opportunity to incorporate the project into their studies by choosing a first year module on peer education. Alternatively, they can attend the training element of the module and go on to take part in the project.

The HU has a vital role in supporting the development of sexual health campaigns at UCLan. Working with UCLan Students' Union and Sexual Health Studies students the HU to run a ‘Movember ‘campaign on Campus.

If you are interested in this area of work and would like to contribute please contact: Jen Pickup jlpickup@uclan.ac.uk +44 (0)1772 892775 or Sharon Doherty, shdoherty@uclan.ac.uk +44 (0)1772 893761.

Smoking Alcohol and Drugs +

Smoking Alcohol and Drugs

UCLan has a long-standing commitment to being proactive in relation to drug education, prevention and response with students and staff. In 1999 we were one of the first universities to develop procedures to support staff to respond to alcohol and drug incidents, which was commended by the Home Office.

The HU runs an Alcohol and Drugs Issues group with a focus on monitoring procedures, responding to any current issues and networking across UCLan and external partners such as the Police.

UCLan and the Students' Union have developed a range of initiatives linked to smoking, alcohol and drugs and makes links across to sexual health and safety issues.

Sport and Physical Activity +

Sport and Physical Activity

The UCLan HU works in conjunction with the UCLan Sport Strategy to achieve its sport and physical activity aims.

The UCLan Sport Strategy encourages the development and participation of students and staff in sport and physical activity, as well as promoting high level sporting performance. The HU promotes a number of initiatives linked to physical activity.

UCLan’s Walking Campus project encourages students and staff to take breaks, go for walks, enjoy nature/outdoors. Students are trained to be walk leaders for more formal walks to help students get to know Preston and have some exercise.

National campaigns such as Walk to Work and Cycle to Work are promoted to staff and students. Cycling to campus is encouraged by the Bicycle User Group, who promotes the development of facilities such as bike storage and showers. Students and staff can have a bike buddy to help them find safe routes into campus and cycle training is also available.

Working with UCLan Students' Union, the HU delivers a ‘biggest loser’ programme to help students become more active and eat healthily.

UCLan students can work with the HU in a number of ways and there are a range of volunteering and work placement opportunities.

Students have made a significant contribution to UCLan’s status as a healthy university and have been involved in projects that have benefited the UCLan community. Examples of previous work with the HU includes:

Health campaigns such as ‘Movember’
Research into student health, for example, healthy eating
Designing posters to promote stair use instead of lifts
Conducting market research into how mental health services could be promoted for students.
Taking part in activities such as walk leaders, SU biggest loser, grub club
Creating promotional videos for the headroom mental wellbeing campaign

UCLan students are also given the opportunity to relate their dissertation topic to the work the HU undertakes. Students from the BSc Exercise, Nutrition and Health course can match their personal interests with research that has then been used to help with HU planning.

Students can contact Sharon Doherty to discuss their interests and find out.

Student Volunteer and Placement Opportunities +

Student Volunteer and Placement Opportunities

UCLan students can work with the HU in a number of ways and there are a range of volunteering and work placement opportunities.

Students have made a significant contribution to UCLan’s status as a healthy university and have been involved in projects that have benefited the UCLan community. Examples of previous work with the HU includes:

Health campaigns such as ‘Movember’
Research into student health, for example, healthy eating
Designing posters to promote stair use instead of lifts
Conducting market research into how mental health services could be promoted for students.
Taking part in activities such as walk leaders, SU biggest loser, grub club
Creating promotional videos for the headroom mental wellbeing campaign

Students can contact Sharon Doherty to discuss their interests and find out more.