ID212 Developing a University-wide Network of Community Champions

The Idea

Establish a network of volunteer champions across academic Schools and Professional Services to support the University's Health & Wellbeing, Sustainability and Keele Community Engagement priorities. 

Keele has previously benefited from departmental Sustainability and Health & Wellbeing Champions, who acted as local advocates by promoting campaigns, sharing information, encouraging participation in initiatives and providing a link between central teams and colleagues within their departments. Over time, these networks have reduced, meaning delivery is increasingly reliant on a small number of colleagues. 

Reintroducing a champion network would strengthen communication, encourage greater staff engagement and provide local ownership of University priorities while helping to build a stronger sense of community.  

I work in the Campus Life area in events and just a few people are managing to deliver a lot to start and create that Keele Community and hopefully make Keele University a more appealing place to come for both Students and Staff, but our main area of focus has had to be on the students, due to resources.  

The champion network would not replace existing roles but would support colleagues already leading these strategic priorities by extending their reach into every School and Directorate. 

For example: 

• Health & Wellbeing Champions could promote wellbeing campaigns, signpost colleagues to support services, encourage participation in wellbeing initiatives and gather local feedback.  
• Sustainability Champions could encourage sustainable behaviours, promote environmental initiatives, support Green Impact or similar schemes and share local best practice.  
• Keele Community Champions could promote University-wide activities, encourage participation in community events and help strengthen connections between departments. 

We have worked closely with Student Services, Laura Rhodes and the SU to deliver some great activities over the last 12 months, but to really make Keele University better for everyone and grow our community, I feel it would be sensible to look at getting champions in each department for these 3 keys areas. . 

The champions would work alongside existing strategic leads, including colleagues leading the Mental Health Charter, Sustainability Strategy and Staff Engagement activity. Their role would be to support delivery locally rather than duplicate responsibility, creating a coordinated network across the University.

Why This Idea Should Be Considered

It is not a new idea, but more something we have lost as a University, probably with the every changing landscape, but I really feel by re-introducing these champions, it would support the people leading in these areas and just allow us to grow and create so much more for the Keele Community.  

The University has ambitious objectives around staff wellbeing, sustainability and community engagement. Achieving these priorities requires engagement from colleagues across the institution rather than relying solely on central teams. A champion network would provide local advocates who can promote initiatives, encourage participation and feed ideas and challenges back to strategic leads. 

This proposal complements, rather than replaces, the work already undertaken by colleagues leading the Mental Health Charter and Sustainability Strategy. It provides additional capacity to embed these priorities consistently across all departments. 

By strengthening community, wellbeing and sustainability, Keele would further enhance its reputation as both an employer of choice and a welcoming, values-led university for students. 

How We Would Implement This Idea

The network should be sponsored by senior leadership and coordinated by the existing strategic leads for Health & Wellbeing, Sustainability and Staff Engagement. Champions would be volunteers nominated or expressing an interest from across Schools and Professional Services, with support from their line managers to undertake the role. 

Each champion would receive: 

• A clear role description and expected time commitment.  
• An induction and annual briefing.  
• Regular networking meetings. 
• Resources and campaign information to share locally.  
• Defined objectives aligned to the University's Mental Health Charter, Sustainability Strategy and Staff Engagement priorities.  

The role would be recognised within workload planning and annual objectives where appropriate, ensuring champions are supported to contribute without creating unrealistic expectations.

What Success Would Look Like

Improved Staff wellbeing and engagement, increased participation in University campaigns and events, stronger delivery of Sustainability Strategy and Mental Health Charter Objectives.  

Enhancing the Keele Community, staffs sense of belonging and creating a visible network of local champions