This year the theme for our annual conference is "Improving Mental Wellbeing". Mental wellness is fast becoming the most talked about national topic (besides the 'B' word, of course), with 1 in 5 young people in the UK reported to be suffering from some form of diagnosable mental illness. As such, we have keynote seminars highlighting the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing, in addition to a number of optional workshops on contemporary issues from the world of Higher Education, pertinent to HELOA members.

As usual, we would ask you to come wearing your best Christmas jumper, with a prize for the best one!

Please take a moment to read the workshop descriptions as you will be asked for your selection when registering.

N.B. Parking is not available on site but the venue is next to the Eden Shopping Centre which has a car park and is a short walk from High Wycombe train station.

Schedule

08:30-09:30 - Breakfast and morning mindfulness activities

09.30-10.00 - Registration & Refreshments

10.00-10.15 - Welcome from Group Chairs

10:15-11:15 - Keynote 1- "Talking Anxiety", Nick Elston

Nick Elston is one of the highest profile and leading Inspirational Speakers on the subjects of Anxiety, Mental Health & Wellbeing – from an experience sharing perspective. Having had OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), GAD (Generalised Anxiety Disorder) & heightened Anxiety for most of his life – things reached a breakdown point in 2012 when everything came to a head.

In Life, in Business – we all wear Masks – we try to be what people or situations want to see in us – not who we truly are – we are conditioned to not share our Mental Health issues. It was at that point that Nick decided to share his story – and unveil the Mask…

11:15-12:15 - Workshop Selection 1

“Hard To Reach? Engaging Under-Represented Groups In Outreach Activity” Alex Blower, Southern Universities Network

This workshop is designed to provide an opportunity for practitioners to reflect on the commonly used models of engagement with groups of individuals who are often described as ‘hard to reach’. It will examine the challenges inherent in conducting such activity, and provide attendees with a means by which to maximise the chances of their own activity being successful.

“What is a Theory Of Change and How Can It Benefit My Work?” Sarah Dobie, Bournemouth University

This interactive workshop will introduce the concept of a theory of change and will encourage you to think about the results or changes you expect to bring about as part of your WP programme. It is pitched for staff at all levels (no previous knowledge of evaluation necessary). By the end of the session you should have the tools to start developing your own theory of change to use in your day to day work.

“An introduction to T-Levels” David MacKay, Pearson

With their introduction from September 2020, T-levels give level 3 students the opportunity to experience a mixture of classroom based learning and ‘on-the-job’ training. This workshop will explain the foundations of the T-levels qualification including subjects they cover, how they are delivered, and outlining how they will impact the future of Higher Education.

12:15-13:15 - Lunch

13:15-14:15 - Keynote 2 - "Marginal Gains", Sander de Groot, MADE Training

Sander de Groot is a skilled trainer, teacher and facilitator. He has worked with over 250,000 people through seminars, workshops, lectures and coaching. In this interactive workshop, Sander will show you how to apply the Marginal Gains theory when seeking improvements or progress in both our personal and professional lives. The outputs will be a set of new, positive actions to employ and review. Sander will also lead a discussion on how to employ and integrate the marginal gains theory when working with children and young people.

14:15-15:15 - Workshop Selection 2

“A Guide to Degree Apprenticeships" (WEBINAR) Holly Hart, University of Chichester

Degree Apprenticeships have arguably revolutionised Higher Education. Since their introduction in 2015, they have been seen as a new and exciting opportunity to develop employer-focused higher education in England. With significant growth predicted over the next few years, this valuable webinar will give an insight in to degree apprenticeship delivery and development.

“Classroom Management and Engaging Students” Ciara Newby, University of Bath

This session will explore the way that our own responses and behavior can influence students within a classroom. It will aid you in developing techniques to interact and engage with secondary school students, and promote positive communication within the classroom when visiting schools.

“Developing and Managing Effective Student Ambassadors for WP and Student Recruitment” Dr Karl Devincenzi & Vicky Glazer, University of Exeter

The use of students to facilitate and further the student recruitment and widening participation agenda has become part and parcel of our everyday work. Creating an effective student ambassador team to present a professional image of our institution is imperative. This session will provide an insight into how we can fully utilise student ambassadors to make meaningful contributions to our work whilst reflecting on the challenges in managing a large casual workforce.

15:15-15:30 - Close and Depart