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ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ achieves University Mental Health Charter Award

Thursday, 27 August, 2026

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ has achieved the prestigious University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) Award, recognising its commitment to continuous improvement in mental health and wellbeing and to creating a supportive and inclusive environment where students and staff can thrive. 

The Award, organised by Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, recognises universities that have demonstrated a comprehensive, whole-university approach to mental health and wellbeing. 

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ is among the third cohort of institutions nationally to seek out and qualify for the Award, working towards the principles of good practice set out in the UMHC Framework. 

The Award reflects more than two and a half years of work involving colleagues and students from across the University and Bath Spa Students’ Union. 

 Professor Rebecca Schaaf, Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor at ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿, said: 

“We are delighted to achieve the University Mental Health Charter Award. It is an important recognition of the commitment, hard work and collaboration of colleagues and students across ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿. 

 “The Award reflects our commitment to continuous improvement and, importantly, to listening to our community and learning together to strengthen the support and environment we provide. 

 “This is an important milestone, but it is not the end of our journey. We will continue to work with our students, colleagues and Students’ Union to build on the progress we have made and ensure mental health and wellbeing remain at the heart of our whole-university approach.” 

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿’s route to the Award reflects its ethos of continuous improvement. 

Following the University’s original assessment submission, the Award Panel recognised that BSU was already demonstrating a strong whole-university approach. The University subsequently received an “Award in Progress” outcome with two conditions attached. 

Rather than treating these as minimum requirements, colleagues used them as an opportunity to strengthen the University’s approach further. The Panel specifically commended BSU’s positive and proactive response. 

In particular, the Panel highlighted how outcome measurement has become embedded not simply as a reporting mechanism, but as a meaningful part of clinical conversations with students. This has strengthened both service evaluation and therapeutic practice. 

Sara Gallagher, Director of Student Wellbeing Services at ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿, said: 

“ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿’s journey to achieving the University Mental Health Charter Award and working with Student Minds has been a highly positive and collaborative one. We are thrilled to achieve the Award, and working with the Framework has helped us reflect on what a whole-university approach looks like at ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿, and what that means to our community. 

“Continuous improvement is a core principle of our institutional culture, and we are proud of our commitment to further develop partnerships that enhance our supportive and inclusive environment to enable our ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ community to thrive.” 

Working in partnership with students 

The involvement of students and the Students’ Union has been an important part of ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿’s journey towards the Award. 

The whole-university approach recognises that students should have a meaningful role in shaping the way universities understand and respond to mental health and wellbeing. 

Millie O'Sullivan Adams, Bath Spa University Students’ Union President, said: 

“We’re really proud to see ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ recognised with the University Mental Health Charter Award. This achievement reflects the importance of listening to students and working in partnership to make sure mental health and wellbeing are part of the wider student experience. 

“There has been a lot of hard work from students, staff and the Students’ Union to reach this point, and it’s fantastic to see that commitment recognised. For us, this Award is not an end point. It’s an opportunity to build on what we’ve achieved, keep listening to students and continue working together to make BSU a supportive and inclusive place where every student can thrive.” 

The next chapter 

Achieving the UMHC Award is an important milestone for ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿, but it is not the end of the process. The University’s accompanying Outcomes Report will help identify areas for further development and support the University in building on its existing good practice. 

To maintain the Award, ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ will remain an active member of the UMHC Programme, continue advancing progress against the Principles of Good Practice, act on the assessment team’s recommendations, complete an annual reflective report and repeat the full assessment cycle within five years. 

The University will continue to work with students, colleagues, the Students’ Union and Student Minds to strengthen its approach and share learning with the wider higher education sector. 

Sara Gallagher added: 

“Holding the Award gives us an opportunity to recognise how far we have come, while also being clear about the work still to do. 

“The next chapter will be about continuing to listen, learn and improve, and working collaboratively to ensure that our approach to mental health and wellbeing continues to meet the needs of our community.”