Groups, networks and activities

All University of Exeter colleagues (current, temporary, visiting and retired) and PGRs from any of our campuses, are welcome to participate in the groups and activities listed on these pages.

The fully searchable list below includes groups, networks and other activities from all campuses including ones which are online only. You could browse the whole list to see what tickles your fancy, or do a search using one of the following in the search box below and then click on the group name for more detailed information on joining etc.

Campus name or broad location e.g. "Cornwall" or "St Lukes".
"Online", "hybrid" or "all" for ones you can join in with from anywhere.
Topic/ activity/ keyword if looking for a group on particular subject e.g. "craft" or "School Governors".
Day of the week. Note - some groups may not have a set day, meet only monthly or may have activities at the weekend e.g. Hiking.

Adding an existing group to this list

We're happy to add existing staff-led groups that don't currently feature here unless they are one of our Research Networks as they have their own page! It's also ok to add a PGR-led group as long as it's open to staff members too. See the next section though if you want guidance on setting up a brand new group from scratch.

To an existing group or network added, please get in touch via email ColleagueWellbeing@exeter.ac.uk providing key information including:

Name of the group, network or activity
When, where and how frequently you meet up
Is this in-person? If so which campus/es? Online only? Hybrid?
A link to your webpages if you have one
A contact email address for the listing and a name if possible
Name and direct email address for the admin of this page so we can contact you regarding periodic updates.

Setting up a new group

You will be responsible for running the group at an administrative and practical level. This includes advertising and looking after a web page if your group has one.
We'll contact you annually to check the details of your group. Please need to let us know if the regular day and time for your activities changes so we can amend the timetable/overview of all social groups.
Setting up a Sharepoint site/ Teams group is a useful way to organise many groups and communicate in a more fluid way than a simple email list but this depends on the type of group you're running and what kind of admin skills/ access you have. Information is linked here on how to set up a Microsoft Teams group but contact IT if you need further support on this.
We can give some advice in setting up the group and advertising if you get stuck. Some FAQs are being developed and will be added to this page as soon as they are ready.
We do not usually set up webpages for individual groups.
We sometimes include mention of groups in Colleague Wellbeing weekly bulletin items if it links to a campaign we are running and will contact you when we're thinking of doing this. If you wish to do a promotion drive or have a special event coming up please do get in touch.
Colleague Wellbeing has no current access to budget for funding groups or other setup costs.
If the group incurs costs e.g. for an instructor, this needs to be covered by the members and administration of that should be looked after by the group itself.
The Sports Park have set up a 'wellbeing membership' called Ex-Hale in late 2023. If the membership proves successful, they may be able to add other activities depending on cost factors. If it's a physical exercise group you wish to set up, you could get in touch with them to suggest the activity you have in mind. Contact: Stephen Brown s.brown4@exeter.ac.uk
You'll need to book your own rooms or space to run activities and carry-out any necessary risk assessments. However, do contact us if guidance or assistance is needed as we have good knowledge of University spaces and procedures at Streatham and St Lukes.

Who can do this?

Any PGR or staff member can set up a group on any campus. It's a good idea to make sure there enough interest from other colleagues first - we suggest a minimum of 6 people will be needed. One way to do this is to put something into the weekly bulletin asking people to get in touch with you (via email, Teams or a webform) if they are interested.

