We are inviting staff and students to reconnect with each other in the new year by participating in our UniTea throughout January 2024.

Our #UniTea events are being held across UoN in January 2024, providing an opportunity for staff and students to take time out and connect with each other.

To support the initiative, we are encouraging student and staff engagement and to have open conversations. To promote a sense of belonging between all students and staff across our campuses and to raise awareness of wellbeing support services for the university community.

Our first event took place on Tuesday 16 January in the Chaplaincy department, with students and staff combining and connecting over tea and biscuits and engaging in a ‘paint a mug’ session.

You can still host your own event. Although funding requests are now closed, as long as you have a kettle, you can still host your own #UniTea event.

You can find everything you’ll need to set up an event of your own including activities, wellbeing resources and imagery to help you promote your event on the dedicated Sway site.

Guidance for #UniTea #BrewMonday activities/events

• Events should be in line with university health and safety guidelines
• You will be sent a feedback form for evaluation of the event
• We encourage collaboration between departments and Staff and Students
• We welcome any photos of your event. Please note these will be shared with the wider UoN community: email BR-EDICoordinators@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk

Why ‘Brew Monday’?

The third Monday in January is sometimes referred to as ‘the most difficult day of the year’ but this is a myth. At Samaritans we know there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ – we all have our good days and our bad days, and those aren’t for the calendar to decide.

So we say it’s time to stop this myth about Monday being ‘blue’ and instead start a conversation over a brew. ​Reach out and connect with family, friends, colleagues and loved ones.

Any day can be a Brew Monday. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Monday morning or Saturday night, or if you’re drinking green tea, black coffee or orange juice. If you’re sharing a cuppa and listening, you’re doing it right.