Groups, networks and activities

How do the climate and ecological crises make you feel? Sometimes our feelings can overwhelm us, so it can help to find a little Breathing Space. Our Breathing Space sessions are welcoming and inclusive spaces, led by trained eco-anxiety facilitators, where you can:

• Share your concerns or feelings about the climate and ecological crises.
• Meet with like-minded people and discuss your feelings with others, to gain encouragement, support, and solidarity.
• Learn about some different ways of thinking, activities and resources that can help you better understand your climate emotions, and how they can assist with defining and taking meaningful action.

Sessions are open to students and staff from both Falmouth and Exeter universities, plus members of the public. If you would like to find out more about Breathing Space or eco-anxiety, email: sustainability@falmouth.ac.uk.

Sessions take place once or twice a month and are led by trained eco-anxiety facilitators from Falmouth University and the local community. They are held in locations across Penryn and Falmouth Campuses and in the local area – you do not need to book in advance to attend a session.

Find details of upcoming sessions on the FX Plus Events on Campus listing – scroll through or search for ‘Breathing Space’.

Wednesdays

The Cornwall Disability Network aims to provide a support system for staff and students at the University of Exeter’s Penryn campus, to share experiences within a secure and confidential environment and to seek guidance and support regarding disability issues.

We also aim to raise awareness of issues affecting those with disability and carers at the Penryn campus, and to help promote a culture that supports disabled and caring staff and students through all areas of campus life.

For more information: Cornwall Disability Network

Contact: cornwalldisabilitynetwork@exeter.ac.uk

We are a social community for the Cornwall campuses aiming to improve our wellbeing through positive activities and open conversations about mental health.

We operate in collaboration with but separately to the Exeter-based Wellbeing Network and are just getting going as a local group! We'll have a webpage of our own soon. In the meantime, check out the Fika Penryn events we run and if you'd like to join the Cornwall Wellbeing Network or to help us organise future events get in touch with one of the co-founders:

Natasha Hammond: nh510@exeter.ac.uk
Kirsten Whitting: k.whiting@exeter.ac.uk

The Ecological Citizenship project was co-created by students and staff at Falmouth University and the University of Exeter. It is for everyone and anyone who wants to understand, creatively respond to, and/or sit with the processes of change facing our Living Earth.

It is a community, a network of action and a collective for learning. Together, they hope to think and act with the future of our planet and people in mind.

The course takes place every Wednesday at 4pm, usually on UoE's Penryn campus and sometimes at Falmouth Uni's Woodlane campus. Students and staff from Falmouth University, University of Exeter, FX Plus and the SU are all welcome.

How to join?

To find out more about the club see our webpage Ecological Citizens or use this form to register for our weekly newsletter and learn about sessions they might want to join.

Club Coordinators

Daro Montag Catarina Fontoura
Daro.Montag@falmouth.ac.uk

Catarina Fontoura
Catarina.Fontoura@falmouth.ac.uk

Please note that only University of Exeter colleagues and PGRs based in Cornwall will be able to open the link to the web page.

Every Wednesday at the garden from 15:00 onwards. 

A smaller group also meets on Saturday mornings from about 10.00am.

Students, staff, and local residents are all welcome to join, no skills are necessary, just an interest and enthusiasm. We hold occasional social and fundraising events too.

Exeter Community Garden started in 2011 as a joint initiative between the University’s grounds team and the Students’ Guild and has now evolved into a free-standing organisation managed by staff, students and local residents. The garden has 9 raised beds for vegetables, fruit and herbs, an orchard with a variety of fruit trees, together with a greenhouse, a storage building (the Observatory) and two polytunnels.

As well as producing food, the Garden allows members to share skills and ideas, promotes mental wellbeing through social interaction and also allows members to look at issues of food security and sustainability, habitat protection and enhancement and the promotion of biodiversity. The Community Garden has engaged with students and academics at the University to launch the Permaculture, Growing Food with Nature MA in Food Studies based on the community garden site and using the facilities here. The course specifically investigates food production without cultivation, using sustainable products.

For more information and contact details go to:

www.exetercommunitygarden.co.uk

or

Exeter Community Garden Facebook page

Exe Walkers is a friendly walking group that hikes every month in the local countryside. Open to all university staff, their family and friends - newcomers welcome. There's usually a pub!

Date: 3rd Tuesday of each month
Time: 3pm
Location: Stella Turk or Peter Lanyon common room

What is Fika? 

