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Edinburgh Napier University

Category: Health and Wellbeing (Page 1 of 2)

Caring and Studying: How Edinburgh Napier University Supports Student Carers image of person supporting a student

Caring and Studying: How Edinburgh Napier University Supports Student Carers

24/11/2025 / / 0 Comments

Caring and Studying: How Edinburgh Napier University Supports Student Carers

Balancing caring responsibilities with university life isn’t easy — and Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) recognises that. Whether you’re a young carer, an unpaid adult carer studying part-time, or a care-experienced student who needs extra support navigating higher education. Napier has a range of dedicated services, bursaries and staff who can help you get to, and stay in, your studies. Below, we break down what’s available, how to access help, and some practical tips for student carers making the campus work for them.

What support is offered

Edinburgh Napier’s webpages for care-experienced students, student carers and estranged students explains the tailored help available before and during study, from admissions support and evidence gathering for funding applications to named advisers who can guide you through practical barriers to participation. This is where to start if you want a single point of contact and personalised advice.

The university’s Wellbeing & Inclusion services (My Napier) provide mental health and disability support that dovetails with carer-specific help — for example, reasonable adjustments, exam or assessment concessions, and onward referrals for counselling or disability inclusion support. If caring duties affect attendance, coursework or placement availability, the Student Adviser and Disability Inclusion teams can work with you and your tutors to put supportive arrangements in place.

Financial support & bursaries

Money is often the biggest worry for student carers. ENU runs a dedicated Care-Experienced Bursary (a small one-off payment currently advertised at around £1,000) and offers help from the Student Funding team when you need documentation to evidence care experience or caring responsibilities for external funding bodies. These funds don’t replace statutory carer benefits, but they can help with immediate study costs like transport, equipment or laptop repairs. Make contact with the Student Funding or Awards team early — they can advise on eligibility and help you apply.

There is also national support that student carers may be eligible for (e.g., Social Security Scotland carer payments, Young Carer Grant etc.), and Napier staff can signpost you to that advice. Check out Scotland’s Hub for Success, which supports carers to get in, stay in or return to education.

Practical adjustments and day-to-day support

Napier’s support is practical: named Student Advisers can help with attendance concerns, timetable clashes, negotiating extensions, or organising placement alternatives if your caring role prevents you from undertaking a placement at short notice. The Disability Inclusion team can arrange adjustments such as flexible deadlines, alternative assessment arrangements or assistive technology access. The accommodation and campus teams can also advise on housing or privacy needs if you’re balancing care and study from halls or a private tenancy.

The university’s careers and employability services collaborate with Wellbeing & Inclusion to support students who disclose caring responsibilities — offering help with CVs, part-time job searches, and realistic career planning that reflects your caring role and timetable.

How to access support

  1. Reveal your circumstances early — contact the “care experienced / student carers” entry point on Napier’s site or email the Student Funding / Student Adviser teams. Early disclosure helps staff put measures in place before problems escalate.

  2. Get documentation in order — the Student Funding team can help gather evidence of care experience or caring responsibilities needed for bursaries or partner funding.

  3. Ask for reasonable adjustments — talk to Disability Inclusion or your course team about deadlines, extensions, or placement alternatives.

  4. Look into national entitlements — Napier advisers can signpost to Social Security Scotland and carer organisations for statutory benefits and grants.

Tips from student carers

  • Keep a short, dated log of caring hours and major incidents — this often helps with funding applications or negotiating adjustments.

  • Build a small “emergency plan” with your course team (who to call, how to postpone assessment if an unexpected caring crisis occurs).

  • Use the university’s mental health and counselling services proactively — juggling caring and study is emotionally draining and getting early support helps you stay on track.

Useful links & contacts

By Juliet Kinsey

Read more about student support on our blog in our article on Wider University Support

Wellbeing space

Wellbeing for Freshers

18/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

At the Wellbeing for Freshers:

Your first year at university…

It’s Freshers Week and while you settle in, taking care of your wellbeing is important.

It’s your first week at university? Excited? Inspired? Lost? Terrified? An overwhelming flurry of all these emotions and more? Overwhelmed may be the best way to describe how you are feeling currently. As many freshers will feel in the first few weeks of university life.

