RGU Fit for the Future annual report 2014/15 by The Robert Gordon University

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

rgu

fit for the future

www.rgu.ac.uk/new-you

Have fun, be healthy: eat breakfast

Eating a good breakfast in the morning helps kick start your metabolism and burn more calories.

Have milk before you go out (enjoy the fun for longer and get your calcium hit)

take the stairs

stay hyDrated

Staying hydrated is important for your skin, concentration and blood circulation.

on Your bike

The RGU Garthdee campus is half mile long so get on your bike and explore it

Stair climbing is a vigorous activity resulting in 8.6 to 9.6 times higher metabolic demand as compared to resting conditions

Have some fruit (a chocolate orange doesn’t count but a smoothie does!)

Go fOr a Walk

Get fit

(it doesn’t have to be far but good exercise + fresher air = refreshed)

People who are fit usually attract fitter members of the opposite sex

Get some sleep

With all your new Uni activities make sure you get enough time for sleep

sMall amounts of activity

Join a spOrts Club

Its a great way to get fit, have fun and compete

even as small as one-and two-minute increments that add up to 30 minutes per day-can be just as beneficial as longer bouts of physical exercise achieved by a trip to the gym.

Working Out Makes You Happier

if yOu don’t Want tO, say ‘nO’

(show you are a strong individual)

20th Century Death What’s killeD the most? Obesity 11m Diabetes 30m Heart Disease 35m Tobacco 71m

Break a sweat, beat the blues. Physical activity fights off depression. Regular physical activity seems to improve selfesteem, self-confidence, and mood.

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

Contents Message from Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski

The Principal & Vice Chancellor

Introduction from Val Maehle

Dean of Faculty and Chair

About ‘Fit for the Future’

Theme: Strategic Development

Theme: Embedding ‘Fit for the Future’

Inaugural Fit for the Future Fayre

Theme: Physical Activity & Wellbeing

Staff Physical Activity & Wellbeing

Student Physical Activity & Wellbeing Survey

Modern Munro Challenge

Theme: Student Sexual Health & Mental Wellbeing

Theme: Smoking Cessation, Drug & Alcohol

Healthy university & New You webpages

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

Message from Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski The Principal & Vice Chancellor

RGU’s mission is to transform people and communities. It does this by ensuring that our discovery of knowledge and our dissemination of scholarship have the greatest possible economic, social and cultural impact. Therefore our engagement with and support of all of our communities is critical to our success. I believe that the Healthy Universities concept provides an effective means of achieving this engagement as it adopts a whole systems approach to make the places where people work, learn, live and play supportive to health and wellbeing. RGU became the first Healthy University in Scotland in 2012 under the brand of “Fit for the Future”. We are therefore leading the field in this arena and are highly committed as an institution to the ongoing support of this initiative. I believe that the strategic importance of embedding health and wellbeing within our organisation is crucial to our ongoing and future success. Therefore I hope that all of you will continue to engage in the many activities offered in the “Fit for the Future” Programme now and in the future.

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

Health and Wellbeing is one of the Strategic priorities of the University and is therefore a major element of the University’s future strategic direction. The Healthy Universities concept offers a means by which we can achieve a more co-ordinated approach to health and well being for both students and staff. It will also support the achievement of some of our key strategic aims namely the student experience, teaching and learning and sustainability. Therefore in July 2012, SPARG approved the proposal that RGU should participate in the Healthy University Initiative and become a “Healthy University”. In adopting the Healthy Universities concept RGU aspires to create a learning environment and organisational culture that enhances the health, well-being and sustainability of its community and enables people to achieve their full potential. The objectives are: • To create healthy and sustainable working, learning and living environments for students, staff and visitors. • To increase the profile of health and sustainable development in learning research and knowledge exchange. • To contribute to the health, well being and sustainability of the wider community. A Steering Group was established comprising a membership drawn from across the university and this has evolved over time. During Session 2012-13 the RGU Healthy University Brand “Fit for the Future”, the Logo, the website “New You” and the Action Plan for 2013-2015 were developed and the formal launch took place in April 2013. A staff Survey of Physical Activity and Well Being has been undertaken and the results were presented at the launch. These results will provide the base line against which the impact of the initiative will be measured. Following the Launch, RGU became the first Scottish “Healthy University” within the National Healthy Universities Network.

