Charlie Waller at Cambridge

Cambridge is one of the world’s oldest and most renowned universities. Its mission is “to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence”.

Since 2021, the university and colleges of Cambridge have been implementing a major programme of work to enhance support for student mental health and wellbeing.

Dr Adam Welstead

As part of this, they wanted to enhance the range of training opportunities available to staff:

“We were seeking high quality training in mental health,” says Adam, “contextualised to the university setting.

“CWT was able to offer us training which recognised the nuances of supporting students' mental health within an educational context, which was hugely valuable.”

The training and consultancy we undertook with Cambridge was led by Sarah Ashworth, one of the Trust’s most experienced trainers. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and former Head of Mental Health at Warwick University, Sarah has a wealth of experience in developing and delivering mental health training.

Sarah Ashworth

Focus groups

A period of consultancy gave Sarah the insights she needed into the university and its challenges to be able to offer guidance in developing a tailored programme of training. Key to this process was talking to representatives of those who would receive the training.

Sarah says: “We held several focus groups with senior and frontline staff in the university to discuss what training they thought they needed and to inform its development.” 

This is a continuous process – Sarah and Hannah continue to refine the training using feedback from participants.

The new training programme on student mental health, delivered by Sarah and fellow trainer Hannah Buckland, was designed to reach a wide range of people working within the university.

Adam says: “Sarah and Hannah worked with senior leaders, managers, academic and professional support staff at the university and individual colleges.”

Hannah Buckland

In January last year, Sarah delivered the first training session to the university’s senior leadership team. It was also attended by the Trust’s Chairman, Richard Waller KC, a meeting with whom had set the ball rolling on this work some four years ago.  A Cambridge alumnus, Rick opened the session by talking about Charlie and the work of the Trust.

Training across Cambridge

The training is now being rolled out across the university. Delivered to senior leaders and to frontline staff, it includes an overview of mental health in higher education; opportunities to develop a ‘whole institution approach’; responding to staff and students who may be experiencing poor mental health; and having the confidence to talk to students and staff who may be struggling or in acute difficulty. 

The amazing thing I find about working in any of the colleges at Cambridge is the warm welcome, the kindness from all staff and the absolute drive to offer the best support to their student community. I really love my time there.

In addition to the programme, Sarah and Hannah have delivered standalone sessions to various colleges at Cambridge. Hannah, who has delivered sessions covering mental health awareness, eating disorders, self-harm and suicide, said:

“I have trained people from right across College communities , from housekeeping and grounds staff, porters and tutors to professors and members of the admissions team; it’s been open to anyone from the college to attend.

“The amazing thing I find about working in any of the colleges at Cambridge is the warm welcome, the kindness from all staff and the absolute drive to offer the best support to their student community. I really love my time there.”

Sarah agreed: “From the outset, Cambridge and its colleges have demonstrated a commitment to promoting the mental health and wellbeing of the whole community of students and staff. It’s been a real pleasure to get to know so many passionate and caring people whilst developing and delivering the training. They have taken such good care of us too!”

Positive impact

Our training partnership with the Charlie Waller Trust has been highly impactful for us at the University of Cambridge. In the Trust, we have found a partner who shares our vision and passion for student support, and a whole-collegiate university approach to mental health and wellbeing.

This positive regard is reciprocated: Adam says he found our trainers’ way of working very helpful: “It was dedicated, responsive, open-minded and flexible – and highly personable.”

And it has already started to make a positive difference, with several hundred staff members successfully completing the training.

"Our training partnership with the Charlie Waller Trust has been highly impactful for us at the University of Cambridge,” says Adam. 

"In the Trust, we have found a partner who shares our vision and passion for student support, and a whole-collegiate university approach to mental health and wellbeing."

“The training sessions delivered by the Trust have been very popular and well-received, engaging and tailored to our context. In developing the partnership, it has been a pleasure to work with staff, trainers and senior leadership at the Trust.

“I look forward to developing this impactful programme and partnership going forward, and would warmly recommend the Charlie Waller Trust as a partner to my colleagues across the higher education sector."