Fika is a cherished Swedish tradition that involves taking a break, savouring coffee (or tea), and enjoying delectable treats. It's more than just a coffee break; it's an inclusive social activity that promotes relaxation and socialising. The term "fika" is derived from the Swedish word "kaffe" (coffee) and is akin to the concept of a coffee break or coffee time, but it goes beyond just drinking coffee.

What to Expect:

•    A welcoming and inclusive environment
•    Friendly conversations and an opportunity to meet new people
•    Sweet treats!

How to join?

If you would like to join Fika, simply turn up and bring a mug!

Contact: Tasha Hammond, Cornwall Wellbeing Network, nh510@exeter.ac.uk

More info: Fika Penryn Sharepoint page

Monthly online session - Wednesdays

Ad-hoc in-person sessions at St Lukes and Streatham campuses

This group is led and supported by the University Chaplaincy (as facilitators with Cruse training) and Colleague Wellbeing.

It is a support network for colleagues and PGRs experiencing any form of grief. loss or bereavement. You could be at any stage of this experience including, for example, a recent loss, a loss some time ago, facing the future loss of someone close, a miscarriage, or the 'loss' of someone still living in the case of advanced dementia where personality change and memory loss can be common.

The group is a safe space for sharing/listening and practical/reflective activities with much mutual support. We have a Teams group to share useful thoughts, feelings and resources. Our in-person or online group sessions are informal, confidential and friendly. You do not need to commit to sessions in advance and can decide not to attend if feeling too raw. You don't have to speak or even have your camera on. All engage only a much as they want and is useful to them. 

More information, contact details, dates/ times and how to join the mailing/ invitation list: Grief, Loss and Bereavement Group

All colleagues are invited to the Menopause Cafés, which will be held online and/or in-person monthly on our Penryn campus. The café lasts an hour and is an accessible, confidential, and supportive space colleagues can discuss any issues around menopause, gain signposting to further resources and support, and share information and tips.

How to join?
The Menopause Café is open to all Cornwall colleagues, whatever your gender or age. Note that the group is not open to students. Details of the cafés will be announced in Cornwall staff newsletters as well as via our Teams site. To join the Teams site or if you have any queries, please contact Clare Manser.

Group Coordinators
Clare Manser: C.manser@FXPlus.ac.uk
Iris Ridout: iris.ridout@fxplus.ac.uk

More information: Menopause Café (Cornwall)

Please note that only colleagues based in Cornwall will be able to open the link. If you are based at a non-Cornwall campus and wish to join, please contact the organisers.

Thursdays

12:00 - 12:30

Online via Zoom or join from ‘The Quiet Room’, Room 111 – 112, 1st Floor, The Old Library (Streatham) but you will need to bring your laptop or tablet to watch from and some headphones.

All Staff and PGRs from all campuses are very welcome to join us. No experience necessary!

This is a free, secular drop-in session open to all staff and PGRs run by John Danvers (the University's Buddhist chaplain). We'll usually have a short, seated, guided meditation followed by a longer quiet sit/ self-guided section and some discussion about the practice.

How do we practice mindful meditation?

We sit quietly observing our thoughts, perceptions, feelings and bodily sensations, without judgment, commentary or attachment - being alive to each moment. We also develop concentration and patience, using each breath as a focus. We notice how everything changes and passes away and we learn to let go - rather than clinging to our ever-changing moods, feelings and thoughts.

Why is it useful?

This mindfulness helps us to: understand and appreciate who we are and how we are in the world; take care of ourselves and feel kinship for others; calm the non-stop chatter in our minds; experience with greater clarity, enjoyment and peace; let go of compulsions and attachments that make us feel anxious or depressed; permits us to be alive to this moment – instead of clinging to past and future.

Please email:

For questions about the practice: John Danvers j.danvers@exeter.ac.uk 

or

To join the mailing list: Rosie Dixon ColleagueWellbeing@exeter.ac.uk

Primarily online communities where members can start conversations about any parenting, caring, or related questions; ask for advice from other members; and keep up to date with relevant information and policies. In-person meetings organised by members.

Primarily online communities where members can start conversations about any parenting, caring, or related questions; ask for advice from other members; and keep up to date with relevant information and policies. In-person meetings organised by members.

Monthly(ish)

The playful lab is an informal get-together for experimentation and exploration of the art and science of design, play, and story, to enable innovation. With play we create spaces to think, create, and level-up skills and understanding of learning and innovation while simultaneously fostering prosocial connection. For us, play is more than an activity, it is a feeling.

Sign up here to receive calendar invites to our on-campus/ University sessions, receive our InnoPlay newsletter and for information on our other activites: www.innoplay.co.uk