Introduction from Val Maehle Dean of Faculty and Chair

A great deal of progress has been made due to the enthusiasm and input of a number of individuals in the Steering Group and partners who have offered a range of health promoting sessions and activities as well as promotional support. The Programme for 2013-14 culminated in the “Fit for the Future” Fayre” in September 2014 which was a healthy living event for staff and their families. These activities are described later in the report. In recognition of the achievements to date and the requirement to ensure that RGU maintains its position as the lead Healthy University in Scotland SPARG, has provided resource to support the high quality leadership necessary to support the Programme. As a result, the role of Healthy University Strategic Lead has been created and the 2014-15 Programme will be further enhanced. Much has been achieved but more needs to be done. Therefore members of the “Fit for the Future” Steering Group will be visiting Schools and Departments during the year to increase awareness of the initiative through ‘Fit for the Future Road Shows’. They will be seeking to enlist the help of staff to act as ambassadors and champions as well as discussing options for increasing the active involvement of staff in “Fit for the Future”.

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

www.rgu.ac.uk/healthy-university

Promote positive mental well being

Free Mindfulness sessions on techniques to help effectively manage stress through mindfulness meditation

We’re open to new ideas of improving our communitys health & well being - so get in touch

Have a Laugh

Laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones and increases muscle flexion – laughter is a good stress management strategy.

Look after your heart

get help increasing your cardiovascular activity

substitute alcohol intake for healthier options

Take the physical activity pill

watch what you eat and subscribe to healthier options

Look after all the above and your love life might improve as well

Why not join a student sports club? It’s great for having fun and socialising

View and Share best practice on social media; be part of a healhier community

Motivation Mondays is an opportunity to work out at work, right here in the Faculty of Health and Social Care building.

Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme keep active

RGU:Sport Salary Sacrifice Joining the gym just got cheaper!

help and advice on better worklife balance and healthy lifestyle initiatives

Campus Riverside Walks A selection of various short distance walks - perfect for lunchtime strolls

Fancy doing a Munro in your lunch break? RGU now has 3 ‘MODERN MUNROS’ on the Garthdee Campus that you can climb gradually over a period of days, weeks and months.

www.rgu.ac.uk/about/healthy-university/new-you/activities/campus-riverside-walks

Healthy food options are now available right across the campus

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

About ‘Fit for the Future’ Robert Gordon University (RGU) formally became a healthy university in April 2013 with the launch of ‘Fit for the Future’. The initiative takes a whole systems approach to health and wellbeing for staff and students and is supported by the Strategic Planning and Resource Group of the University (SPARG). This was the culmination of 6 years work with stakeholders across the University. Since then, Fit for the Future has brought together staff and students in the development of innovative projects to improve and promote health and wellbeing. All of these projects are evidence based and designed to meet the specific needs of the RGU community. The projects have been broken down into five themes:

• Strategic Development & Embedding ‘Fit for the Future’

• Physical Activity & Wellbeing

• Smoking Cessation, Alcohol & Drug Awareness

• Student Sexual Health & Mental Wellbeing

• Staff Worklife Balance

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

I WAS AT THE FAMILY FAYRE

I was here

I IWAS was AT at THE The FAMILY Fayre FAYRE

CO O K

I WAS AT THE FAMILY FAYRE

VE N EA

I WAS AT THE FAMILY FAYRE

I was here

CO O K I IWAS was AT at THE The FAMILY Fayre FAYRE

I WAS AT THE FAMILY FAYRE

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

Theme: Strategic Development In January 2015, Gil Barton, took up post as Healthy University Strategic Lead one day per week. Gil is Senior Lecturer within the School of Health Sciences and Health Promotion specialist and Course Leader for the MSc Health Promotion and Public Health. She has been working on the initiative since 2007 and works closely with both internal and external stakeholders. An important part of the role is collaboration, dissemination and sharing of best practice across the sector. The UK Healthy Universities Initiative has been ongoing since 2006 and is led by Prof. Mark Dooris of University of Central Lancaster University and Dr Sue Powell of Manchester Metropolitan University. RGU has been part of the network since 2007. The network was established as an English Network however in 2013 due to the interest across the UK, this was extended to include Scotland, Wales and Ireland who are now represented on the Project Board. Gil represents Scotland on the project board. The first International Healthy University Conference takes place in Canada in June 2015 and early research from both the Staff and Student Physical Activity and Wellbeing surveys as well as the Active Classroom are being presented. This conference will be internationally significant in recognising the opportunity that the universities have to improve both staff and student health and wellbeing.

