Over 36 hours, our third Giving Day will bring together the College community in celebration of love, health and wellbeing at Churchill. Our fundraising focus is Student Support and the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund and you can add your support on the Giving Day website, chugives.chu.cam.ac.uk. The Giving Day stand in the Buttery will include a LoveChu display celebrating “Churchill Couples” and a digital “Medical Montage” showing the incredible impact that Churchill alumni are making on the medical world. Members of the Churchill community are invited to add their own valentine’s message to the LoveChu wall, pick up a LoveChu badge, and enjoy a sweet treat. Giving Day activities include:
Kindness Rocks
3.00pm on Wednesday 14 February 2024
Immerse yourself in the creative process of rock painting
Engaging in creative activities that require our focus in a gentle, mindful way benefits our mental and emotional health. Getting absorbed in a painting project can be a great way to relax by re-focussing thoughts away from worry and stress. The physically repetitive motion of painting can be meditative and calming too. This Giving Day, design an inspirational rock to give to someone who needs a boost or paint a brightly-coloured motivational message to keep yourself going.
Materials and refreshments will be provided in the Club Room so drop in and release your creativity.
Painted rocks will be available to collect from the Library after the varnishing process.
I CHUse You
5.00pm on Wednesday 14 February 2024
Send a musical valentine to someone you love in Churchill
Make this Valentine’s Day one to remember. Choose from a selection of songs and, with a donation to the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, the Churchillian of your dreams (or your best mate or College parent) will be serenaded by the “I CHUse You” musicians with a private performance.
Musical valentines will be delivered to the specified location in College between 5.00pm and 7.00pm but orders must be placed in advance.
Order your musical valentine using this online form.
Canine Comfort
11.30am on Thursday 15 February 2024
Having a ruff day?
Interacting with a dog can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, as well as lowering your heart rate and blood pressure. Just 15 to 30 minutes of canine comfort will boost your dopamine and endorphins and decrease your levels of cortisol. Dogs also help to spark spontaneous conversations and build a sense of trust and rapport among people, so you might even meet someone new, especially because being around dogs will mean you perceive people as more friendly and approachable!
The dogs will be in College until 1.00pm so drop in to the Club Room and stay as long as you like.
These dogs are family pets, not official therapy animals.
Wellbeing Walk
1.30pm on Thursday 15 February 2024
Enjoy some peaceful me-time and discover the power of a reflective walk in nature
When we perceive green in the natural environment, whilst gently strolling and silently contemplating sounds and textures, we can experience a soothing wave of wellness. Take a moment to still the mind and notice fleeting moments of beauty in the College grounds. Pause to listen to the rustling of leaves suddenly whipped up by a gust of wind, your eyes closed, allowing your shoulders to relax and release the day’s tension with a few extra inhalations of fresh air.
Leaving from the Buttery at 1.30pm, we will warm up our hands with a complimentary hot drink on our return at around 2.00pm.
Suitable outdoor footwear and weather-appropriate clothing is advised.
