University Mental Health Charter Award

The request was refused by University of Bristol.

Dear University of Bristol,
Congratulations on being one of the first five universities to receive the University Mental Health Charter Award, recognising your institution’s commitment to continuous improvement in student mental health and wellbeing. Please let me have a copy of your written submission and any accompanying evidence that was originally provided for consideration by Student Minds.
Yours faithfully,

Gillian Green

University of Bristol FOI mailbox, University of Bristol

Thank you for your e-mail. The University will endeavour to respond to
your request under the Freedom of Information Act within 20 working days
of receipt.

We may need to ask you certain questions to clarify your request to ensure
we fully understand what information is being requested. If so, the 20
working day deadline will be calculated once we have received such
clarification. 

 

The University's A-Z index can help in locating information that is
publicly available on the University's
website: [1]http://www.bristol.ac.uk/index/

 

Our Publication Scheme is available
at: [2]http://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/s...

 

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) annually publish certain
data about students and higher education: [3]https://www.hesa.ac.uk/.
Bespoke datasets can be requested from
Jisc: [4]https://www.jisc.ac.uk/tailored-datasets.

 

For further information about the University's FOI procedure, please
see: [5]http://www.bristol.ac.uk/secretary/foi/

References

Visible links
1. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/index/
2. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/s...
3. https://www.hesa.ac.uk/
4. https://www.jisc.ac.uk/tailored-datasets
5. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/secretary/foi/

SecOInformation Governance, University of Bristol

Dear Gillian Green,

 

We write further to your request for information dated 16/12/2022 to
inform you that we will not be able to fulfil your request within the
initial time period of 20 working days. By virtue of section 10(3) of FOIA
we are extending the deadline to consider the use of a qualified
exemption. We will aim to respond to you as soon as possible ahead of the
new deadline of 16/02/2023.  

 

Kind Regards,

FOI team 

 

SecOInformation Governance | University of Bristol | [1]www.bristol.ac.uk/

To: SecOInformation Governance ([University of Bristol request email])
From: Gillian Green ([FOI #929606 email])
Title: Freedom of Information request - University Mental Health Charter
Award
Sent: 16/12/2022 17:56

Dear University of Bristol,
Congratulations on being one of the first five universities to receive the
University Mental Health Charter Award, recognising your institution’s
commitment to continuous improvement in student mental health and
wellbeing. Please let me have a copy of your written submission and any
accompanying evidence that was originally provided for consideration by
Student Minds.
Yours faithfully,
Gillian Green
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #929606 email]
Is [University of Bristol request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to University of Bristol? If so, please contact us
using this form:
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the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...
For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
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References

Visible links
1. https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlo...

SecOInformation Governance, University of Bristol

2 Attachments

Dear Gillian Green,

Freedom of Information Request (our reference FOI22624)

 

We refer to your Freedom of Information request dated 16/12/2022.

 

You requested the following information:

“…Congratulations on being one of the first five universities to receive
the University Mental Health Charter Award, recognising your institution’s
commitment to continuous improvement in student mental health and
wellbeing. Please let me have a copy of your written submission and any
accompanying evidence that was originally provided for consideration by
Student Minds…”

University’s Response

 

Further to Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the “Act”) we
confirm that the information requested is held by the University of
Bristol (the “University”). However, we consider part of the information
exempt from disclosure under the Act by virtue of the following: section
21 – accessible by other means, section 36 – prejudice to effective
conduct and section 43 – commercial interests, please see below for full
details.

 

Please refer to the attached documents which the University is disclosing
in response to your request.

All remaining documents falling within the scope of your request have been
withheld as we consider them exempt by virtue of the following;

 

Section 21 – Information accessible by other means

 

Part of the information requested is published on our web pages and other
third party sites. As such, this information is exempt from disclosure by
virtue of section 21 of the Act on the grounds that it is reasonably
accessible to you by other means.

 

Please refer to the attached document outlining the location of the
publicly available information.

 

Section 36 – Prejudice to effective conduct

 

Part of the information requested is exempt from disclosure by virtue of
section 36(2) of the Act. Section 36(2) states that, information can be
withheld, if in the reasonable opinion of a qualified person, disclosure:

 

(a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice —

(i) the maintenance of the convention of the collective responsibility of
Ministers of the Crown, or

(ii) the work of the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly,
or

(iii) the work of the Cabinet of the Welsh Government.

(b) would, or would be likely to, inhibit—

(i) the free and frank provision of advice, or

(ii) the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of
deliberation, or

(c) would otherwise prejudice, or would be likely otherwise to prejudice,
the effective conduct of public affairs.

 

As the wording of the exemption states, it may only be applied if such
prejudice would, or would be likely to, occur in the “reasonable opinion
of a qualified person”. The qualified person for the University is the
Vice-Chancellor, who has approved the application of this exemption having
considered the relevant issues. 