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

have a kick around

rgu

fit for the future

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

Theme: Embedding ‘Fit for the Future’ It is imperative that ‘Fit for the Future’ is embedded across the university and not viewed as simply a ‘health initiative’. The social determinants of health play a key role in individual and community health and these must not be overlooked. Different engagement methods have been utilised to date including: features in Nexus; information in Fresher’s Packs for new students; plasma screens; twitter; RGU website and most recently a Fit for the Future blog https://rgufitforthefuture.wordpress.com with regular contributors. Another innovative approach has been coffee cup and sandwich pack stickers with health promoting messages and to promote the initiative which has been very successful. Future plans in this area include: • Establishment of ‘Fit for the Future’ Staff Champions across

the university within schools and departments.

• Establishment of ‘Fit for the Future’ Student Ambassadors.

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

Fit for the Future

Family Fayre Inaugural Fit for the Future Fayre This family event, which was funded and organised by ‘Fit for the Future’, ran from 11am to 2pm on Saturday 27th September 2014 and was open to students, staff and the wider community. The event celebrated the work of the initiative and highlights included: ‘Heaven or Hell Cook Off’; Gold, Silver and Bronze medal route walks; mindfulness sessions, climbing wall taster sessions; bouncy castle; family yoga; launch of the Modern Munro Challenge; stalls; face painting and much more! Due to the success in 2014, the Fayre will become an annual event in the RGU calendar.

Example of information booklet

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Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

Theme: Physical Activity & Wellbeing Staff Physical Activity & Wellbeing Physical activity has many benefits, for both physical and mental health, and promoting physical activity in the workplace can enhance staff wellbeing and reduce sickness absence. There is however a lack of rigorous research on workplace programmes aimed at enhancing physical activity and there are several barriers to staff engaging in physical activity. Before making recommendations on strategies to increase physical activity and wellbeing amongst RGU staff, it was important to explore current physical activity and wellbeing levels, perceptions of barriers and motivators for increasing activity. The knowledge gained from this has informed the development of initiatives for staff. An electronic survey was conducted in March 2013 and was distributed to all staff via e-mail and “The Bulletin”, with print copies available at all RGU sites for distribution to staff without access to e-mail. Several of the suggestions for enhancing wellbeing and increasing physical activity have been introduced including: Motivation Mondays, staff only exercise class in FoHSC; Mindfulness Based Stress Management programme and the Stair Climbing Munro Challenge. The findings suggest that RGU staff would benefit from workplace interventions to promote physical activity in order to help them achieve the moderate physical activity levels recommended for maintaining health and to enhance overall wellbeing. Several of the reported barriers to physical activity could be addressed with a combination of behaviour change and practical interventions. A further study will be conducted in March 2015 to provide a comparison from the initial study and to determine if interventions have made an impact.

Student Physical Activity & Wellbeing Survey This was a similar study to the Staff Physical Activity & Wellbeing survey with the purpose being to explore issues relating to Physical Activity, Wellbeing and Barriers to Exercise and Physical Activity in the RGU Student population and was distributed electronically in April 2014. The questionnaire was designed to inform the University’s strategies to enhance student wellbeing now and in the future. Key findings included: • • • •

85.51% of students report some level of physical activity. 53.5% have been staying fit for at least 6 months! Over half of students (51%) report high levels of physical activity The majority of students (71.18%) who work out on campus report using the facilities at RGU: Sport

Engagement with students is ongoing to identify future interventions addressing both physical and mental wellbeing.

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

Bag

rgu

fit for the future

A Modern Munro

A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 ft (914.4 m)

Bag

rgu

fit for the future

A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 ft (914.4 m)

rgu

fit for the future

A Modern Munro

A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 ft (914.4 m)

Fancy doing a Munro in your lunch break?

RGU now has 3 ‘MODERN MUNROS’ on the Garthdee Campus that you can climb gradually over a period of days, weeks and months.

Riverside East Library Tower stairs

Faculty of Health & Social Care stairs

Aberdeen Business School stairs

31 ascents = 1 Munro or 183 flights = 1 Munro

38 ascents + an extra flight = 1 Munro or 229 flights = 1 Munro

52 ascents + 2 extra flight = 1 Munro or 262 flights = 1 Munro

A 150 lb. person who walks up three flights of stairs six times a day can burn 32,850 calories in a year. That’s enough to lose more than 9 pounds in one year, just by skipping the elevator.

