University of Chester
- One university, one approach to health,
well-being and sustainability -
Our intention is to:
Adopt a whole Ensure our community
university approach to
is safe and measures
health, well-being and
are in place to protect
sustainability to make
the health, safety and
working and studying
welfare of our staff,
at the University students and visitors
a positive and
rewarding experience
Develop policies and
practices that promote
Provide a centralised,
and support health,
focused resource, the
well-being and
’Healthy Chester’ hub,
sustainability
designed to draw
together the various
initiatives which will be
Provide opportunities,
informed and activities and support
underpinned by best
aimed at encouraging
practice
individuals to take
responsibility for their
own health, well-being
Facilitate a culture of
and lifestyle choices
openness where voice
is valued
Create a greater sense
Signpost staff and
of belonging, collegiality
students to contacts,
and common purpose
resources and other
through our shared
sources of
values
information and help
Chester — a Healthy University
Our ambition
The University of Chester aspires to become a
Healthy University1, committed to ‘creating a
learning environment and organisational culture that enhances the health, well-being and
sustainability of its community and enables people to achieve their full potential’.
Adopting a
‘whole university’ approach to health, well-being and sustainability can realise a raft
of benefits including a more motivated, productive and supported workforce, reduced costs
associated with sickness absence, an enhanced student experience and improved student
retention.
The
‘whole university’ approach is designed to support the University's Mission, Vision and
Foundational Values by setting out a positive, holistic approach to supporting and promoting
the physical, mental and social health and well-being of members of our community. Factors
such as environment, income, relationships, behaviour and lifestyle and other choices all have
an impact upon the positive health and well-being of both staff and students. As such, we aim
to foster an environment in which staff and students, through accessing the support, training
and resources they need, are enabled and supported to take responsibility for their own health,
well-being, lifestyle and other choices.
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The University’s Mission, Vision
and Foundational Values
Mission: The University, a Church of England Institution founded in 1839, continues to be guided
by Christian values and is justifiably proud of the open, inclusive and supportive environment
that characterises the institution. The University welcomes students and staff of all faiths or none.
The University seeks to provide of all its students and staff with the education, skills, support and
motivation to enable them to develop as confident world citizens so that they may serve and
improve the global communities within which they live and work. This Mission, which has helped
shape its development and diversification, continues to actively inform its future planning and
enrichment as a University.
Vision: At the heart of the University’s vision is an unwavering commitment to ensuring a reward-
ing student learning experience, developing the expertise of staff, providing teaching excellence,
and actively growing its research and scholarly profile. Through these actions, the University
hopes to make a positive impact on the lives of students, staff and the community all of which
underpin the institution’s significant and growing contribution to the region and beyond. In valuing
and celebrating its long history and traditions, the University is committed to engendering a sense
of pride and shared ownership in all that it does.
Foundational Values: Mindful of its history and Christian foundation the University recognises:
the dignity and worth of every individual
the vital role of education in the service of society
the inherent value of the pursuit of truth and freedom of enquiry
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Our Healthy University
Some helpful definitions
Well-being: “A state of equilibrium or balance that
can be affected by life events or challenges” (Dodge
et al, 20122)
.
Mental health and mental well-being: We all un-
derstand the concept of physical health and just as we
all have physical health, we all have mental health too.
How we feel can vary from having good mental well-
being, which means we have the ability to cope with the
normal, day to day stresses of life, work productively and
fruitfully, interact positively with others, make a contribu-
tion to our community and realise our potential. Poor
mental health is the inability to do these things. For many
of us there have been times in our lives when we have
struggled with difficult experiences and difficult feelings
and emotions but if these feelings persist over a long pe-
riod of time and impact upon our ability to live our lives in
the way we want to then it is definitely time for us to seek
help.
Wellness: is an active process of becom-
ing aware of and making choices toward a
healthy and fulfilling life. It is more than be-
ing free from illness, It is a dynamic pro-
cess of change and growth. “..a state of
complete physical, mental and social well-
being, and not merely the absence of disease
or infirmity” (TWHO5). “..a conscious, self-
directed and evolving process of achieving full
potential” (The National Wellness Institute6).
“The state of being in good health, especially
as an actively pursued goal” (Oxford English
Dictionary7).
Whole university: an approach which
permeates every aspect of the University
and is embedded across all policies,
cultures, curriculum and practices1.
