How has the #Me course helped you? (Nottingham Trent)

What did you learn about yourself during the #Me course?

Why did you sign up for the #Me course?

How has the #Me course helped you? (Loughborough)

#Me has been running at Loughborough University since 2018/19. Since that time we have had some outstanding feedback from students and staff on the impact of the course. Students tell us it has helped them improve their ability to maintain positive mental health, develop connections with peers, be more effective in their studies and, in some case, been the difference between them staying at university or quitting.

One of the key features is the way in which #Me complements and works alongside our existing support services. Working closely with our wellbeing teams students can be referred in either direction so that they can get the most appropriate support. The peer-to-peer basis of #Me also helps remove some students’ inhibitions around asking for support and the #Me team has always been willing to work with us to make changes, enhancements and improvements to the offering. #Me has been a game changer for us at Loughborough.

- Manuel Alonso, Associate Chief Operating Officer and Director of Student Services Loughborough University

I have been linking with Megan [#Me founder] and #Me for over 3 years now. The programme has already helped so many students and it is great to see the impact #Me is having. The feedback from students has been very positive. The course provides students with a safe place to share their experiences, meet new people and make new friends and also learn new skills to increase resilience and better self-care attitudes. Partnership working is a big part of my role and it is the people I work with that make all the difference. Introducing #Me to NTU has been one of my highlights. This and other work contributed to winning a national award via Royal Society of Public Health – Health at Every Age category. I hope to see #Me grow further at NTU and help other students.

- Paul Dodsley, Student Health Development Officer, Nottingham Trent University

I was first introduced to the #Me programme by a colleague from SST who had been working with Megan [#Me founder] and had seen really successful outcomes from the programme with their students.  I felt that the approach and course structure would be of great benefit to the students within the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences and working with Dr Sarah Broadberry, School Learning & Teaching Manager and Dr Adele Lloyd, EDI School lead and course leader, we applied for funding to trial the programme and were successful.    

At the time of planning this pilot, there were already strong indicators emerging in the sector and the University that many first year students had struggled with challenges posed by COVID-19 and we felt that the programme would be a really powerful intervention to support them in the following academic year, especially as it focused on developing a strong sense of student community through the peer to peer based structure. 

We rolled out the pilot in October 2022 with our new first year and the returning students and they all followed the 12 week course which looks at various aspects of mental health, wellbeing and resilience as well as exploring common issues and implementing coping strategies. The start of a new academic year is typically one of the busiest time of the year but Megan’s coordination and training of the #Me facilitators meant that the programme ran seamlessly and she made the whole launch seem effortless! All of our students receive a personal logbook and support to improve self-awareness, promote a positive mindset and encourage sustainable, healthy habits to be able to navigate their time at University and develop the resilience needed in later life.  These are all key factors in holistic student development and positive student experience. This is a shared aim across employability, learning and teaching and academic course teams.

Our programme has recently drawn to a close and a result, we are just starting to evaluate the programme but anecdotal feedback from students and facilitators so far has been overwhelmingly positive with many students having formed strong community bonds and reporting a positive approach to their studies.

- Cassie White, School Employability Manager, Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University

The #Me student led support programme has been an extremely valuable support tool within the School of Science and Technology. Many students have disclosed that having a platform to discuss shared experiences in a structured but informal way with their peers, has not only been beneficial in relation to their wellbeing but also contributed to their sense of belonging and community at NTU.  Megan [#Me founder] and the Programme facilitators ensure they have an understanding of the University’s Support Services and referral pathways and work collaboratively with these services, including my Student Support Adviser Service, to ensure that where individual concerns arise they are escalated appropriately.

 The programme continues to be an extremely valuable resource for students within SST and has grown from strength to strength each year both in terms of participation and impact.  In this academic year of restrictions and forced isolation, the #Me programme has been more important than ever and has created a crucial platform for students to continue to access peer to peer support and benefit from each other’s lived experience.

 The #Me programme has worked alongside and complimented existing support structures within the School of Science and Technology to proactively address student wellbeing and resilience, I would fully support its expansion into wider NTU Academic Schools.

- Daniel Hendry, Senior Student Support Adviser, Nottingham Trent University

#Me has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the long-term development and growth of students through various initiatives such as 12-week courses, mentoring, and speaking engagements at workshops and panels.

One of the most impressive aspects of #Me's approach is their emphasis on building a strong support network for students. By providing mentorship and guidance, #Me has helped students navigate the challenges of transitioning into university life, whether it be foundation/first year, masters or PhD. This support network is essential for helping students develop the resilience they need to succeed in the long term. Through their courses and other initiatives, #Me build students confidence and develop a sense of self-belief that will serve them well throughout their academic careers, entrepreneurship ventures and beyond.

Overall, I cannot recommend #Me highly enough. Their dedication to supporting students and helping them reach their full potential is truly commendable.

- Hayley Jones, Student Enterprise Adviser, Loughborough University

The #Me course was a wonderful opportunity for me to not only get to know an amazing group of students, but also to support and guide them during their student journey with their mental health and wellbeing, creating a safe space to talk about issues we were facing, sharing coping strategies and being there for one another. The sense of community and shared experience was wonderful in giving each of us the feeling that we’re not alone in dealing with difficulties, and that there is always someone there to listen and support you. I wish this opportunity had been available back when I was a student so that I could have taken advantage of it!

- Maggie Laurikova, Global Student Experience Project Coordinator, Nottingham Trent University

We have worked with Hashtag Me for a number of years and enjoyed a successful partnership uniting with their proactive approach to supporting students, whether that be in creating valuable work-placed experiences, mentor assistance or #Me courses and workshops focussing on life skills.  

 Since launching our Talent Match internship programme that creates short-term work placement opportunities for students within SMEs, Hashtag Me have been a staunch supporter, providing a number of wide-ranging roles that have given Loughborough students key employability skills but also had a significant positive impact on the business itself. Testimonies from the students repeatedly demonstrate the #Me teams supportive and developmental style with them which ensures they gain a helpful and constructive experience to place on their CV and also build on for future career steps.

- Careers Network Team, Loughborough University