Corpus has a new member of the Tutorial Team, Sioned Williams, in the newly established role of Wellbeing, Belonging and Inclusion Coordinator (known as the Pelican Officer, referencing the College’s heraldic animal). In recognition of the pressures on students and the increasing diversity of our student body, our aim is to address the challenges of student loneliness and trailblaze new ways to foster student belonging, community cohesion and social participation.

The Tutorial Team attend to both the academic and pastoral welfare of our students. Under the direction of Senior Tutor Dr Marina Frasca-Spada, the Team are able to offer the support that our students need to get the most out of their time in Cambridge. 

Marina said, "The College is very much looking forward to the contributions of the Wellbeing, Belonging and Inclusion Coordinator role as it works with students and staff on delivering projects and activities to assist with the transition from school to university and throughout the student lifecycle, particularly for those from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds. Corpus, like many Colleges, understands the challenges students face with mental health and social belonging, and through this role it demonstrates the commitment of the College to ensuring our students feel safe, supported, and able to succeed."

We chatted with Sioned to find out more about her and her new role.

Tell us what attracted you to this role?

I’ve previously worked in educational outreach, most recently as a Schools Liaison Officer at Trinity College. In that role, I had the pleasure of managing over fifty fantastic student ambassadors. I loved working with our ambassadors and creating a friendly, welcoming environment for prospective applicants. This experience drew me to the Pelican Officer role as it provides an opportunity to work with our wonderful Corpuscles over a longer period of time and with a broader, more holistic focus.

Another draw of the Pelican Officer position was the spotlight on wellbeing, belonging and inclusion. I’m passionate about mental health and currently training to become a counsellor. I believe personal wellbeing is fundamental to academic and professional success, so I’m excited to be facilitating initiatives which promote student wellbeing and enhance our sense of community at Corpus. 

Tell us about your own experience at University? How will it influence your approach to this position?

Throughout secondary school and sixth form college, I received free school meals and was classified as below the poverty line. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I arrived at university with significant financial concerns. To financially support myself, I depended on summer research scholarships, ambassador work and seasonal waitressing jobs.

Having experienced these challenges firsthand, I understand how important it is to feel supported when facing financial pressures. Some students must go to great lengths to stay at university, which can impact their wellbeing and sense of belonging. I’m committed to ensuring that our Corpuscles feel able to share financial concerns openly and honestly, and receive clear guidance about the support available, both within and beyond Corpus.

What are some of the first things you are planning to do? 

An essential part of my role as Pelican Officer is to listen to our Corpus community and implement initiatives that promote wellbeing, belonging, and inclusion. I’ve been discussing ideas with the JCR, MCR, staff, and Fellows to identify events which would benefit our Corpuscles the most. So far, initiatives involving arts and crafts, music, food, animals, and stress relievers seem to be popular, along with those for Pride, Black History Month, and other annual celebrations. I’m committed to ensuring that our events are friendly and inclusive, so everyone feels welcome and able to participate. I’m excited to be collaborating with the whole community to bring these ideas to life over the upcoming year. 

What are you most looking forward to?

I’m most looking forward to being part of such a vibrant and welcoming community here at Corpus. It’s clear that there’s so much going on and in just a couple of weeks, I already feel incredibly included and supported. I’m excited to be working alongside students, staff and Fellows to continue building our strong sense of community. It’s also great to be trialling some new events and initiatives, finding fun and novel ways to bring people together.

What is something that students might not realise about wellbeing?

Looking after our wellbeing is an ongoing, lifelong process. The good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated. Connecting with friends, enjoying nature and being honest about our feelings are all simple yet effective ways to protect our mental health. It’s never too early or too late to start prioritising our wellbeing. 

About the role

The Pelican Officer is funded by the University of Cambridge College Wellbeing Stimulus Fund, which was established in the wake of the University’s Mental Health Review. Thanks to a generous gift from Christina and Peter Dawson, the Fund is able to support preventative approaches to student wellbeing in Cambridge colleges. The review recommended that specialist, responsive services should be mainly offered to students through the University and the NHS, allowing colleges to focus on preventative and early-intervention work with the potential to deliver the greatest impact.