People and Culture at Wrexham University

Today, 9th August, is officially “International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.” It’s a great opportunity to celebrate culture, knowledge and language linked to rich traditions of Indigenous Peoples from around the world. The day also highlights the importance of protecting cultural heritage and supporting communities in keeping their languages and traditions alive for future generations.

Here in Wrexham, this provides an opportunity to reflect on the value of linguistic and cultural diversity, and our continued commitment to the promotion of Cymraeg goes a long way in helping us to understand the role language plays in strengthening identity, community, and belonging. Through events such as the National Eisteddfod, Wales also welcomes opportunities for cultural exchange, celebrating creativity, sharing stories, and learning from communities across the world.

Today, we stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples globally while recognising the importance of respecting and celebrating the diverse languages and cultures that enrich all our communities.

Who are Indigenous people? Good question. There are an estimated 476 million Indigenous people globally across 90 countries, including…

• the Sámi of Europe (covering parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia),
• the Maasai of Africa (Semi-nomadic pastoralist indigenous people living in Kenya and northern Tanzania),
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (the original inhabitants and custodians of Australia),
• Adivasi and Lumad Groups (original tribal and indigenous populations across parts of Asia, such as India and the Philippines)
• and Native American and First Nations groups in the Americas (Indigenous communities spanning North, Central, and South America - such as the Navajo, Cherokee, and Quechua).

There are an estimated 4,000 different Indigenous languages spoken globally. While there are over 7,000 living languages overall, Indigenous communities speak the vast majority of them despite making up less than 6% of the world's population!

WE ARE RECRUITING!💼

Here is the weekly update of our current vacancies at Wrexham University!

If any of these vacancies are not suitable at the moment, please use our email service to be alerted to opportunities in the future.

To find out more information, apply for a vacancy or sign up to our email service, click the link below!

https://jobs.wrexham.ac.uk/Vacancies.aspx

Blwyddyn Academaidd Newydd 26–27 / Happy New Academic Year 26-27

Today, as we settled back into our Monday after a great pride event here in our city, we’re reminded why celebrating culture, diversity and equality is so import. Our LGBTQ+ Staff Network and our People and Culture team are aware some of our people might be feeling shocked and confused about the events that took place in Berlin, during their Pride event. Pride has always been an opportunity to create safe spaces for people to feel supported being their true authentic selves while surrounded by love, respect, acceptance and community. To see those spaces polluted by violence, hurt and hate is heart-breaking for LGBTQ+ people everywhere.

While our cities may be separated by seas, oceans and boarders, we are united in a shared purpose. We find strength in one another. Our thoughts are with all who have been impacted.

If you are struggling with anti-LGBTQ+ events and the negative narrative some social media platforms are taking in response to such events, please don’t suffer in silence. Dealing with such emotions can be overwhelming so we want to remind you that there are people and places that will listen. Your voice and the way you are feeling is important, understood and valid.

Specialised LGBTQ+ Helplines:
• Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline: Call 0800 0119 100 (open daily 10 am to 10 pm) or email [email protected] for a safe, non-judgmental space to process distressing world events.
• LGBT Foundation Helpline: Call 0345 3 30 30 30 or visit their site for emotional support, advice, and mental health signposting.
• MindOut Mental Health Service: Offers online chat support and specialised queer-affirming peer spaces.
• Health Assured: if you are staff, you and your family have free access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme (see link the bio/linktr.ee)
• ASK: if you are a student, you can contact the ASK student support team with queries relating to inclusion, counselling and mental health, and student wellbeing, plus much more…

General 24/7 UK Crisis Support
• Samaritans: Call 116 123 at any time for free, confidential emotional support if you are struggling to cope.
• Shout Crisis Text Service: Text SHOUT to 85258 for immediate text-based crisis support.
• NHS 111: Call 111 for urgent medical or mental health advice.