Group Name	Campus	Description	When
Armed Forces Covenant Focus Group	All (online) Exeter (in-person)	Active group for any staff or PGRs who are veterans, reservists, or part of a service family or a CFAV.	Various and termly
Bible Study	Streatham (in-person)	An informal and accessible time of Bible study, open to all students and staff. No previous Bible knowledge required.	Wednesday lunchtime
BME Network	All (Streatham, St Luke's, Penryn)	Join a supportive and welcoming environment for our diverse body of staff and students. Open to members of our BME community and allies.	Various
Breathing Space: eco anxiety support group	All (online) Penryn Falmouth Cornwall	Has the climate crisis got you feeling anxious? Our drop-ins are welcoming and inclusive spaces, led by trained eco-anxiety facilitators, aiming to bring people together, share concerns and take action.	Fortnightly. Location and time varies
Contemporary Choir	Streatham (in-person)	We sing a wide range of music from a variety of genres including musicals, choral and some traditional folk songs, and also work towards a termly performance. We also have socials!	Monday evenings
Cornwall Disability Network	All (online) Penryn (in-person) Cornwall	Aims to provide a support system for staff and students, to share experiences within a secure and confidential environment and to seek guidance and support regarding disability issues.	See webpage/ contact for info
Cornwall Wellbeing Network	Penryn (in-person) Truro Cornwall	We are a social community for the Cornwall campuses aiming to improve our wellbeing through positive activities and open conversations about mental health.	Contact for info
Craft drop-in	Penryn (in-person) Cornwall	An afternoon of crafting - novices and experts all welcome. Various crafts. Those of all faiths, or no faith, welcome. We also run craft sessions ad hoc for staff.	Most Thursday afternoons
Creative Leadership Book Club	All (online) Campus TBC for in-person	The Creative Leadership book is based on the principles and practice of inclusive design and devised by Rama Gheerawo. We intend to work through this book in detail over the coming months, and introduce you to some of the main concepts.	Contact for info
Creative Writers	All (online)	Are you navigating a notable novel, scribbling a screenplay, or looking to pen poems for your pooch? Whatever your creative writing dreams and wherever you are on your journey, why not join the UoE Writers’ Group?	Monthly - first Friday
Disabled and Chronically Ill Network	All (online)	Aims to provide a space for staff and students to connect, share experiences and information, and provide support. We also aim to raise awareness and visibility of disability issues at the University, to help promote a culture that supports disabled staff and students.	Monthly. See webpage/ contact for info.
Ecological Citizens	Penryn (in-person) Wood Lane - Falmouth Uni (in-person) Cornwall	For students and staff wanting to understand, creatively respond to, and/or sit with the processes of change facing our Living Earth through collective learning, creative enquiry and addressing eco-anxiety.	Wednesday
Exe Trails	Exeter (in-person) Streatham St Lukes	Exe Walkers is a friendly walking group that hikes every month in the local countryside. Open to all university staff, their family and friends: newcomers welcome. There's usually a pub.	Monthly. See webpage/ contact for info
Exeter Community Garden	Streatham (in-person)	Community gardening organisation on Streatham campus for staff, students and local residents. No skills are necessary, just interest and enthusiasm.	Wednesday and Saturday
Falmouth Meditation	Falmouth Uni campus Cornwall	Free staff and students’ meditation class.	Wednesday
Fika Penryn	Penryn (in-person)	Come to our next, monthly Fika gathering to enjoy some coffee, treats, and great company. Let's make our campus community stronger one Fika at a time.	Third Tuesday of the month
FX Plus - Our Community	Cornwall campuses (in-person, online and hybrid)	Information about the staff networks, clubs and regular meet-ups happening on campus in Cornwall, which you can join and be part of.	Various
Garden Involvement Volunteer Events (GIVE)	Streatham (in-person)	Get involved in work on our beautiful grounds alongside the University Horticulturists on Streatham campus. Monthly volunteering session. Open to University students and staff.	Monthly on a weekday - varies
Grief and Bereavement Group (Penryn)	Penryn (online or in-person TBC) Cornwall	A new support group for those dealing with any form of grief, loss or bereavement is being developed for colleagues and PGRs based in Penryn.	TBC
