Trio of awards for DMU as university is recognised for wellbeing support

There was a hat-trick of awards for De Montfort University (DMU) Leicester at this year’s University Mental Health Advisors Network’s (UMHAN) Awards. 

Mental Health Intervention Officer, Imogen Varle SFHEA, and Mental Health Inclusion Officer, Rhiain Craven, both took home the top prize in the Professional Practice and Collaborative and Partnership Working awards categories, respectively.

Clare Jeeves (right) with Mental Health intervention Officer, Pete Broadhurst (left) and Imogen Varle SFHEA at DMU's Staff Recognition event earlier this year

Fellow Mental Health Inclusion Officer, Ifeanyi Opara, was highly commended for Outstanding Student Support.  

There was also a special accolade for Clare Hallsworth-Jeeves, Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager, who received the Exemplary Contribution to Staff and Student Mental Health award for her work mentoring and guiding her team as well as implementing targeted support measures for students across DMU.  

Overall, DMU won awards from three out of the six categories at this year’s awards, which were held virtually on Tuesday 16 November.

Clare said: “I'm so proud of working alongside such dedicated colleagues. Helping staff enjoy being at work and being able to see concretely that what they do makes a difference is very important to me.

“We get some really amazing feedback from our students that tells us how much of a difference we have made and it’s helped them on their journeys.

“Despite the challenges that higher education faces, they're just so passionate and positive, and dedicated to doing the best by students, and that is one of the things I love about DMU.”

UMHAN is a national charity established in 2003 to support mental health specialists working in higher education by sharing resources and information. Today, it has more than 700 members working across 150 institutions and employers.  

Now in its second year, the network’s awards celebrate the best practices from its members working in universities to support students’ mental health.  

Each award nominee has to be put forward by a colleague or line manager.

It’s the second year in a row that Rhiain has won a UMHAN award, having scooped the New Student Mental Health Practitioner at the inaugural ceremony last year.

Rhiain Craven

This year, she has won the Collaborative and Partnership Working category for her work with Careers Digital and Data Manager, Phil Woods, in improving how wellbeing appointments are booked through the university’s MyGateway platform.  

Rhiain said: “I really enjoy working at DMU and the students are really appreciative of the work that we do. Many have said how helpful they find coming to speak to someone, especially when it’s their first time discussing their mental health.

“It’s lovely to see how even small changes and supports can really help students achieve and thrive within their studies. 

“It’s also been great working with Phil and his team, and it’s always nice to see when you see a project come to fruition.”

Taking home the Professional Practice Award, Imogen was described in her nomination as “instrumental in breaking down barriers, raising awareness of disability support,” particularly when sharing her lived experiences of physical health challenges and neurodiversity.

Working with the careers team, she is leading DMU’s Thrive initiative, which helps neurodivergent students or those with physical or mental disabilities find skilled employment, as well as the creation of a Healthy DMU newsletter.

Imogen Varle 

Imogen said: “There is an immense pride and joy to get that level of recognition – I’m very grateful.

“There’s a lot of heavy things floating around. The news is full of conflict, there’s a new superflu going around, so it’s important for universities to have a safe space to feel heard and seen. It can make the difference between just attending university or thriving.

“Obviously, we don't do it for recognition, but getting recognition matters to your mental health. While it’s great working in this field, the role can be quite heavy, so actually getting such lovely feedback was incredibly moving.”

The awards cap off a strong year for the Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing team, who secured an Excellence in Service award at the university’s own Staff Recognition event. The Autism Support Team, which sits within the Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing team, were also nominated for a Times Higher Award for Outstanding Student Support.