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Health and Safety voluntary roles
Posted on behalf of: Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team
Last updated: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Members of staff who volunteer to take on health and safety (H&S) roles (First Aider, Mental Health First Aider (MHFA), H&S Coordinator, Fire Warden and/or Dignity and Respect Responders) are offered an additional day’s annual leave in recognition of their essential contribution at the University.
How to be eligible:
- To benefit from the offer, staff will need to maintain any relevant training and actively participate in the role (i.e. be on the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team’s central lists for First Aiders, MHFA’s, Fire Wardens etc. with their name and contact details published where relevant).
- Once staff complete 10 months in their H&S role, they will be eligible for an additional day’s leave each annual leave year until they leave the role. It is the responsibility of the H&S role holder to track how long they have been in the role before requesting the additional day’s leave.
- Where the individual has several H&S volunteer roles, only one day’s leave applies, no matter the number of roles they hold.
Taking the leave:
- The leave must be authorised by the line manager following local arrangements. Simply record the leave locally – there is no need to add it onto MyView.
- The day’s leave is in addition to the role holder's contracted entitlement and is not pro rata for part-time staff.
- Leave should normally be taken within the leave year and does not carry over.
If you would like to volunteer for any of these roles, please speak with your line manager in the first instance and then contact healthsafety@sussex.ac.uk .
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team

