Supporting student wellbeing and career aspirations

In September 2024, thanks to a grant from the University's College Wellbeing Stimulus Fund, Robinson launched our Robinson Wings initiative - interweaving work on wellbeing, development of study skills, and career support into an innovative programme to help students through their time at the College whilst preparing them for graduation. Having developed from our ongoing support for student wellbeing, which has only been possible thanks to the generoisty of our alumni and friends, we envision this work as helping students with their confidence, as well as expanding their aspirations both at and after University.

The programme is led by our Student Wellbeing Advisor, who is in charge of delivery and adapting this work to suit student needs, as well as offering one-to-one support where needed. Recent events that have run as part of Robinson Wings have included:

• Boost Your Brain Day, which involved over 135 students across a range of activities focussed around effective learning and general wellbeing.
• Life on One Page, a session for 30 students, led by Peter Boyd of Yale, on setting inspiring (but also achievable) goals.
• Weekly Writing Retreats for Postgraduates to focus on co-writing to make joint inroads on their research.

We are currently in the midst of a three year Pilot programme, at a cost of c.£40,000 a year - this doesn't include the additional £10,000 a year to run the various workshops and events that make up each of the three strands of Robinson Wings. Philanthropy will be essential so we can continue to offer these provisions, and continue to tailor them for our entire student body.

If you are interested in contributing towards the future of this programme, please do contact Katharine Cantell, our Development Director, who will be able to help. Additionally, if you are interested in sharing your career experiences with our students, or otherwise want to support our events, please do email Fiona Davey, our Student Wellbeing Advisor.