Celebrating Readings unsung hero colleagues

University of Reading colleagues are frequently recognised with national awards for pioneering research, outstanding teaching and more, but there are countless other contributions that play a critical role in supporting University life.

As colleagues gathered for a celebration event to mark Show Your Stripes Day (Wednesday 21 June), we rounded up some lesser known stories of unsung heroes to recognise the variety of ways that staff have made a difference in the past year.

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “Every day, colleagues at the University of Reading deliver vital work to make working and studying here that little bit better.

“Whether they are solving problems, coming up with new ideas, or going the extra mile to make sure a project exceeds its goals, their contributions – big and small – collectively make a huge positive impact on life at Reading.
“Thank you to these everyday heroes, and the many others across the University, for their hard work.”

Bringing our tech up to date

Sylwia Kaleciak, User Support Analyst, Digital Technology Services

The University’s Device Lifecycle Project is replacing old computers with up-to-date Microsoft Surfaces. More than 800 new devices will have been distributed by the end of the year.

Sylwia has been many colleagues’ first port of call when they open their new laptop, providing technical support. She volunteered to step up to the project and quickly developed an understanding of the new technology, its capabilities, and how to set up the equipment to meet the varied needs of colleagues across the University.

She’s had excellent feedback for her approach to working with colleagues who need help, finding solutions and ensuring that staff are getting the most from their new laptops. 

Connecting students with funding

Phoebe Homer, Communications Officer, Student Services

As the increased cost of living continues to have an impact, the Student Success and Engagement team has run a series of campaigns throughout 2022/23 to help make students aware of the support and funding opportunities available to them.

Among them was a campaign to promote Santander’s Brighter Futures grant and the chance to win money.

Thanks to efforts from Phoebe, and colleagues Angie Davies and Janice Galvin, to encourage students to apply, the programme had more applications than ever before.

Ten Reading students received £1,000 each. The campaign was highly praised by Santander, who will promote Reading’s approach to other universities in future years.

The money has had a huge impact, funding car repairs, new laptops, and rent deposits. More importantly, every student said that it alleviated financial stress, helping them to focus on their studies.

One recipient of an award said: “I am incredibly grateful for this funding, as it puts me in a far more stable position than I was previously – I will be forever grateful!”  

Stepping up in sequences

Chris Daw, Associate Professor, Mathematics & Statistics

As part of a wider refurbishment of the Mathematics and Statistics building, Chris Daw took the time to research some number sequences that could decorate the staircase and fit the number of steps between floors. 

A bit out of the ordinary, the sequences are something of an invitation to explore some more advanced topics in number theory. They add life and colour to an otherwise functional space, and have become a talking point for visitors to the building.

The care that was taken to create a simple but effective decorative feature that is fitting for the subject lifted the refurbishment project and will benefit staff and students for years to come.

A close call over the holidays

Trevor Kessell, Plumber, Building and Maintenance Services

Hard work by colleagues in Estates prevented potential damage to expensive lab equipment during the Christmas break.

A check of a fire alarm fault revealed that a leak had sprung in the Chemistry department, with water threatening to damage teaching and research spaces, including highly specialised equipment.

Trevor Kessell was the first plumber on site and was able to isolate the problem and prevent a more serious flood. 

A team including Colin Yoxall, Rob Williams and Chris Hellier joined Trevor, working during the closure period to fix the leak, clean up the mess and conduct safety checks on the electrical equipment.

Order was restored and the rooms and the laboratory equipment were all good to go when research and technical colleagues returned on 3 January.

Championing good mental health

Tasha Easton, Senior Governance Officer, Governance

Mental health stigma can make it harder for people to get the support that they need. Tasha has given up her time to help break down that stigma at the University and make Reading a place where everyone can thrive.

She has organised wellbeing walks, and worked in collaboration with the Disability Staff Network to give greater visibility to the needs of staff with mental health concerns through a dedicated Teams channel.

Recognising how important it can be for people to talk candidly about the impact of mental health conditions, Tasha worked with the Diversity and Inclusion team to give a safe platform for ten colleagues to share their mental health stories.

The case studies offered insight into very different experiences of how mental health challenges have affected colleagues’ lives, and promoted a better understanding of mental health at the University.