A Social Hub facility on Teams – offering quizzes, bingo and creative challenges – is giving staff the opportunity of keeping up valuable social links with colleagues and friends at the college.
The idea developed from a virtual Tea Room Channel – created by Lisa Hachemi FVC’s Contracts Officer – where staff are able to come together for a cuppa during the day and have a general catch up.
Lisa said: “The Tea Room Channel got me thinking that staff may be interested in coming together virtually for the annual quiz night and other activities in order to get together and support each other through these challenging times and to have some fun. That’s when I met up with Kim Reid, Student Advice Co-ordinator and we created the Social Hub.”
The social hub is where staff can all get together, dip in and out of as they please and take part in any of the activities that are available. By doing it through Teams, staff can also just join in to watch and chat whilst others are taking part in the activity.
The online facility has proven to be a great success with dozens of staff engaging in the activities, which have recently included a ‘Bake Off’ challenge.
Kim, said: “Staff are really pulling it out of the bag in terms of supporting students and adapting to this new way of working, but we can't lose sight of the fact that some are working on their own and it can be socially isolating for them also.”
Lisa, added: “The Bake Off challenge was my first ever attempt at baking and although I am dreadful in the kitchen, I think I didn’t do too bad a job. It turned out looking like a sheep and it was actually edible. My husband says it was delicious and he knows how dreadful I am in the kitchen!
“It was a bit stressful for me but it was really fun and it was nice that other staff members joined in just to have a chat and watch whilst we baked.”
Pauline Donaldson, FVC’s Soft Services and Sustainability Coordinator, said: “I spent a fantastic afternoon with colleagues on the bake off challenge, it was great fun and looking forward to the next one!”
Staff can join the Social Hub group by logging into Teams and by joining to social hub using the wdvkcoa code.
