Investing in staff wellbeing is one of the most important things a school can do.

Because they are the beating heart; every school's greatest asset. They set the tone for the rest to follow. That means, when staff are supported to nurture their wellbeing, it positively impacts the whole school community. For those working hard to shape a whole-school approach to emotional health and wellbeing, Public Health England recommends putting staff wellness front and centre. They also state that senior leadership teams that champion efforts to promote mental health and wellbeing are essential. We agree. The DfE's Education Staff Wellbeing Charter states that everyone working in education should have the opportunity to enjoy the highest standard of wellbeing. We agree with that too.

Still Human was started by Julie Liddell, a psychology teacher and wellbeing facilitator with over 25 years of experience.

Julie has seen first-hand the amazing impact educators can have on schools, students and the wider community. But she also fully understands the pressures they face, and how the demanding nature of working in schools can often affect individual wellbeing. Armed with the knowledge that even the smallest changes can significantly enhance overall wellbeing, Julie worked with staff in education to help them carve out a little more time to focus on themselves. Using psychological theory to influence behavioural change and mindfulness to enhance calm, focus and positive action. Throughout her career, the most common reaction to Julie's teachings was, “Everyone should know this stuff!” Julie agreed. And so, with her students' words ringing in her ears, she set out to support staff within the education profession on a full-time basis. Still Human was born.

Who is Still Human for?

People who work in education

Those who do incredible work in a high-energy and demanding sector. Those who might be feeling overwhelmed or stressed, and who often put their own wellbeing a little too far down on life's to-do list.

Meet The Team

Julie Liddell

Founder and Managing Director

“I love the field of Positive Psychology and the research from this field underpins many of the workshops offered by Still Human. Positive Psychology isn't about “being positive”, rather it is the scientific study that identifies the positive traits that allow individuals, communities and organisations to thrive. Mindfulness was a game changer for me - simple, easy to do when time poor, but most of all so impactful on my overall health and wellbeing. Whilst not a magic bullet for everything - I refer to it as my 'ordinary magic' and I want to share that magic with the world.”

Arwen Webb - Wellbeing Facilitator

Arwen is an educator and teacher with over 20 years’ experience in delivering a range of diverse content within secondary, FE and 1-2-1 environments. She has an in-depth knowledge of the personal and professional challenges faced by both teachers and pupils at all levels in the demanding and rapidly changing environment of education. With a focus on health and wellbeing, a degree in Sociology and Masters in Criminological Research, Arwen has also completed a Complementary Therapy qualification with the NHS School of Natural Health. This has helped her to support and empower others in understanding what ‘selfcare’ means and be able to create practical strategies to form a healthy work-life balance. "As teachers we have a critical role - to nurture the next generation and support them in navigating this complex and challenging world and this starts with our own wellbeing and self regulation. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experiences and delivering creative and insightful programmes and workshops that support teachers in enriching their own development, creating space and balance in both their personal and working lives."

Dr Mary Bilton - Wellbeing Facilitator

Mary has worked as a Design and Technology faculty lead for over 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge in delivering National Professional Qualifications in leadership, management and improved teaching practice. Her work as an accredited facilitator, led Mary to undertake her Masters in Education and subsequently her Doctorate. The aim of her research was to gain a greater understanding of what is leading mid-career teachers to leave the profession, with a focus on workload, stress and career development. Mary has a deep interest in helping teachers to improve their working lives and practice. She is able to draw on her own experience and research to help teachers recognise and develop their own career paths. “Having experienced the challenges of working in the classroom for over three decades whilst trying to manage a busy family life and academic studies, I understand the pressure and stress that so many teachers find themselves under. Through my work as a Facilitator, I have had the privilege of hearing life-stories of so many brilliant teachers who feel that they need to make a change to their working lives before they burn out. By developing and delivering wellbeing programmes that are practical, effective and inspiring I hope that we can retain and revitalise the stellar talent that we have in this profession.”

Everyone thrives when individual wellbeing is nurtured.

Our aim is to shape a future where the wellbeing of staff in education is valued and prioritised for the good of all.

Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us.

On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives - on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.

- Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994