Wellbeing for Freshers: Support services and resources…

Whatever it is you may be going through, Edinburgh Napier University has a wide range of well-being and support services to assist you. Whether it be with the transition into university life, personal life or your studies. Our Wellbeing and Inclusion team are here to help. Providing a variety of support services and resources to aid you with getting the most out of your university experience. Point you in the right direction, listen and provide advice when needed. Ultimately help you to feel supported, safe and confident in your potential. At the campus libraries also offer a range of well-being resources and relaxation spaces to encourage our student community to take breaks and opportunities to wind down throughout their studies and prioritise their health and well-being.

Our study and relaxation spaces…

So, what can the library offer you regarding health and well-being support? Firstly, each campus offers a range of different study spaces and rooms which

are tailored to the needs of our student community and regular patrons. Whether you need a group-friendly study space with specific learning technology to collaborate or simply a quiet space to study where distractions and noise are kept at bay, our campus library have many which are all available to book through Resource Booker. For students with young children, we also have our family study room at Merchiston campus library which is equipped with a small table and chair set, toyboxes and child-sized bean bags to keep your little ones occupied while you are working away. Study rooms can be booked for up to one two-hour slot per day and can be booked up to 14 days in advance. Group study rooms must be booked in advance to avoid disappointment or clashes. Find out more about our group study spaces on Group Study Rooms (napier.ac.uk).

 

Need a break? All three of our campus libraries have a relaxation space with comfy, colourful couches, plants, jigsaw puzzles, colouring sheets, and craft materials to allow you the opportunity to wind down and de-stress whilst channelling some inner creativity. All of our relaxation spaces are also located next to the windows of each campus library to let in some natural light. You can find out more about where each relaxation space can be found in each campus library by visiting Relaxation Spaces (napier.ac.uk). We have an online relaxation space here right on our blog.

Our Libguide and Wellbeing Resources…

If you do end up taking a well-deserved break in one of our three campus relaxation spaces, you will also see that each of them hosts our well-being book stands and displays with resources covering a variety of topics and issues. From stories and real-life accounts of recovery and resilience to advice and discussions about settling into university and other life matters, we very likely will have a book on our well-being book display that you knew (or did not even know) that you were looking for!

All the books displayed are part of our Wellbeing Collection. Here, you will find books which cover subject areas and issues such as addiction, health, mental well-being, neurodiversity, body image, race, sleep, family & relationships,

environment and of course, university life itself. We are open to suggestions for new books to add to our Wellbeing displays, and even though we cannot always guarantee that every suggestion can be purchased, each one will be significantly considered. Email library@napier.ac.uk with any ideas or for more information.

 

You can find out more about our Wellbeing Collection, our wellbeing resources and additional support services in our LibGuide.

 

Book Recommendations from our collection…

 

Below are some well-being resources which may be useful to both new and returning students this year.

 

 

By Rachel Downie.

Meditation

Meditation Day 21st of May

21/05/2025 / / 1 Comment

World Meditation Day– 21st May

“You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day unless you’re too busy; then you should sit for an hour.”

These words, attributed to an unknown Zen master, are probably the most famous, and arguably the wisest, words ever uttered on the subject of meditation.

The paradox is, of course, that the more you have to do, and the less time you have to do it, the more important it is to stop whatever you’re doing and take time out. Meditation is one of the best, and certainly one of the healthiest, ways to do that.

It can be hard to describe exactly what meditation is or how it feels. I’ve been meditating nearly every day for more than a decade, and I still struggle to define it, but at its heart I believe it’s a way to quieten the mind, relax the body and turn down the volume on the chatterbox in my head that is continuously spouting nonsense.

Types of Meditation to try this world meditation day

There are as many types of meditation as there are practitioners. You may have tried some of them: mindfulness, visualisation, walking meditation, mantra meditation, OM chanting, Vipasanna, and loving-kindness are just some of the many ways to do it. I’ve tried several of those, but my regular daily practice is TM – transcendental meditation. Whatever form suits you, the main thing is to do it regularly. Like any other practice, establishing it as a habit is the key to its success.

The benefits of meditation are well-known. It improves sleep and concentration, relieves anxiety and stress (exams, anyone?), can reduce cravings and pain, helps you to feel calmer, makes you more productive and creative. Some people claim to experience a feeling of bliss when they meditate. I can’t claim that, but I have always felt better after my daily session, and I feel less at peace if I miss one.

We have several books that give greater insight into this most ancient of spiritual practices. Log into LibrarySearch to access them:

Learn to meditate: the art of tranquillity, self-awareness and insight – Edinburgh Napier University (exlibrisgroup.com)

Wherever you go, there you are – Edinburgh Napier University (exlibrisgroup.com)

Meditation for everybody – Edinburgh Napier University (exlibrisgroup.com)

Meditation Day 21st of May

This year, Saturday, May 21st marks World Meditation Day. Why not treat yourself to a session?  It’ll only take 20 minutes – or an hour if you’re really busy.

