Get involved with the BRIT Challenge

Southampton Solent University will be taking part in the BRIT Challenge 2025 to support the mental health agenda for our students and staff, and we need your help.

In July 2022, Southampton Solent University awarded an Honorary Degree on Phil Packer MBE. Phil is a mental health and fitness, disability and charity adviser. He is the founder and non-paid CEO of the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT).

We’re also pleased to share that Phil will be delivering a guest lecture at Solent on University Mental Health Day. (More details coming soon.)

The work of BRIT to support young adult, student and staff mental health and wellbeing has led to the delivery of the annual BRIT Challenge. This inclusive, feel-good fundraiser for every UK university and college encourages participation to improve mental health and fitness.

Find out more about the BRIT Challenge >

Get involved

This year, Southampton Solent University will be taking part in the BRIT Challenge 2025 to support the mental health agenda for our students and staff. The challenge will take place between Monday 27 January and Thursday 13 March, University Mental Health Day.

We are aiming to raise awareness of this important issue and encourage you to get involved in the different activities we are running – whether that is going for a walk, joining a Yoga session or getting crafty.

Find out how you can get involved:

• Staff who are keen cyclists can get involved in Southampton’s Love2Ride scheme.
• Time to Talk Day: On 6 February, come down to The Dock restaurant for free tea or coffee (Just show your pass) . This is a great opportunity to encourage everyone to take a break and have a chat! 
• Come along to our Get into Volunteering Festival during National Student Volunteering Week, 10-16 February, and discover the benefits of volunteering and opportunities available.
• We’ll be running our next Menopause Café on Monday 24 February.
• The Mental Health and Wellbeing Team will be running a series of Wellbeing Cafe’s in February.
• On Fridays between 2-3pm, staff and students can join in with Visosport - a fun, physical and interactive game. No need to book, just come along to the multipurpose sports hall in the sports complex. 
• The Students' Union are organising activities as part of their Give It A Go scheme, including goat yoga, pottery making and tarot reading.
• We’re running Responding to Student Disclosures training for staff on Monday 10 Feb.
• As well as mental health and wellbeing training for our managers.
• Embedding mental health wellbeing in the curriculum.
• You can join our walking football, for staff and students, every Monday at 5pm.
• Don’t forget our staff singing group meet every Tuesday.
• Our sports massage and injury clinic are back open this term.
• Everyone is welcome to join us in the Spark on Thursday 13 March for University Mental Health Day.

We'd also encourage you to post on social media (Facebook, X or Instagram), using #WeAreSolent. You can follow BRIT on X and use #TheBRITChallenge to help raise even more awareness.

If you have any queries please email Tania Struetzel, Director of Student Success, via tania.struetzel@solent.ac.uk.