Grief, Loss and Bereavement Group	All (Online) Exeter (In-person) Streatham St Lukes	A support network for colleagues and PGRs experiencing any form of grief, loss or bereavement. Facilitated group sessions and Teams group.	Monthly on Wednesdays online. In-person days vary. See webpage for info.
HASS project monograph	All (online and hybrid) Penryn (in-person) Streatham (in-person)	A wide variety of writing retreats both on and off campus (including in Penryn), as well as writing and journalling workshops plus a writing buddy system.	Varied. Contact for more info.
Hatha Yoga	All (online)	Gentle yoga and meditation sessions to get you feeling more centred, calm and in control of your life. Classes are 45 minutes on the Microsoft Teams platform.	Tuesday and Friday
Healthy Cornwall	Penryn (in-person) Cornwall	Drop-in advice sessions covering a range of health and wellbeing topics, including offering a stop smoking service as well as diet, exercise, and general healthy lifestyle advice	Alternate Mondays
International Staff & PG Network	All (online) Streatham (in-person)	Social network for international staff and Post Grads to connect, share experiences and information, and provide support to each other.	Varies. See webpage/ contact for more info.
Italian Reading Group	Streatham (in-person)	An informal reading group for all learners and speakers of Italian an intermediate, advanced or native level.	Friday
Kemeneth (LGBTQ+)	Cornwall (online) Penryn & Falmouth (in-person)	Kemeneth (Cornish for ‘community’), The Cornwall LGBTQ+ Staff Network, welcomes all LGBTQ+ staff and allies at the University of Exeter Cornwall campuses, Falmouth University, FX Plus and The SU.	Varies. Contact for more info.
Language Café	Streatham (in-person)	Join our informal conversation group for language speakers and enthusiasts of all levels. Open to all colleagues, PGRs and University students as well as members of the public.	Wednesday
LGBTQ+ Staff Network (Devon)	All (online) Exeter campuses (in-person) Streatham St Lukes RD&E	Network with socials, talks and walks. Open to staff and PGRs of all marginalised sexual orientations and gender identities who would like a secure space to fully express their sexual orientation and/or gender without fear of intimidation or harassment.	Varied. Contact for more info.
Menopause Café (Cornwall)	Cornwall (online) Penryn (in-person)	A network for our Cornwall community for anyone (any gender , any age) interested in menopause for discussion, information and support.	Varied. See webpage for more info.
Menopause Network	All (online)	The Menopause Network is an informal, supportive group for staff members and students meeting every two months for a café-style session. Also an active Teams group and termly talks for members.	Varies. Contact/ join for details.
Mindful Meditation	All (online)	This is a free, secular drop-in session with a short, seated, guided meditation followed by a longer quiet sit/ self-guided section and some discussion about the practice.	Thursday
Multifaith Chaplaincy (FX Plus)	Penryn Falmouth Devon & Cornwall Hospital Cornwall	Connecting staff and students to pastoral support, places of worship and local faith communities. We run events for the whole University community including craft and lunches.	Various
Multifaith Connections Café (Exeter Chaplaincy)	Streatham (in-person)	Connections Café offers free refreshments and is hosted by members of the Multifaith Chaplaincy team. It's a chance to chat to friends or meet new people with free refreshments and treats provided. Open to all.	Tuesday
Neurodiversity Cafe	All (online)	The Café aims to create a neurodivergent-led, confidential and supportive space to meet regularly to talk about things that matter to us. We have a private Teams group for informal chat and body-doubling sessions.	Monthly - alternate Tuesday and Thursday Body-doubling fortnightly Tuesday and Friday
Parents and Carers Network (Cornwall)	Cornwall All (online)	Informal monthly drop-in sessions and a Teams group for Cornwall-based colleagues with caring responsibilities, providing a space to catch-up and discuss relevant issues.	Contact/ see webpage for current info.
Parents and Carers Network (Exeter)	All (online) Exeter campuses (some in-person)	Informal monthly drop-in coffee break sessions and a Teams group for Exeter-based colleagues with caring responsibilities, providing a space to catch-up and discuss relevant issues.	Contact/ see webpage for current info.
