MEETING THE NEW HEAD OF STUDENT WELLBEING AND WELFARE

Nick: Karen, we’re really happy to have you here at Robinson College as the new, and first, Head of Student Wellbeing and Welfare. What is this role all about, and what are some of the areas that you are looking forward to getting started on?

Karen: My role is to strengthen and support the welfare and wellbeing of students here. In a new role, I aim to bring together, coordinate and enhance the valuable work of those currently contributing to the college’s welfare response as part of a Wellbeing and Welfare team. This will enhance our ability to support students and address their health and wellbeing needs in a way that enables them to achieve their academic potential during their time here at Cambridge. Strategically, working with my colleagues in similar new wellbeing posts across the colleges will mean we can have a coordinated approach and benefit from each other’s experience and learning. We know there are many things we can do better and more proactively, working together.

Nick: So where are you coming to Robinson College from, and what were you doing there?

Karen: For the last ten years or so, I have been a mentor working with students under the Disability Resource Centre’s (DRC) Mentor Scheme for disabled students across different colleges and all levels of study. I have really enjoyed getting to know, work with, and support students. Before this, I worked in the NHS in Public Health and Health Education in Ealing, and Luton, promoting health and tackling health inequalities. Having previously travelled around the world, I also worked for Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) in Namibia for three years for the Ministry of Health.

Nick: What small things can we all do from time to time to ‘check in’ and take some time for our wellbeing and mental health?

In July, Robinson welcomed our first Head of Student Wellbeing and Welfare, Karen Tate. Nick Lomax, the Bursars’ Assistant, sat down with Karen just after her arrival to get to know her a little better and hear all about her new role at the College.

Karen: Checking in daily is important. For example, ask yourself: How am I feeling physically? How am I feeling mentally? Then you can reflect on what you might need to do to address that. I think there is often nothing better than getting outside in the fresh air and being amongst the natural environment to help re-calibrate and think clearly. I have done a lot of walking mentoring sessions with students over the years, which I sometimes combine with mindfulness and other techniques. These walks are something students tend to remember years after leaving Cambridge.