Wellbeing Ambassadors and staff at Green Gown Awards

Green Gown Awards table

On 13 November 2024, the University of Sussex Business School celebrated its recognition as a finalist in the Student Engagement category at the prestigious 20th Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland delivered by EAUC in association with UK Research and Innovation. This year’s awards saw 133 projects from 83 institutions shortlisted, with 22 winners and 23 highly commended awards announced. The ceremony, held at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, highlighted the School’s impactful initiative, Empowering Student Wellbeing: The Sussex Peer Support Project.

The Green Gown Awards celebrate sustainability excellence in the education sector. This recognition acknowledges our commitment to fostering student mental health and wellbeing through its innovative Wellbeing Peer Support Project. This student-led initiative provides vital peer-to-peer support, addressing challenges such as academic stress, financial pressures, and personal concerns. By fostering open dialogue and a culture of care, our Wellbeing Mentors have significantly enhanced student wellbeing and cultivated an inclusive community within the School. 

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), the project underscores the importance of mental health support in education. Its success is evident in both the positive feedback from students and staff and the improved engagement and wellbeing metrics, as reflected in recent National Student Survey (NSS) results. 

Professor Sasha Roseneil, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex, praised the achievement: 

“Reaching the finals of the Green Gown Award for our Business School's student mental health project is a fantastic achievement for the University of Sussex. It highlights our supportive, inclusive campus and the transformative impact of peer support. We are excited to expand this sustainable initiative, enhancing student wellbeing and promoting environmental responsibility.” 

Professor Debbie Isobel Keeling, Interim Executive Dean of the Business School, added: 

“This recognition is a fantastic achievement. It showcases our commitment to sustainability and student wellbeing, and we hope it inspires others to adopt similar initiatives.” 

The Business School was one of 10 shortlisted finalists in the category. Following a successful pilot year, the Peer Support Project has doubled the number of Ambassadors, extending its reach and impact. 

Students can meet our Wellbeing Ambassadors at the School Community Cafes in the Jubilee Building on Tuesdays and Thursdays during term time, as well as at various events throughout the year. 

Student Reflections

The Wellbeing Ambassadors shared their thoughts: 

- Fathir Suhaimi: “Being a finalist for the Green Gown Award is such a great honour, as it recognises our commitment and passion in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment at the University of Sussex Business School. It’s incredibly rewarding to support others on their wellbeing journeys and to see the positive impact we can make together.”

- Silas Urwin: “I think it’s really encouraging that everyone’s hard work with the Wellbeing Ambassador programme has been recognised by the Green Gown Awards. I’m proud to be part of the project and contribute to the support it has provided to other students. I’ve also gained valuable interpersonal skills and become more confident in offering support to others. Being involved in this project has given me skills and experiences I can apply in all aspects of my life.”

- Ekta Thakrar: “Being recognised by the Green Gown Awards and being finalists for our work as Wellbeing Ambassadors has been such an honour. I don’t think any of us imagined this when we were first asked to take on these roles. Seeing how much we’ve been able to expand and help the community has been incredible. I’m so proud to be part of such an amazing group of people who do such important work.” 

The success of the Wellbeing Peer Support Project underscores its dedication to both sustainability and student engagement, setting a standard for institutions across the sector.