By Lesley McRobb

Read more on Mental Health awareness here and here 

and don’t forget to check out our virtual relaxation space.

Image of people with arms linked together looking away for blog post International Day of Friendship

International Day of Friendship

30/07/2024 / / 0 Comments

International Day of Friendship

July 30th

What’s it about?

International Day of Friendship reminds us of the importance of friends and the role they play in our lives. On a larger scale, it encourages us to acknowledge and foster friendships based on mutual understanding. Growing between individuals and communities, transcending race, ethnicity, religion, and nationality.

The day serves as an opportunity for people to reach out to their friends as well as make new ones. It asks us to engage in acts of kindness, promoting initiatives that contribute to social cohesion and understanding. It encourages people to bridge gaps, build connections, and promote a sense of empathy and compassion towards one another.

Its acceptance was a natural progression from the 1997 UN General Assembly’s agreement. Looking to embrace the Culture of Peace, and to work towards rejecting violence and preventing conflict, by promoting values and behaviours which encompassed this ethos.

The UN believes friendship can play a crucial role in promoting peace, harmony, and solidarity among people, leading to a more tolerant and inclusive society, and so it was decided in 2011 that July the 30th should be International Day of Friendship. An idea that was first suggested by Dr Ramon Artemio Bracho in Paraguay, in 1958.

Edinburgh Napier University’s International Friendship Club

At Edinburgh Napier University, through the Friendship Club, our students get the opportunity to meet and interact with other students studying at the University from all over the world. Hosted by the Visa and International Support team, the International Friendship Club carries out events throughout the academic year.

Sitcoms and Friendships

And of course, there have been sitcoms about friendships, following the trials and tribulations they face in life, work, and relationships.  Going on to “become a pop culture staple for their relatability and hilarious dynamics”. Some of the popular friendship-based sitcoms have been:

Friends

The Big Bang Theory

That 70’s show

Seinfield

New Girl

The Young Ones

How is the day celebrated?

The day is celebrated in various ways with events and activities taking place, including community gatherings, workshops, and awareness campaigns, all aimed at promoting friendship and cultural exchange.

How will you be celebrating friendship day?

Tell us your thought in the comments

By Mo Almas

Read more on our blog from Mo:

National paranormal day

Global Beatles Day

Image Source: Photo by Duy Pham on Unsplash

lego
Source

Lego Day

28/01/2024 / / 1 Comment

Celebrating Lego Day

It’s world Lego day today. Lego is one of those toys that is ubiquitous with childhood. Anyone growing up in the West will know immediately what you mean when you mention it. It is the joy of Children everywhere, and the thing that drives most parents mad. Is there anything more painful to stand on!?!

In fact, people who have regularly experienced walking on hot coals and broken glass say Lego is by far the worst thing to walk on (source). Feeling brave? You always have a go at the Lego Firewalk. Personally, I’d rather walk on glass or coals!

History

It was in Denmark, at Ole Kirk Christiansen’s workshop where Lego was firstborn. In 1934 it became called Lego after the Danish phrase leg godt.  They were originally called Automatic Binding Bricks, but less originally they were based on the Kiddicraft Self-Locking Bricks, already patented in the UK.

Over time Lego has grown to become the biggest toy company in the world and is not only used as toys but as movies, artworks and they even made an amusement park you can visit.

Mindfulness and Lego

Lego is no longer just for children; in fact, they have many Lego sets dedicated to adults. There is some fascinating research connected to mindfulness about how doing Lego can help our mental health. We actually keep a Lego set behind each Library Help Desk you can borrow for free. Why not check one out next time you visit…if the library staff aren’t already playing with them that is!

Learn More

We have a fascinating and diverse range of materials for you to read on Lego, from issues with Dentistry (teeth and Lego are a bad mix it seems!) to build your own Lego Robots. Check out Librarysearch.napier.ac.uk.. Just type in the word “Lego” and start reading!

By Juliet Kinsey

Sources: Wikipedia

Craiglockhart campus covered in snow

January and Wellbeing

17/01/2024 / / 0 Comments

January and Wellbeing

It’s that time of year when the festive celebrations are over, and the promise of spring still seems quite far away. January is often the time when many of us start to feel the winter blues which is why it is increasingly important to be kind to yourself and look after your mental health. 

