Staff Wellbeing

Mindfulness with Nature Gratitude Mandalas

Take some time to slow down, reconnect with nature, and embrace the beauty of autumn through our Reflections in Nature series.

This gentle and mindful experience combines nature observation with creative expression, encouraging participants to explore the natural world through various mediums. Spending time outdoors, you'll be invited to carefully observe autumn colours, falling leaves, wildlife, landscapes, and seasonal changes, recording your reflections in a way that feels meaningful to you.

During this session, you will create a nature-inspired gratitude mandala using seasonal materials, offering an opportunity to pause, reflect, and appreciate the small things that support our wellbeing.

Our aim is to help you develop a deeper connection with nature, engage your senses, and be fully present in the moment. Whether you're a seasoned creative or simply looking for a restorative break from your day, this welcoming session is suitable for everyone.

All resources will be provided, and participants can enjoy homemade soup served around the fire pit, creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere in which to reflect, connect, and unwind.

Come along and discover how spending time in nature can inspire creativity, gratitude, and wellbeing.

Managing symptoms of ADHD. Facilitated by Steven Dee (LJMU Counsellor).

Steven presents Taking Charge of Adult ADHD. Second Edition: Proven Strategies to Succeed at Work, at Home, and in Relationships by Dr Russell Barkley. Covers practical strategies to help develop your strengths and achieve your goals, whether in education, in family relationships, or in personal pursuits.

This session may be for you if:

• You have ADHD and would like to learn more about managing its challenges.
• You are interested in practical strategies that could support you at work, in education or at home.
• You would like to understand more about how ADHD can affect everyday life and relationships.
• You sometimes struggle with organisation, planning, focus or getting things started.
• You would like to explore strategies for making the most of your strengths.
• You are looking for ideas to help you work towards personal, educational or professional goals.
• You are interested in learning from an informative and practical book about adult ADHD.
• You would like to discover resources within the Reading for Wellbeing collection that could support your learning and wellbeing.
• You are simply curious to learn more about adult ADHD and the strategies that may help.

No prior knowledge is required — come along, learn more about ADHD and discover practical ideas you can explore in your own life.

This group has been developed to complement our ‘Bibliotherapy’ initiative. For more info visit www.ljmu.ac.uk/bibliotherapy

Writing through the seasons: Autumn. Putting yourself on the page: a safe space for personal writing in response to creative prompts. Facilitated by Anne-Marie Smith (LJMU School of Education).

You do not need to be a writer or a poet to attend our workshops, just a willingness to take part and go with wherever your writing takes you!

These workshops enable you to focus on the process of writing rather than any product or output: giving yourself permission to just write without rules about whatever emerges from your pen or pencil has the potential to lead to insights, revelations, and greater self-awareness.

This group has been developed to complement our ‘Bibliotherapy’ initiative. For more info visit www.ljmu.ac.uk/bibliotherapy

Join us online for a cuppa and a chat. Menopause Café aims to provide an opportunity for talk about menopause in a new way, to break down taboos, and increase awareness of the impact of the menopause on those experiencing it, their family, friends and their colleagues. You are welcome to join us regardless of what stage of the journey you are at, be that perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause. Please contact E.Cousins@ljmu.ac.uk if you have any questions.

This is a women only football event, in a friendly and supportive environment. Open to staff who have either played football before or have never kicked a ball but want to give it a go! No football experience needed as we will do some light skills training and then go into a game. Please share with any colleagues that you think may be interested. Any questions please email Holly Keenan-Fallace h.r.keenanfallace@ljmu.ac.uk

Facilitated in partnership with Cancer Support UK. This workshop is designed to increase knowledge of cancer, cancer types, treatments and side effects. It will give a deeper understanding of the emotional impact of cancer as well as the physical effects. Places are limited to the first 14 members of staff; those on the waiting list will be offered future dates. 

There are a number of sessions available, including a shorter 1-hour awareness-raising session. Please see the Staff Events page for details.   

