AN OXFORDSHIRE college has promised to do more to help its employees and students manage their mental health.

Abingdon and Witney College has chosen to cooperate with Time to Change, a movement led by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Health.

The aim of Time to Change is to remove the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage suffering workers to step forward and talk about their issues.

To help meet their goal, the organisation offers institutions the chance to sign an employers’ pledge.

By signing on the dotted line, Principal Di Batchelor and the rest of the college have agreed to pay greater attention to the wellbeing of its 800 staff.

It will also have a benefit for its 12,000 students.

Jordan Whitefoot, marketing and communications officer at Abingdon and Witney College, said of the impact on students: “Whilst this particular pledge is specifically considering staff mental health, it will naturally therefore impact on the wellbeing of our students too.

"However, Time to Change have a number of resources that we are looking to use with students in lessons and core enrichment, and we are looking at using students to support with some of the promotion and activities around this.

“This way, the pledge will interweave with some of our already award-winning initiatives that we run for students.

"Also, the employee champions at the College will be there to support staff and students, with the specialist services that are available being for both staff and students - something our Student Services team will also tap into.”

The institution is the latest to join 450 others that have already made the vow to Time to Change.

The college now stands alongside the likes of Barclays, Shell and the Church of England.

Kelly Haddrell, head of Human Resources, called it 'a great occasion'.

“Over the coming months, we will be working with staff on having employee champions to support staff, deliver training and signpost to appropriate services, and building on our already established Mental Health and Wellbeing initiatives,” she said.

“By joining this ground-breaking initiative, we are also continuing our journey towards becoming an employer of choice in the local community and beyond.”