While the short winter days and cold weather can sometimes make it less appealing to adventure outdoors, there are benefits to wrapping up warm and heading outdoors to experience the smells and sounds of the winter. Small things such as the feeling of crunch of snow underfoot, spotting a robin on a tree branch, or stopping to admire beautiful patterns created by frost can all bring a little joy and help to boost spirits.

Self-care

Thriving with Nature – a guide for everyone was published by the Mental Health Foundation to help readers find ways of connecting with nature throughout the year. The guide contains creative and straightforward suggestions for activities to help engage with nature and encourage you to get outdoors regardless of whether you live in the centre of a city or out in the countryside.

The Library has several books on nature and the benefits it can have on our health within the Shelf Help collection:

Braving the wilderness: the quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone by Brené Brown.

The Wild Remedy by Emma Mitchell

Into the forest: how trees can help you find health and happiness by Qing Li

Don’t forget, ENGAGE Fitness at Edinburgh Napier University provides a performance gym, fitness suite and sports hall at the Sighthill campus for those days when you don’t want to exercise outdoors.  A student trimester pass is available for only £55!

Search the Library more nature or fitness-related printed or online resources on LibrarySearch.

Read more on wellbeing in our section Wellness Collection, full of useful and interesting books or take some time out in our Online Relaxation Zone

Lego figure with moustache

Movember: Supporting Men’s Health

06/11/2023 / / 0 Comments

Movember: Supporting Men’s Health

Calling all our Mo Bros! It’s that time of year again. We want you to embrace your facial hair and grow a moustache for a month. Movember is the global phenomenon that has put men’s health firmly on the agenda and hair firmly on their faces.

History

It’s a movement that started 20 years ago in Australia when two mates met up for a beer and joked about reviving the out-of-fashion moustache. Why not combine their challenge with raising money for charity, they asked themselves. And why not make it a men’s health charity? After all, men are notoriously reticent in talking about their health – mental or physical.

The movement was born, and since then campaigns across the world have been fund-raised for prostate and testicular cancer research and treatment, poor mental health and physical inactivity. Perhaps more importantly, it has created a fundamental shift in the way we talk about men’s health and asks the questions that were previously unuttered. Why, for example, do Black men have twice the risk of prostate cancer diagnosis than other men? Why are first responders (emergency service workers and military veterans) at increased risk of poor mental health and suicide? Why do men find it more difficult than women to make social connections and how have the COVID-19 lockdowns affected that?

Get Involved this Movember in Supporting Men’s Health

There are all sorts of ways you can support Movember. You can grow a moustache, of course, but you can also host a mo-ment – an event that raises awareness. You can fundraise at work or among classmates and friends. Or maybe you’d like to buy some Mo merch.

However you do it, we’re sure you’ll mo your own way.

See here for details on this year’s happenings:

Movember – Changing the face of men’s health – Movember

By Lesley McRobb

Image Source: Photo by Alan Hardman on Unsplash

Read more articles on Mental Health such as World Mental Health Day.

Apple Day: A Brief History of The Apple AI generated image of apples and sciency things

Apple Day: A Brief History of The Apple

21/10/2023 / / 0 Comments

Apple Day: A Brief History of The Apple

Okay, it was bad news for Snow White, but for most people, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. It must be because an apple’s high potassium and low sodium content promote heart health. Or maybe it’s because it regulates your blood sugar and provides anti-cancer protection with antioxidants like quercetin. Or maybe it’s because its fibre content helps to keep cholesterol levels low. Or perhaps it’s just the pleasure of biting into that sweet, juicy flesh.

The Brief History Bit

Apples originate in central Asia, probably Kazakhstan, and there are more than 7,000 varieties in the world. Here in Scotland, we can lay claim to around 40 varieties, but sadly you’ll find very few of those in the shops. Industrialisation and cheap imports have led to a steady decline in apple production in the UK since the 19th century.

To counter this decline, Common Ground, a charity based in Dorset, founded Apple Day in 1990.  Every 21st October, they encourage us to celebrate the importance of apples in our landscape, ecology and culture and highlight the dangers of losing our indigenous varieties.

