UCEN Manchester joins Student Minds' University Mental Health Charter Programme

By Annette McCone, Head of Student Advice, Support and Wellbeing at UCEN Manchester.

I'm absolutely delighted to announce that UCEN Manchester has joined Student Minds' University Mental Health Charter Programme.

The University Mental Health Charter Programme, developed by Student Minds, the UK's leading student mental health charity, supports higher education providers to take a whole-institution approach to student mental health and wellbeing. It encourages institutions to reflect honestly on what they are doing well, identify areas for improvement and continually strengthen the support available to students.

This is about much more than counselling services. Student mental health and wellbeing are influenced by every aspect of their higher education experience, from teaching and assessment to belonging, inclusion and access to support. The charter recognises that creating a healthy and supportive learning environment requires a collective commitment across the entire organisation.

Joining the programme marks the beginning of a longer-term journey towards achieving Charter Award status. It provides access to specialist guidance, sector-leading good practice and a structured framework that will help us continue enhancing the support and opportunities available to our students.

We already have a strong foundation, and now is the ideal time to take this natural next step. Our commitment to student wellbeing is reflected in the feedback we receive from students. In the 2026 National Student Survey (NSS), 91.7% of our students said that information about mental wellbeing support was communicated well. This was 6.2 percentage points above the sector average. Among our disabled student cohort, satisfaction reached 92%, which was 10 percentage points above the relevant sector comparator.

These results are incredibly encouraging, but there is always more we can do. Through the programme, we will review our current approach, learn from universities and higher education providers that have already achieved Charter Award status, and continue working with partners across Greater Manchester, including the NHS and regional sector networks, to strengthen support for our students.

Most importantly, we want students to help shape this work. Their experiences, feedback and ideas will play a vital role in helping us understand what is working well, where improvements can be made and how we can continue to create an environment where every student feels supported, included and able to succeed.

Over the coming year, we will be engaging with students across UCEN Manchester to gather their views and explore how they can become involved in shaping our journey through the University Mental Health Charter Programme.

Joining the programme reflects our belief that student wellbeing is everyone's responsibility. It represents a significant commitment, not only to providing support when challenges arise, but to fostering a community where wellbeing is understood, students feel they belong and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

If you're looking for a higher education provider that places student wellbeing at the heart of the student experience, explore our courses, take a look at our upcoming events or find out how to apply.