Wellbeing
As summer approaches and lockdowns ease, you may wish to explore local opportunities to meet people, have fun, contribute and/or get some support
Here are some ideas...
Meeting others and getting involved
Enjoy arts, music, heritage events via
- The Humanities Cultural Programme and TORCH
- Oxford’s Galleries, Libraries and Museums
Sports, exercise and outdoors
- Oxford Sports Active Anywhere virtual fitness programme; free three month trial
- Find your sport, book a swim and more at Oxford Uni sports
- Visit the University’s beautiful outdoor spaces: Wytham Woods, the Botanical Gardens or the Arboretum.
- Play cricket with the friendly Oxford University Club Cricket Club
- Join a local running club or the Thames Valley Orienteering Club.
- Learn to row or pick it up again in a small, friendly and community-focused rowing club
- Yoga in University Parks with Laurène, former Oxford postdoc; email [email protected]
Volunteering
- in local community organisations, schools and social enterprises via Oxford Hub
- as a tutor to school pupils via Oxford Hub
- for the The Brilliant Club, who partner with schools and universities to promote undergraduate access
- in environmental education for all in Wytham Woods, email [email protected]
Making friends in your community
- Local community engagement including museums, galleries, botanical gardens
- We are gauging interest in setting up local neighbourhood groups for research staff to meet up socially – let us know what you think via email [email protected].
Research Staff Hub weekly open office
Rachel and others in the Hub Team are keen to meet you, hear your ideas and discuss the Hub's work. We host open office hours on Teams on Thursdays between 3pm and 4pm, if you would like to join us please email - [email protected].
Oxford Research Staff Society
The University of Oxford Research Staff Society (OxRSS) organise social and professional networking activities across departments and divisions. They host regular interesting events and sessions, find out more here.
Looking after yourself; personally and professionally
Oxford’s broad range of support for employees; see the HR Wellbeing pages.
Space for reflection and a practical introduction to the links between body, mind, emotions and wellbeing, with signposting for further resources: A 6-session series called Being for Beginners
- Humanities Division series starting June 1st @5pm, register here
- Medical Sciences series starting June 2 @4pm, register here
- If you are a researcher in Social Sciences, GLAM or MPLS interested in this course, please email [email protected]
This course is free and offers audio and video catch-ups, plus access to feedback from Oxford researchers.
Understanding academic culture to address any low confidence, or a sense of academic failure
- Podcasts and workbook developed by OU postdocs, academics and the Careers Service
Coaching
- Qualified coaches offering four 60 – 90 minute sessions
Writing support through writing partnerships and sessions (currently for Humanities researchers only) - find out more here.
Career Confidence
The Careers Service is offering two short workshops
- Learning resilience: Honest experiences of rejection, failure and success after a PhD, 15th June
- How to become a fabulous networker - a guide for research staff, 6th July
- Book these and other events for researchers - here.
Work/Life Balance; Oxford’s support for flexible working, annual leave, family leave and childcare via HR pages.
COVID Rebuilding Research Momentum Fund: Apply for financial support if your research has been significantly disrupted by the pandemic and related personal circumstances. Applications are due by 9 June 2021.
Mental health support
Free Counselling for you and your (adult) family members.