 

We consider that disclosure of the documents identified would or would be
likely prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs by adversely
affecting the integrity of the Charter Award and its process.

 

Section 36 is a qualified exemption, which means that having determined
that some prejudice or harm would or would be likely to flow from
disclosure of the information, we are then required to consider the public
interest factors for and against disclosure.

 

As a publicly-funded body, the University recognises that there is a
public interest in it being open and transparent in relation to its
affairs, and especially in relation to how it addresses matters of public
concern.

 

However, there is also a public interest in the credibility of the award
not being undermined and remaining a process that leads to improvement in
student and university services. Any weakening of this process is not in
the public interest of students or the wider community. If made public,
other parties could use the information to gain the award without fully
engaging in the process of self-analysis and reflection. Other parties
could use the University's hard work in achieving the award to further
their own attainment of the accolade without fully engaging in the process
as intended. As the award process is owned and operated by Student Minds,
disclosure of detailed information would likely impact negatively on their
established model, this cannot be in the public interest.

 

On balance, we consider that the public interest in disclosure of this
information is outweighed by the public interest in withholding the
information to protect the integrity of the award and its process.

 

Section 43 –commercial interests

 

The University considers part of the information to be exempt from
disclosure under section 43(2) of the Act, on the grounds that disclosure
would or would be likely to prejudice the University’s commercial
interests.

 

Disclosure of the information would give competing higher education
institutions an insight into our operations and strategies. This would
enable them to adjust their own operations and strategies to gain a
competitive advantage, at the expense of the University’s commercial
interests.

 

The exemption in section 43(2) is a qualified exemption, which means that
we must weigh the public interest factors in favour of disclosure against
those in favour of applying the exemption.

 

As a body funded by the state and by student tuition fees, the University
accepts that there is public interest in the University being transparent
in relation to its activities, to ensure that public funds are used fairly
and judiciously. The University is very open about its student wellbeing
provision and already publishes substantial information online about our
services. However, the University operates in an extremely competitive
sector. To allow universities to compete fairly and effectively they must
be able to withhold certain information from public disclosure in order to
develop successful strategies. It is not in the public interest to
disclose information that would compromise the University’s ability to
compete in this way.

 

On balance, the University considers that the public interest in
withholding the information requested outweighs the public interest in
disclosure, and the exemption in section 43(2) is applied.

 

Internal Review Procedure

 

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, then you have a
right under Section 50 of the Act to request an internal review.

All such requests must be sent to us within 40 days, and must clearly
state our reference number (at the top of this email) and your reason for
requesting an internal review.

We will aim to respond to your request for an internal review within 20
working days of receipt.

 

Your request for an internal review should be sent
to [University of Bristol request email], quoting your FOI reference number.

 

Alternatively, you could post it to:

Director of Legal Services

Secretary’s Office

University of Bristol

Beacon House

Queens Road

Bristol

BS8 1QU

 

Information Commissioners Office

 

Should you remain dissatisfied with the final outcome of the internal
review then you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner (the
“ICO”) for an independent review.

 

The ICO is the Government’s Independent Body responsible for overseeing
the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 2018 and The
Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

 

Please note the ICO will only review cases that have exhausted the
University’s internal review procedure. All correspondence to the ICO must
quote the University’s reference number and your reasons for your appeal.

The ICO’s contact details are as follows:

The Information Commissioners Office

 

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

More information can be found at the ICO’s website
at [1]http://www.ico.org.uk

 

Kind Regards

 

Freedom of Information Team

University of Bristol

 

To: Gillian Green ([FOI #929606 email])
From: SecOInformation Governance ([University of Bristol request email])
Title: Extension to Freedom of Information Request (FOI22624)
Sent: 19/01/2023 07:55

Dear Gillian Green,

 

We write further to your request for information dated 16/12/2022 to
inform you that we will not be able to fulfil your request within the
initial time period of 20 working days. By virtue of section 10(3) of FOIA
we are extending the deadline to consider the use of a qualified
exemption. We will aim to respond to you as soon as possible ahead of the
new deadline of 16/02/2023.  

 

Kind Regards,

FOI team 

 

SecOInformation Governance | University of Bristol | [2]www.bristol.ac.uk/

To: SecOInformation Governance ([University of Bristol request email])
From: Gillian Green ([FOI #929606 email])
Title: Freedom of Information request - University Mental Health Charter
Award
Sent: 16/12/2022 17:56

Dear University of Bristol,
Congratulations on being one of the first five universities to receive the
University Mental Health Charter Award, recognising your institution’s
commitment to continuous improvement in student mental health and
wellbeing. Please let me have a copy of your written submission and any
accompanying evidence that was originally provided for consideration by
Student Minds.
Yours faithfully,
Gillian Green
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #929606 email]
Is [University of Bristol request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to University of Bristol? If so, please contact us
using this form:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...
For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ico.org.uk/
2. https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlo...