Mind the Gaps! Identify, Develop, Reflect and Refine Skills to Support your Wellbeing at University

This programme is for undergraduate students who identify as first in family to attend university or are studying without other forms of familial support (i.e., mature students, care experienced students, international students, carers and others). The programme was developed in collaboration with St Mary’s University Twickenham, University of West London, and King’s College London as part of an Office for Students funded project to improve the wellbeing of students during transition points in their university journey. It was co-created with students with lived experience of studying without various forms of familial support.

Students who are first in their families to attend university and students who are otherwise cut off from family support are at increased risk of poor mental health, social isolation, and non-continuation as they make their way through critical transition points in their university careers. Transition points include entering and leaving university, moving between academic years and semester breaks, when students may experience additional challenges around academic and financial pressures, relationships, home and university contrasts, homesickness, and other aspects of student life. By exploring personal skills and experiences in this context within a group of peers, students can feel more confident to manage hurdles and navigate transitions during their university experience while building connections with other students.

There will be a series of 4 face to face workshops focused on developing personal skills and exploring wellbeing relevant to different transition points during university hosted at each of the three universities. Please check on your university website for more information on when and where these interactive teaching sessions will be held.