On Saturday 25th July, our people took the streets of our beautiful city to celebrate diversity and equality with our friends at . It was a huge group effort with a lot of behind-the-scenes activity here, ensuring our Wrexham University entry was “epic!” Different departments stepped up and leant us tables, chairs, gazebos, storage space, promotional materials and even helped deliver larger items to Llwyn Isaf (the showground at the Library Field) on the day – proving just how much we all live by our values!

Our LGBTQ+ Staff Network was supported by our Wrexham University Student Union President, and Vice President as well as alumni, allies, friends and colleagues from across many departments, hosting our stall throughout the day and marching in the parade.

As part of our Proud Pledge Project, we collected just shy of 100 pledges from visitors to our stall who wanted to share what makes them proud to be themselves.

We can’t wait to invite to be a part of the creative outcome - so keep an eye out for the next step of this creative project…

Thank you to everybody who showed up and showed out for us. It was an absolutely amazing day and we were all extremely proud to have played our part in it.

Celebrating
South Asian Heritage Month runs throughout July to provides dedicated space to recognise and celebrate the diverse cultures, histories, and extensive contributions of communities with roots across South Asia.
As part of our university’s commitment to community building, inclusion and race equality, we hosted a South Asian Heritage Month Picnic in the Quad. It was great opportunity for colleagues across all departments to step away from their desks, connect, and experience traditional South Asian heritage first-hand by bringing traditional Street Games to Campus. The highlight of the picnic was watching our staff from various areas, dial up their competitive side and get stuck in to two games:

Gilli-Danda: A classic game requiring sharp hand-eye coordination, where players use a long wooden stick (danda) to flick and strike a smaller, tapered wooden piece (gilli) into the air.

Lagori: A fast-paced team game where players attempt to knock down a stack of seven flat stones with a ball, and then rebuild the tower before the opposing team can tag them out.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, brought their energy to the Quad, and made the celebration a success. It was a wonderful reminder of the vibrant, diverse community we share here on campus.

One more sleep!!! / Un noson arall!!!

We're already packing the car and practising putting up the gazebo!
Rydyn ni eisoes yn pacio'r car ac yn ymarfer codi'r gazebo!

Allwn ni ddim bod yn fwy cyffrous i ymuno yn yr hwyl yn Llwyn Isaf gyda . Mae sôn bod yr haul am aros gyda ni drwy'r dydd hefyd. ☀️ We couldn't be more excited to join in the fun at Llwyn Isaf with . We hear the sun is rumoured to stick around for the day too.

The March starts at midday and we'll be in the showground (Llwyn Isaf) all day so why not come and say hello? It'll be great to see you there.
Mae'r orymdaith yn cychwyn am hanner dydd, a byddwn ni yn Llwyn Isaf drwy'r dydd, felly dewch draw i ddweud helo! Bydd hi'n braf iawn eich gweld chi yno.

Balchder Hapus i bawb! 🌈 Happy Pride everyone!

One week! Where has the time gone?
We can not wait to celebrate with our friends at Pride Wrecsam for what we already know is going to be a fantastic Wrexham Pride event once again!

Are you coming?
We'll be on the field at Llwyn Isaf showing our support. Come and say hello

As we near the weekend, we wanted to acknowledge this week is Alcohol Awareness Week. For some of us, alcohol plays a huge part in our recreation, celebrations and routines. For others, our cultures, beliefs, health and happiness see us having a different relationship with alcohol. This week we’ve been exploring some of Alcohol Change UK’s messages around Alcohol Awareness Week, and in doing so, we're inviting a different conversation: what role is alcohol really playing in our lives?

Whether it's affecting our sleep, energy, mood or anxiety, alcohol can often impact us in ways we don't always realise. There's no judgement and no one-size-fits-all approach. Whether it's learning more, checking our drinking habits, cutting back or trying a few alcohol-free days, every step, no matter how small, counts.

If exploring your relationship with alcohol feels uncomfortable, that's okay. You're not alone. It might just be the right time to start the conversation.



We’ve shared a link to resources via our linktree (in the bio above) if you are unable to click in the links below. We’ve also tagged in this post too.

www.alcoholchange.org.uk