41061 Unite AR22 HI-RES WEB-READY - Flipbook - Page 53
STRATEGIC REPORT
GOVERNANCE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OTHER INFORMATION
Wellbeing
We aspire to build a mindful culture, where supporting
the mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing of
students and employees is a priority for everyone.
We recognise our responsibility to create happier, healthier
workplaces. Throughout 2022, we focused on four pillars
of wellbeing: social, mental, physical and financial. We
have developed a range of employee benefits to support
these pillars including flexible working, eyecare vouchers
and Medicash scheme, Employee Assistance programme,
optional childcare vouchers and the opportunity to purchase
additional annual leave. Engagement with our Culture
Matters forum and focus groups through 2022 has helped
us to understand the ongoing needs and expectations
of our employees, and informed the development of a
comprehensive new employee support framework which
we’ll be launching in Q2 2023.
In 2015, we were the first student accommodation provider
to pay the Real Living Wage, a commitment we still make
today. Recognising the strain that the cost-of-living crisis
is having on our employees, we’ve committed to increase
salaries in line with the requirements of the Real Living Wage
in 2023, and paid all of our employees an additional £500
bonus in autumn 2022.
CASE STUDY
HELPING STUDENTS FEEL
WELL AND WELCOME
Resident ambassadors and
mental health resources
We’re championing an inclusive culture where our
customers and people prioritise their wellbeing.
Our Resident Ambassador programme was relaunched
this year. It has been designed to help new students
settle in, make new friends, build confidence and
improve their employability.
Our updated student support structure includes Support
to Stay, a framework that we’ve developed in alignment
with universities’ initiatives to keep students on track and
give them the best opportunity for success.
See pages 56–61 for more information
Life at university can be challenging for young people in
many ways, and so in 2022 we launched our Support to Stay
programme to structure a proactive approach to supporting
our students, whilst also being responsive to situations and
experiences which challenge their wellbeing (e.g. mental,
social, financial). We’ve partnered with Blackbullion (see
https://www.blackbullion.com for more information) to
provide students with sector-leading tools and advice to
help students manage their finances; and we’ve invested
in training to help staff identify and respond to a range of
student needs including recognising the signs and symptoms
of mental health difficulties, handling disclosures, and
supporting students with disabilities, and are expanding
opportunities to include first aid and mental health first aid.
Unite and Bournemouth University are collaborating
on a data-sharing approach to improve the allocation
of suitable accommodation to students. The aim is to
support students’ welfare during their stay. Roundtable
events have been held and results of our work will set
the sector’s best practice. Part of this important work
includes guidance around safeguarding students, privacy
and how we deal with critical incidents and signposts.
For more about this project, go online to:
unitegroup.com/sustainability/positive-impact
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