The University of Warwick supporting their students in unique ways this exam season
The University of Warwick are holding a 'DeStresstival' to promote student well-being during exam season
It's that time of year again when university students across Coventry and Warwickshire prepare to sit their final exams of the academic year.
It can be an anxious and stressful time for many but the University of Warwick are offering a unique way to support student wellbeing through their DeStresstival.
The DeStresstival is a free event which offers students a chance to relieve exam stress through a range of activities from yoga, climbing and even a petting zoo.
We've been speaking with Georgina Pilling who has organised the DeStresstival on the importance of promoting student wellbeing.
Georgina said: "My previous background was in teaching so I've seen first hand the pressures students face during exam time.
"When I joined the University of Warwick, I really wanted to implement an event that supported students during exam season.
"Research shows that when you've got high levels of stress and anxiety it has a huge impact on your cognitive function.
"So we're implementing activities that support not just mental health but physical health, to really support the students during more stressful period of their time with us at Warwick Uni."
Georgina continued: "I've worked with lots of different departments to make the DeStresstival happen.
"Our residential community team have put on petting zoos due to the benefits that animals can have on our well-being.
"We've worked with our art centre who have put on mindfulness through movement sessions, which include yoga, within our gallery spaces. We've also had climbing and pickleball from our sports centre and we've had arts and crafts from SU."
Georgina shared the feedback she's received from students who have taken part in the DeStresstival.
"We've had over 2000 bookings for our events across the four weeks so it's obviously very popular.
"Lots of students have said, especially after the petting zoo, that it's really calmed their mind and really taken their focus away from their studies and which has been really positive.
"All the students that have provided us with feedback have said that this event, or engaging in these activities, has positively impacted their well-being and that's exactly what we were targeting.
"One student said it was the best part of their exam time, so I'm very happy with that."