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What can we do as individuals?
The 5 Ways to Well-being
Research8 suggests that there are 5 steps that we can all take to improve our well-being
and in doing so make us feel happier, more positive and more productive:
Connect, Be
active, Be mindful, Keep learning and Give to others. The 5 Ways to Well-being are
currently promoted by the University through all of its the Health4All activities.
This initiative requires staff to take a proactive approach towards their own wellness and
so in order to support this the University needs to ensure that it is able to provide
effective leadership and an environment which enable this.
Connect…
Connect with the people around you: your family, friends,
colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these
relationships as building these connections will support and
enrich you every day.
Be active…
Exercising makes you feel good. Discover an activity that you
enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness, make it
part of your life.
Be mindful…
Be more aware of the present moment, including your
thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.
Mindfulness can positively change the way you feel about life
and how you approach challenges.
Keep learning… Try something new or rediscover an old interest. Learning new
skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new
confidence as well as being fun.
Give to others… Even the smallest act can count, whether it’s a smile, a thank
you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering, can
improve your mental well-being and help build new social
networks.
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Our Healthy University
Framework
This Framework9 is under-
pinned by 3 key themes which
together, through collective re-
sponsibility, contribute to a
‘whole university’ approach
to well-being, ultimately leading
to a
Healthy Chester
Key Themes:
Leadership
Culture
Communication
The University’s Senior Lead-
Embed health, well-being
Effective communication of
ers believe in the value of
and sustainability into all pol-
the
‘whole university’ ap-
and actively support a
‘whole
icies, procedures and prac-
proach together with other
university’ approach to
tices as well as all aspects
health, well-being and sus-
health, well-being and sus-
of University life
tainability initiatives
tainability
Foster awareness of well-
Coordinate, develop and
Collaboration between col-
ness through the 5 ways to
promote activities, initiatives
leagues across the University
wel -being
and resources through the
who are engaged in support-
central resource hub:
Ensure staff and students
ing health, well-being and
‘Healthy Chester’
feel supported and valued
sustainability activity is ac-
by the University whilst un-
Ensure everyone feels in-
tively encouraged
derstanding their responsi-
cluded and involved
Key, institutional health, wel -
bility for taking care of them-
Open up a dialogue about
being and sustainability prior-
selves and making appropri-
health, well-being and sus-
ities are identified and an ac-
ate lifestyle choices
tainability issues
tion plan developed and re-
Ensure everyone has ac-
sourced
Connect with other HEIs
cess to the activities, initia-
and external agencies in
The Plan is monitored and its
tives and resources provided
order to learn from good
impact reviewed over time
Promote work/life balance
practice
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(9based on the Workplace Wellbeing Charter)
Our Healthy University
References
1 Healthy Universities. 2018.
What is a Healthy University. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://
www.healthyuniversities.ac.uk/healthy-universities/. [Accessed 3 January 2018].
2 Dodge, R., Daly, A., Huyton, J., & Sanders, L. (2012). The challenge of defining wellbeing.
International Journal
of Wellbeing,
2(3), 222-235.
3 Oxford English Dictionary. 2018.
Definition of well-being in English. [ONLINE] Available at:
https://
en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/well-being. [Accessed 9 February 2018].
4 World Health Organisation. 2018.
Mental health: a state of well-being. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://
www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/. [Accessed 9 February 2018].
5 World Health Organisation. 2018.
Constitution of WHO: principles. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.who.int/
about/mission/en/. [Accessed 9 February 2018].
6 National Wellness Institute. 2018.
The Six Dimensions of Wellness. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://
www.nationalwellness.org/page/Six_Dimensions. [Accessed 9 February 2018].
7 Oxford English Dictionary. 2018.
Definition of wellness in English. [ONLINE] Available at:
https://
en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/wellness. [Accessed 9 February 2018].
8 Foresights Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project. 2010.
Five Ways to Well-being. [ONLINE] Available at:
https://
issuu.com/neweconomicsfoundation/docs/five_ways_to_well-being?viewMode=presentation. [Accessed 2 Feb-
ruary 2018].
9 Workplace Wellbeing Charter. 2007.
Workplace Wellbeing Charter. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://
www.wellbeingcharter.org.uk/index.html. [Accessed 11 January 2018].
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