Launching a #NewLook (U better werk)

It’s a busy time for us here at Think Positive’s Werk Room (aka NUS Scotland office). We’re in the thick of planning for a new Student Mental Health Project year creeping imminently towards us, and to kick it all off, we’re hosting a launch event. HOWEVER, this isn’t just any old ‘launch event’, gurl NO. It’s our brand new, shiny, activity-filled Launch Event. Oh my. (If the event could be a drag queen, its name would be LaunchYvent, pls, I had to. #dragrace) SO, let’s take a look at the agenda in a little bit more depth and see what exciting gems you’ve got to look forward to.

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Getting to know you…
Networking is a fab way of making new contacts and developing your work through the ability to share ideas with peers. But it can be pretty daunting, right? It’s literally my worst nightmare. Although when I actually do network, it’s never as bad as I anticipate. With that in mind, then, we’ve tried to approach ‘networking’ from a slightly different angle. As in a sort of ‘let’s try and encourage these lovely folk to build meaningful bonds in an environment that feels less pressurising and worky’ sort of vibe. Ngl even I am excited for this session.

Wait…A Student Mental Health Agreement is what now?
If you’ve never heard of a ‘Student Mental Health Agreement’ before, well, lemme tell ya. This session is for Y.O.U. We’ll give you a bit of background to the project (a little SMHA 101) and introduce our GORGEOUS team. (I’m absolutely not even kidding, they’re literally RADIANT it’s ridiculous.) This session is great because you get to understand the basics of what taking part in the project involves and understand how it’s helping to improve student mental health in Scotland. Niiiiiiice.

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SMHA Showcase!
Category is: Student Mental Health Agreement. We’ve invited some institutions that took part in the project last year to showcase their runway look (Student Mental Health Agreement) and share the process. Think of it as the Reunion episode, except ultimately less shade being thrown (we hope/request).

LUNCH and STALLS and EXHIBITION!
Free lunch? We don’t mess around. (Also we want you to be sustained and happy and READY for some ACTIVITIES!) During lunch (and also throughout the day, during the access breaks etc.) you’ve got the opportunity to speak to stallholders from organisations working within the sector.

And for the first time, we’ve got a little exhibition on showcasing some of the FINE work institutions have been doing this year. Make sure you check it out!

Looking back at 2019!
Oh, sorry, whaaaaaat, new PANEL DISCUSSION? Gurl you are on FIRE. (I am truly sorry – can you tell I’m watching RuPaul religiously right now? I just have all this new vocabulary flying about needing to be used. You’re honestly so welcome.)

This is something we’re really looking forward to. We’ll be looking at some of the shared themes that came out of last year’s Student Mental Health Agreements and talking to various institutions about their experience in implementing their agreement. There’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions at the end/offer compliments, either or. We’re going for wholesome feels.

Get my good side! (Photo opportunity!)
This activity needs NO introduction. Except it does! We’re so heckin’ cute that we’ve ~scheduled~ time in for a cute group pic. Exceptional.

So…How do we actually create a Student Mental Health Agreement?
Okay okay, fun over. Just kidding. We’re cool. (I think). After all that, you’ll want to know how you can actually go away and create your own Student Mental Health Agreement, right? Well, we’ve been working hard to produce a smashing new guide that will literally do just that: guide you through the steps you need to produce a Student Mental Health Agreement. You’ll be pleased to know that our next blog post is all about our new resources! (I’ll try and keep the dragrace vocab to a minimum, but I’m making ZERO promises).

OKAY! So, that’s just about it for now. We’re really excited and know it’s going to be a special event. If you have any questions, get in touch! Email us at thinkpositive@nus-scotland.org.uk