The Orchard Project

The Orchard Project is a national charity dedicated to creating and restoring community orchards. You can find out more about them here:

The Orchard Project – Bringing orchards into the heart of urban communities

Here at Edinburgh Napier, our dedicated team of volunteers work hard on the Lions’ Gate project to enhance the biodiversity of our campuses and contributing to the University’s environmental sustainability strategy. As part of this strategy, they’ve planted an orchard at our Craiglockhart campus.  Why not visit it next time you’re on campus:

Gardens – The Lions’ Gate (napier.ac.uk)

You don’t have to wait until the 21st of October to celebrate apples. We recommend eating one a day. Our challenge to you is to source a different apple variety for every day of the year. Autumn is the perfect time to start. We’d love to hear how you get on.

By Lesley McRobb

Check out our blog post on the Lion’s Gate garden

drawing of girl sitting crosslegged on floor with laptop and headphones for blog post get moving and study better

Get Moving and Study Better!

25/09/2023 / / 0 Comments

Get Moving and Study Better

Tips for helping your body be healthier as you study.

Whether it’s studying, working, or watching a screen. We all need to move more. Finding clever small changes is a great way to sneak a little more health into our daily lives.

Things like stand-up desks are a great idea but they can be expensive and large. Try fitting one of them in your Halls room. Below we’ve come up with a few easy, cheap or free alternatives.

Sitting on the Floor

This is an easy one, why not try sitting on the floor? If you’re streaming, reading, or even just scrolling pop yourself down on the floor instead of a chair. New research says that it can be very beneficial to do this for just a short period a day.

Make sure you use a good position though, cross-legged, Z-sit or Long sit to make sure your posture is correct. This article from Healthline can give you some good floor-sitting tips.

You can read more on the science in articles like: “A Comparison Study on the Change in Lumbar Lordosis When Standing, Sitting on a Chair, and Sitting on the Floor in Normal Individuals”, available through our Library catalogue LibrarySearch

Recording and Walking

Why not record your study notes on your phone, pop in some earphones and go for a walk. Research says the best way to study is to use multiple formats. It’s called multimodal learning! Multimodal learning incorporates visual, auditory, reading and writing and kinesthetic

So don’t just write them down but speak your notes aloud. By recording them and listening back as you walk, your body and your brain will be working. You could even drift off to sleep listening to them and let your unconscious soak them in as you sleep.

Read more on SpringerLink in this research paper called Multimodal Learning by Dominic Massaro.

Meditation

So, this one needs to be done separately from studying but the science says it can really help you actually study better. So even if you schedule a few short meditation breaks into your day you could see improvements. To get yourself moving why not try a walking meditation?

There is a study called: “Effects of a Mindfulness Meditation Course on Learning and Cognitive Performance among University Students in Taiwan” available through LibrarySearch. The study found meditation significantly improved memory performance. So why not give it a try?

Here’s a free 10-minute walking meditation on Soundcloud.

Just Move!

Fidget, wiggle your toes, or sway to some music. Any movement is good! Why not stop and do 10 jumping jacks or some squats? Put on your favourite song and dance! Getting the blood pumping around your body is an excellent way to stimulate your mind!

Read more on health and well-being in some of our other articles:

Stress Awareness Month

January and Wellbeing

By Juliet Kinsey

Image Source: Image by Anna Lysenko from Pixabay

 

Library Relaxation Spaces banner for a virtual relaxation zone

Library Relaxation Spaces

11/09/2023 / / 0 Comments

Library Relaxation Spaces

Physical relaxation Spaces

We know University life is devoted to study and learning, but we also want you to feel relaxed and comfortable every time you enter our libraries.  It’s essential to take time out, de-stress, and give yourself a break from your studies. Looking after your mental and physical well-being is crucial to your success at university.

With that in mind, we hope you’ll feel welcome in our relaxation spaces. These are small colourful areas we’ve designed for you to sit back, and enjoy the benefits of natural light and soft seating.

Each of our three campus libraries has its own dedicated space, ask the helpdesk for directions. In these spaces, we’ve provided puzzles, jigsaws, craft materials and colouring books and pens to help you feel relaxed and explore your creativity,  But maybe you just want to sit and do nothing for a while. That’s fine too – pull up a beanbag, talk to the plants, or just sit, put the notes down and let your mind wander. You’ll feel all the better for a break and ready to tackle your next assignment.

For more information on our relaxation spaces, please see here: Relaxation Spaces (napier.ac.uk)

Online Relaxation Space

Not only do we have physical spaces, but we also have an online relaxation space! Right here on the blog, we have an area dedicated to helping you take time out to relax from studying. Check out our online relaxation space at the top of this page. There is something for everyone, with links to breathing exercises, art therapy and relaxing music. To name just a few.

By Lesley McRobb

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