Mindapples has been working with Open SU for five years, delivering an annual programme of wellbeing workshops and Champions Training to support students’ mental health and resilience. This piece looks back on the past 12 months of partnership during the 2024/25 academic year, which has included a face-to-face Feed Your Mind keynote on campus in Milton Keynes, a live webinar version of Feed Your Mind in September, a Change Your Habits webinar in January and an Understanding Mental Health session in March for their current cohort of Mindapples Champions.
We spoke with Lara Munday, Head of Programmes at Open SU, who oversees all major projects and the organisation’s strategy, and Nicola Powell, Training and Wellbeing Officer, who supports student volunteers to develop, grow and have fun in their roles. Together, they shared how Mindapples is helping students feel more confident, connected and resilient.
For Lara, the appeal of Mindapples was clear from the start. “The topics really fit with our students’ needs and priorities, such as Sleep Well and Change Your Habits. Because the sessions are research-led, we know we’re getting reliable content that enables students to apply it practically.” Nicola’s connection goes back further. She first encountered Mindapples during a two-day Champions Training course in 2020. “It was a revelation,” she recalls. “Becoming a Champion right at the start of the pandemic gave me tools to support myself, our volunteers and students during a difficult time.”
The impact of the workshops, they both agree, has been about more than content. It is about connection. Nicola describes the atmosphere vividly: “The energy in a workshop is tangible. Students feel it’s a safe place to take part, share, discuss and support. The Understanding Mental Health workshop really stood out. The students came together to learn about how we can support ourselves and each other.”
That sense of connection came through even online. Lara explains: “For our online workshops, students enjoy talking to each other in the chat box and sharing tips. The response is always fantastic.” The Change Your Habits workshop sparked practical reflection, with procrastination emerging as a theme.
Lara says: “Students shared ways to swap unhelpful habits for healthier routines.” For volunteers, the learning was about balance. Nicola adds: “Our student volunteers are very keen to support others, so they appreciate they must look after themselves first. Mindapples keeps bringing us back to that simple but crucial message.”
The Champions Training gave volunteers usable skills that are making a difference. “Yes, the training gives practical tools for student volunteers in conversations with students,” says Lara. “And it equips them to look after themselves before, during and after conversations about mental health,” Nicola adds.
Both highlight the accessibility and clarity of Mindapples as what makes it distinctive. Lara reflects: “The range of topics… not just broad wellbeing, but bitesize, timely areas like Sleep Well and Change Your Habits. These are often the topics that resonate most with students.” Nicola agrees: “Mindapples is engaging and accessible to all. It’s a simple discussion about what’s good for our minds, with one clear question at its heart: what are your Mindapples?”
Their advice to other universities is straightforward. Nicola’s message is enthusiastic: “Go for it! Mindapples allows us to share important information about looking after our minds, building good habits and self-care in an engaging, supportive, and non-judgemental way.”
Through their partnership with Mindapples, Open SU is helping students reflect on their own wellbeing, support each other, and build everyday habits that will stay with them far beyond their studies.
Are you interested in exploring Mindapples at your institution? Drop us a line for an informal chat or find out more at Mindapples for Universities.