Penryn Book Club	Penryn (in-person) Cornwall	Super friendly, very informal, monthly book club open to everyone on campus.	Last Thursday of the month
Pilates & Menopause Pilates	All (online)	Mixed ability, guided, online Pilates classes and a tailored Menopause Pilates class using light weights is an option.	Monday Wednesday Friday
Playful Lab	All (online) Streatham (in-person)	The playful lab is an informal get-together for experimentation and exploration of the art and science of design, play, and story, to enable innovation.	Varies. Monthly(ish)
Research Coding Community	All (online) Streatham (in-person)	Seminars, get-togethers, and friendly contests for those who design, support, or otherwise participate in computer coding for research activities.	TBC
Research Networks	All (online, in-person, hybrid) Exeter Cornwall	The Exeter Research Networks are interdisciplinary, virtual research groupings. They bring together University of Exeter researchers and external partners to tackle pressing societal challenges.	Various
Retirement Association	Exeter campuses	Membership of the Association is open to all retired employees and retired former employees of the University, in all categories. They run various interest groups and activities as well as socials.	Various. Contact/ see webpage for current info.
Role-Playing Games	All (online) Streatham (in-person)	Social group to bring together staff and PGRs interested in playing or running role-playing games.	Various. Contact/ see webpage for current info.
School Governors Network	All (online)	An online network led by the School and College Engagement team, to support staff who are school governors and trustees with their work, share good practice and answer questions.	Termly Wednesday
Soapbox Science	Exeter campuses	Soapbox Science showcases the research of women who are making significant contributions to the scientific community. Get involved in our annual summer event!	2024 date - 22nd of June
Soup Lunch	St Lukes (in-person)	Come and enjoy a FREE LUNCH of soup and bread served by our Chaplains. People from all faiths or none are warmly welcomed.	Thursday - term time only
Sports Park memberships and activities	Exeter campuses (in-person) All (online)	Explore UoE gym, swim and classes membership options and fitness classes. Also the £10 per month wellbeing membership, Ex-Hale.	Various
St Luke's Craft Group	St Lukes (in-person)	Our friendly craft group will be relaunching in late Feb/March 2024! Do email if you’d like us to get in touch when we get going.	Day TBC
St Luke's Volunteer Gardening Group (SLUG)	St Lukes (in-person)	Everyone at St Luke’s is welcometo help with the redesigning and uplifting of an area of St Luke’s campus to enhance wellbeing by providing a quiet space to interact with green spaces and each other.	Wednesday
Tai Chi	All (online) Streatham (in-person)	Online lunchtime Chi-break class using Zoom, occasionally with a room booked on Streatham campus for staff to meet in person.	Monday
Trans and Non-binary Café	All (online) Streatham (in-person)	We offer a chance to come together with other trans people and discuss whatever you would like. We have a private Discord server and hold monthly in-person meetings.	Twice monthly
University Choral Society	Streatham (in-person)	Choir welcoming singers of all levels of ability. Each term we hold concerts of large choral works often accompanied by orchestras.	Monday
Vegan & Vegetarian Meet-up	Streatham (in-person)	Social group to bring vegetarians and vegans together to have a chat about our experience. New group so will develop activities depending on the group members' wants and needs.	Monday
Wellbeing Network	All (online) Streatham (in-person) Penryn (in-person)	We are a social community aiming to improve our wellbeing through positive activities and open conversations about mental health. We run activities and a Teams chat group.	Various. Contact/ see webpage and events section
WISEnet (Women: Inspiring, Supporting, Encouraging Network	All (online, hybrid) Streatham (in-person)	A network for women to bring together women and allies across our community with events, talks and online discussion group.	Various. See webpage for current info.
Wool and Fibre Craft Group	All (online) Streatham (in-person)	An informal group of like-minded knitters, crocheters, needle felters, patchworkers of all abilities. an opportunity to meet other crafty colleagues, share tips and get advice on your latest project.	Every other Monday Every Thursday (online)

If a correction to this page is needed or you have a question, please contact: ColleagueWellbeing@exeter.ac.uk