Our Clinical School Wellbeing Advocates are part of the University-wide network of Wellbeing Advocates and play a crucial part in supporting staff in achieving positive wellbeing, including mental, physical, social and financial health, by providing guidance and a signposting service for wellbeing issues to members of staff within their Department. They develop and promote local wellbeing initiatives, communicate Clinical School and University-wide wellbeing initiatives as well as contributing to the Clinical School wellbeing programme.
I hope my knowledge and passion for wellbeing will help me to fulfil my role as a wellbeing advocate and make positive changes in the work environment. As we spend a large proportion of our life at work, the environment of the workplace has a significant impact on our wellbeing. Employee wellbeing is more than psychological or mental ill health, it is about optimising the health of all employees.
For me, Wellbeing is to feel well in any aspect of your life, feeling happy, healthy, socially connected and purposeful. My advice to support your own wellbeing would be to be kind to yourself and never be afraid to ask for help.”
Agnes Lukasik
Public Engagement and Outreach CoordinatorWellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science-Metabolic Research Laboratories
and Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit
al473@medschl.cam.ac.uk
To me, wellbeing means a balanced life where good relationships are at the core. Looking after my physical health and connecting with family, friends and colleagues have an important part to play in regulating my stress levels. My wellbeing and performance at work are at their best at times when I have the highest degree of control of my work, and I get to work in a comfortable environment without distractions. Currently, I normally work three days a week from home. During those days I do my most productive work: planning, data management, statistical analysis and writing papers. During the two days at the department, I supervise a junior postdoc, attend meetings, catch up with colleagues and do any admin jobs that do not require much concentration. This arrangement works well for me and the team. Outings to the Botanic Garden and Grantchester Meadows have helped me to connect with colleagues in a more informal way.”
Ulla Sovio
Senior Research Associate in Applied Medical StatisticsDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
us253@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Meet the Clinical School Wellbeing Advocates!
| Name | Department | |
| Agnes Lukasik | Clinical Biochemistry | al473@medschl.cam.ac.uk |
| Tamana Darwish | Clinical Biochemistry | td353@medschl.cam.ac.uk |
| Elsa Santos | CRUK Cambridge Institute | elsa.deaguiarsantos@cruk.cam.ac.uk |
| Monique Hodges | CRUK Cambridge Institute | monique.hodges@cruk.cam.ac.uk |
| Becky Iles | CRUK Cambridge Institute | becky.iles@cruk.cam.ac.uk |
| Fiona Gabrielczyk | CRUK Cambridge Institute | fiona.gabrielczyk@cruk.cam.ac.uk |
| Chloe Caley-Light | Haematology | chloe.caley-light@bioresource.nihr.ac.uk |
| Michael Boland | Medicine | mjb325@cam.ac.uk |
| Collin Farr | MRC Epidemiology Unit | colin.farr@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk |
| Deborah Morgan | MRC Epidemiology Unit | deb.morgan@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk |
| Angela Talbot | MRC Biostatistics Unit | angela.talbot@mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk |
| Katie Hibbert | MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit | khh32@mrc-mbu.cam.ac.uk |
| Ulla Sovio | Obstetrics & Gynaecology | us253@medschl.cam.ac.uk |
| Hayley Woffendin | Oncology | hbw21@cam.ac.uk |
| Victoria Stevens | Paediatrics | vas47@medschl.cam.ac.uk |
| Anna Gkiouleka | Public Health and Primary Care | ag2192@medschl.cam.ac.uk |
| Adisa Broadhurst | Psychiatry | ap686@medschl.cam.ac.uk |
| Livia Harriman | Psychiatry | la334@cam.ac.uk |
| Kerry Jones | Psychiatry | kj390@medschl.cam.ac.uk |
| Simon Gurry | Psychiatry | sjg232@medschl.cam.ac.uk |
| Jim Bagstaff | School Office | jwpb3@cam.ac.uk |
| Jane Gaffa | School Office | jg788@medschl.cam.ac.uk |
| Marissa Condie | School Office | mmc78@cam.ac.uk |
| Christian Brown | School Office | christian.brown@admin.cam.ac.uk |
| Harriet Haertel | School Office | harriet.haertel@admin.cam.ac.uk |
| Lidia Mota | School Office | lidia.mota@admin.cam.ac.uk |
| Charlotte Gorick | School Office | charlotte.gorick@admin.cam.ac.uk |
| Kirsty Ferguson | Stem Cell Institute | kf325@cam.ac.uk |
| Adam Spruce | Stem Cell Institute | as3025@cam.ac.uk |
What do Wellbeing Advocates do?
As a Wellbeing Advocates for the Clinical School, you can really make the role your own. Key things an Advocate would be involved in include:
- Signposting relevant support services offered by the University and external services where relevant to colleagues
- Creating where needed, raising awareness, championing and promoting regular updates about wellbeing activities and events run by your department and the Clinical School
- Representing wellbeing issues from your department at Wellbeing Advocates network meetings
- Helping to promote Clinical School and University-wide wellbeing events
- Role modelling and sharing wellbeing best practice across the Clinical School and University.
Further information can be found in the role profile below.
Benefits of being a Wellbeing Advocate
Being a Wellbeing Advocates will leave you with a sense of pride – knowing that you are supporting in improving the wellbeing of staff at the Clinical School as well as contributing to the wider Wellbeing Programme. You will be able to share feedback and input in to the Wellbeing agenda for the Clinical School and it’s a great opportunity to build your network and meet other like minded colleagues across the Clinical School and wider University. You will be able to raise your profile, influence decision making at departmental level and develop your career as well as learn and develop new skills such as event planning, representation and effective communication.
What training is available to Wellbeing Advocates?
You will undergo mental health awareness training as well as a Wellbeing Advocate Induction. Further information including the online training can be found here. Contact cswellbeing@admin.cam.ac.uk before completing any training.
How can I become a Wellbeing Advocate?
Follow the link to the application form: https://forms.office.com/r/g5L7S8Le2s. Please ensure you have gained approval from your line manager.
For information on becoming a Wellbeing Advocate, contact cswellbeing@admin.cam.ac.uk
What support services are available to staff?
There are a number of internal and external support services available to staff. They can be found here.
Wellbeing Advocate Network
Clinical School Wellbeing Advocates are part of the wider University Wellbeing Advocate Network. Information can be found here. The University Wellbeing Advocates meet on a monthly basis and as well as this, the Clinical School Wellbeing Advocates meet on a regular basis.
