Hayley Hayward-Boyle & Caroline Jarosz's 2021 Business Growth & Plans

Today we're talking to Hayley Hayward-Boyle and Caroline Jarosz who are student participation officers working at Bath College.

It's April, how does this month fit into the ebb & flow of your year? 

CAROLINE: We are currently planning for our forthcoming student elections, as well as organising events and awareness campaigns for the terms ahead.

Are you an organisation which is either opening up this month – or preparing to open up? 

HAYLEY: As a college we have already begun to physically open and welcome back students. 

What are you most looking forward to as the country tries to ‘open up’?

HAYLEY: Seeing the buzz of students on campus again and helping them enjoy the last term of this academic year.

It’s also Stress Awareness Month, what measures have you taken in your business to reduce the stress on yourself & your team?

HAYLEY: As a student union we run various events throughout the year that focus on stress and promote wellbeing. We provide opportunities for students to join in activities that help their health and wellbeing such as tea and chat with us, mindful activity sessions and games outdoors. 

We work closely with the welfare team, nurses and counselling to see what issues are affecting our students and then do health and wellbing campaigns and events around this.

In the upcoming term as courses are finishing, we shall focus on stresses caused by exams or meeting assignment deadlines. We share ideas through social media campaigns and promote national events and awareness days. We also work alongside local organisation and this includes Soul Spa where staff and students can get discounted meditation classes to help them relax and reduce stress. 

What do you do personally to support your health and wellbeing? 

HAYLEY: Personally, I practice meditation daily and do regular classes in Qigong and pilates and spend time being creative. I also regularly swim so I’m looking forward to swimming pools reopening soon. I also passionate about happiness, mindfulness and I love hula hooping!

CAROLINE: I find that physical exercise and running in particular has really helped me to keep the endorphins flowing and I also like to dabble in art as a past time.  

Do you see your product/service as one which supports the health and wellbeing of others such as students?

HAYLEY: Yes definitely, our main purpose is to be there for our students and their health, happiness and wellbeing is extremely important to us and is key to planning our activities and events.

As the year goes on, will you take health and wellbeing more seriously going forward?

CAROLINE: We all recognise that lockdown has had a big impact on everyone’s mental health and well-being and so we will be looking to support our students in every way we can in order for them to return to living life as safely and happily as possible.

Have you got any big events that you are preparing for later this year? 

HAYLEY: We are launching two new student groups, Hidden Disabilities support group and Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) for students to connect and get support. We are also running sessions for students called ‘Be Creative’ which is about having a fun and relaxing time. Our focus is on taking some time out of your studies for you. We have done positive affirmations, self-portraits and zentangles and many more. We will also do a summer festival to focus on positivity, fun and wellbeing.

And finally:

CAROLINE: Connecting with the students during lockdowns was challenging however it made us all appreciate how much we need to prioritise staying in touch and being there to support each other- and that is something we can definitely learn from! 

For more information visit www.bathcollege.ac.uk

*Images show Caroline & Hayley.