Self-acceptance. Join Claire Kendrick (LJMU counsellor) as she introduces The Bridge by Donna Lancaster, a powerful book designed to help you develop greater self-acceptance, confidence, and authenticity.

In this workshop, Claire will introduce key ideas from the book and demonstrate how its practical tools can support personal growth and wellbeing.

This workshop may be for you if:

• Struggle with low confidence or self-criticism.
• Want to improve your self-worth.
• Are interested in personal growth and self-discovery.
• Would like practical ways to become more accepting of yourself.

Come along and discover how this inspiring book can help you build confidence, embrace who you are, and create positive change in your life. All are welcome.

This group has been developed to complement our ‘Bibliotherapy’ initiative. For more info visit www.ljmu.ac.uk/bibliotherapy

*TPS Members only* Online Webinar - Link to follow.

This online session hosted by Amber River True Bearing, will take staff through all the key aspects to consider when planning for retirement. The session will also feature colleagues from Merseyside Pension Fund and Teachers Pension Fund to provide an overview of occupational pensions and assist with any queries.

Amber River True Bearing Financial Advice: 

• Managing Change 
• Work Life Vs Retired Life
• True Bearing financial advice approach
• Risk Vs. Reward
• Accessibility
• Inflation 
• Income & Growth 
• Taxation
• Investment advice
• IFA & Wealth Management 

 Legacy Planning considerations: 

• Wills & Trusts
• Protection of assets 

Occupational Pensions:  

• What is your pensions benefit
• Calculation of work pension 
• AVCs

*LGPS Members only* Online Webinar - Link to follow.

This online session hosted by Amber River True Bearing, will take staff through all the key aspects to consider when planning for retirement. The session will also feature colleagues from Merseyside Pension Fund and Teachers Pension Fund to provide an overview of occupational pensions and assist with any queries.

Amber River True Bearing Financial Advice: 

• Managing Change 
• Work Life Vs Retired Life
• True Bearing financial advice approach
• Risk Vs. Reward
• Accessibility
• Inflation 
• Income & Growth 
• Taxation
• Investment advice
• IFA & Wealth Management 

 Legacy Planning considerations: 

• Wills & Trusts
• Protection of assets 

Occupational Pensions:  

• What is your pensions benefit
• Calculation of work pension 
• AVCs

This is a women only football event, in a friendly and supportive environment. Open to staff who have either played football before or have never kicked a ball but want to give it a go! No football experience needed as we will do some light skills training and then go into a game. Please share with any colleagues that you think may be interested. Any questions please email Holly Keenan-Fallace h.r.keenanfallace@ljmu.ac.uk

We’ve all had that moment where a book feels like it was written just for us. Bibliotherapy is the practice of using those stories to navigate our own lives.

In this introductory workshop facilitated by Debbie Burns (LJMU counsellor), we’ll dive into texts that mirror our unspoken experiences—offering both inspiration for the future and comfort for the present.

No prior reading is required; we will explore short, impactful pieces together in a supportive, low-pressure environment. Come and find the words that speak to you.

This workshop may be for you if:

• You would like to take some time out from the pressures of everyday life.
• You are interested in exploring thoughts and feelings through stories and literature.
• You sometimes find that a book, poem or character reflects something you are experiencing.
• You would like to discover new ways of thinking about yourself, your experiences or the future.
• You are looking for a gentle opportunity to connect with others through shared reading and discussion.
• You are simply curious about bibliotherapy and would like to find out more.

This group has been developed to complement our ‘Bibliotherapy’ initiative. For more info visit www.ljmu.ac.uk/bibliotherapy

This is a women only football event, in a friendly and supportive environment. Open to staff who have either played football before or have never kicked a ball but want to give it a go! No football experience needed as we will do some light skills training and then go into a game. Please share with any colleagues that you think may be interested. Any questions please email Holly Keenan-Fallace h.r.keenanfallace@ljmu.ac.uk