{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:34:37Z","timestamp":1787027677717,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,4]],"date-time":"2026-02-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770163200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Medical Research Council","award":["MR\/X002810\/1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["MR\/X002810\/1"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Behavioral Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Universities are increasingly seeking ways to build students\u2019 sense of belonging. This paper reports a mixed-methods evaluation of BE At King\u2019s, a seed-funded programme supporting grassroots, co-created initiatives to strengthen connection and inclusion across a large, multi-campus institution. Five projects\u2014ranging from art clubs and community breakfasts to hackathons and writing retreats\u2014were designed and delivered by students and staff, with evaluation embedded from the outset. Quantitative survey data (n = 202) showed high levels of belonging overall, with structured, interactive initiatives most strongly associated with meeting new people and feeling connected. Qualitative thematic analysis highlighted four themes\u2014Refreshing Routines, Inclusive Conditions, Community Leadership, and Layered Engagement\u2014revealing how belonging was fostered through predictable routines, psychologically safe spaces, and opportunities for shared ownership. Bringing findings together shows that grassroots initiatives can engage even less-connected students, but that careful design, inclusive outreach, and sustained facilitation are critical to their success. We argue that universities should embed belonging within the everyday fabric of institutional life through co-produced, flexible, and locally responsive approaches that combine institutional commitment with community leadership.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bs16020226","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,4]],"date-time":"2026-02-04T09:02:01Z","timestamp":1770195721000},"page":"226","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["\u201cWith a Little Help from My Friends\u201d: Co-Creating Belonging in Higher Education"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-7698-7195","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Faiza","family":"Aman","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King\u2019s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-4335-9172","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zak","family":"Evans","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King\u2019s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-9393-7432","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stephanie","family":"White","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King\u2019s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-5618-1260","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Arlette","family":"Albert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King\u2019s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0801-4429","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juliet","family":"Foster","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King\u2019s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2104-550X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nicola","family":"Byrom","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King\u2019s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"622","DOI":"10.1080\/03075079.2018.1564902","article-title":"Four domains of students\u2019 sense of belonging to university","volume":"45","author":"Ahn","year":"2020","journal-title":"Studies in Higher Education"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.53761\/s2he6n66","article-title":"Belonging in higher education: A twenty year systematic review","volume":"21","author":"Allen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ansley, L. 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