(North West)

A 150 lb. person who walks up three flights of stairs six times a day can burn 32,850 calories in a year. That’s enough to lose more than 9 pounds in one year, just by skipping the elevator.

PART OF THE MIx

Climbing stairs alone will not give you a flat stomach. However, the challenging total-body workout provided by stair climbing combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle can help you get the trim waistline you desire.

EFFICIENT WORKOUT

METABOLIC RATE

Stair climbing trains the larger muscles of the body including the glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings, which is key in managing fat.

MUSCLE CONDITIONING

Stair climbing increases the heart rate and ventilation, thereby speeding up the oxygen uptake of the working muscles. Performed on a regular basis, it decreases the time it takes for oxygen-rich blood to reach the working muscles improving one’s cardiovascular endurance.

LOW IMPACT WITH VERSATILITY

don’t over do it

Stair climbers provide resistance for the glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps and calves enabling one to sculpt and lean out the lower part of the body.

CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING

LOW IMPACT WITH VERSATILITY

Stair climbing is a natural, easy, low impact activity that is gentle on the knees, ankles and back. Stair climbing is an effective method of exercising for those who may be injured, overweight, pregnant or just beginning an exercise program.

Leave the lift and help your heart

MUSCLE CONDITIONING

Stair climbers provide resistance for the glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps and calves enabling one to sculpt and lean out the lower part of the body.

Stair climbing is more demanding than both walking on a level surface and lifting weights.

METABOLIC RATE

Stair climbing trains the larger muscles of the body including the glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings, which is key in managing fat.

CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING

EFFICIENT WORKOUT

Stair climbing is more demanding than both walking on a level surface and lifting weights.

Stair climbing trains the larger muscles of the body including the glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings, which is key in managing fat.

Regular flights will boost your energy levels and charge your batteries PART OF THE MIx

A 150 lb. person who walks up three flights of stairs six times a day can burn 32,850 calories in a year. That’s enough to lose more than 9 pounds in one year, just by skipping the elevator.

Regular flights will boost your energy levels and charge your batteries

keep hydrated

(North West)

keep hydrated

Leave the lift and help your heart

don’t over do it

keep hydrated

Leave the lift and help your heart

don’t over do it

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

Modern Munro Challenge Lack of physical activity is leading to a significant increase in lifestyle related diseases affecting all ages. A staff physical activity and wellbeing survey conducted in 2013 demonstrated that 42% of staff reported physical activity levels below the recommended guidelines for maintaining health (i.e. less than 150 minutes moderate physical activity per week). Male staff reported greater physical activity levels than female staff. A recent (March 2014) student physical activity and wellbeing survey reported similar findings. As part of ‘Fit for the Future’ we are looking at innovative and exciting ways of motivating both staff and students to become more active. The Modern Munro Challenge was launched at the Fit for the Future Fayre in September 2014. This was the culmination of MSc Pre-registration Physiotherapy student’s involvement with the project. Three of the buildings across the campus; Riverside East, Faculty of Health & Social Care and Aberdeen Business School have been equated to a munro through flights and ascents. This will be taken forward through good visual imagery and competitions across campus. The Modern Munro Challenge will be up and running at a staircase near you soon!

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

Theme: Student Sexual Health & Mental Wellbeing Currently this theme is in its early stages of development with discussions with key stakeholders across the university and with NHS Grampian. This work will continue over the next year looking at policy and health promotion activities. An overall campaign #respectyourself is currently being developed to encompass sexual health, smoking and drug and alcohol within the student population.

Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

Theme: Smoking Cessation, Drug & Alcohol During 2013-14, scoping work has been conducted to address smoking cessation and drug & alcohol awareness. In Semester 2, drop-in ‘smoking cessation’ sessions were offered on campus by NHS Grampian smoking cessation advisors. These were well received and with 65.22% of students who smoked, indicating in the Student Physical Activity & Wellbeing survey a desire to quit smoking this is clearly an important area of work for students and indeed staff. An overall campaign #respectyourself is currently being developed to encompass sexual health, smoking and drug (including legal highs) and alcohol mis-use within the student population.

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Fit for the Future Annual Report 2013-2014

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Healthy university and New You webpages