On Wednesday 2 December Kent Sport will be hosting its annual Santa Run. Why not grab your friends, put on your best Christmas-themed costumes and join in the fun!

The 3.5km course starts at the Pavilion at 12:30. There will be individual chip timers, with finishing places for all and medals awarded to the first male and female finishers.

The run costs £2 and the proceeds will be donated to Christmas charities including Project 100 which supports student sport at Kent.

What better way to kick off the holiday season than staying healthy and helping to ensure students have first rate sporting opportunities at Kent?

To register just email sportsdevelopment@kent.ac.uk

CyclingAge are offering University of Kent staff and students free cycle training. This could be for you if:

• You find yourself a little intimidated by some road situations
• You are riding in the UK for the first time
• You are an experienced rider looking for tips to boost your riding skills

Classes are 2 hours and are led by highly trained instructors who are friendly and patient. The instructors will tailor the sessions to those attending and make sure the training is fun too.

For further information and to book a place, email uokcycle@cyclingage.co.uk

CyclingAge also runs Dr. Bike drop in sessions every Wednesday between 08:30-15.00 at West Oast Cycle Garage in Park Wood, Canterbury campus. Drop by to have your bike checked over for free by experienced bike mechanics. Dr. Bike now has 5 courtesy bikes so you can ‘Park your bike at West Oast and Ride’ back to central campus.

Dr. Bike will be visiting Medway campus next term. Follow @unikent_travel on twitter for updates of when this will be.

For further information visit www.kent.ac.uk/transport

‘The Queer Persistence of Shakespeare’
Professor Stephen Guy-Bray (British Columbia)
Chair: Dr Declan Kavanagh (University of Kent)
17.00, Monday 23 November
Eliot Lecture Theatre 2
All welcome

Stephen Guy-Bray is a professor in the English Department at the University of British Columbia. He specialises in Renaissance poetry. He is currently completing a book on poetic paraphrase and an edition of George Peele’s The Old Wives Tale.

This event is sponsored by The Centre for Gender, Sexuality and Writing and The Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (MEMS) at the University of Kent.

Christmas hoodies and chocolate boxes are on promotion at Essentials, on the Canterbury campus, this festive period. View all the deals at the Kent Union website.

We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2015/16 Student Projects Grant Scheme. In January 2015, grants totalling almost £65,000 were made to a range of projects across the University. We are delighted that in the 2015/16 academic year we are able to award £50,000, with individual grants up to a maximum of £5,000.

The Student Projects Grant Scheme is funded by the Kent Opportunity Fund, which supports students by providing scholarships to enhance their academic studies, offering bursaries to assist individuals who are suffering financial hardship, and funding projects that help students to develop their personal and professional skills.

The Student Projects Grant Scheme encourages individuals to bid for funds to run projects that will enhance the student experience and employability of Kent students, offering them the opportunity to hone their skills and gain vital experience outside of the seminar room.

Applications are welcome from student groups in Kent Union, departments, faculties and schools across the University, including our campuses at Canterbury and Medway, our centre in Tonbridge and our European centres in Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome.

Application forms and guidelines can be obtained from the Development Office or downloaded from the Kent Opportunity Fund webpage

Applicants will be notified of their application results by late January. For any enquiries, please contact Eva Chow on 01227 824547 or at W.K.E.Chow@kent.ac.uk.

This Alcohol Awareness Week (16-20 Nov), we are encouraging students to think about their drinking habits and the impact it has on their wellbeing.

Today’s post suggests alcohol-free activity ideas.

As a student, a lot of time is spent in the Library. When you have a break from your studies, going out clubbing seems like the perfect way to enjoy yourself. But clubbing can get boring after a while.

So why not explore the different options? There are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself and de-stress instead of going out and often they are cheaper than clubbing.

We’ve got some great ideas for nights out and even nights in that don’t centre on booze. Get your friends together and give a few a try!

Try a mock-tail

Creating alcohol-free drinks with party appeal is easy. From a Lime Ricky to a Virgin Mary, a real Shirley Temple to a Sparkling Pom Collins you will be spoilt for choice. For recipes and other ideas see the Drinkaware website.

Come dining

A dinner party with friends is a great bonding activity that doesn’t have to be expensive. Try to start a tradition of cooking a nice meal together every Friday night and split the cost. You can do a dinner for £1.50 each, if not less, and it gives you all a chance to catch up.

Occasionally it’s nice to treat yourself by having dinner at a restaurant. Plenty of restaurant chains offer student discount and have vouchers you can download.

Catch a movie

From romance to action, comedy to drama the cinema has it all. So why not be wowed by the latest blockbuster or inspired by an independent arthouse film at your local cinema. Or if you fancy a cosy night in under the duvet there is plenty to choose from at home whether you fancy a movie marathon or a boxset binge.

• Canterbury – Gulbenkian, Odeon and Curzon
• Medway – Odeon

Get active

This is as simple as it sounds. Think of taking up a sport, trying an exercise class or going to a gym. You get to keep fit, meet people and learn something new.

Kent Sport offers a huge programme of sport and recreational opportunities at every sporting level in Canterbury.

If you’re based at Medway, check out Medway Park’s activities and sports.

Enjoy a night out at the theatre

Comedy, drama, music, and dance are some of the fantastic live entertainment available at theatres. With many offering great discounts to students they can be great value too.

• Canterbury – Gulbenkian and Marlowe Theatre
• Medway – Central and Brook Theatres

Pamper yourself

You will find plenty of discount spa days online or why not organise a pamper night at home with your flatmates? You’ll probably feel so relaxed afterwards that you won’t even want to contemplate ruining your Zen with alcohol.

Take up a hobby

Make the most of your time outside of your course by volunteering or joining a society. It’s a great way to make friends, learn something new and share your passion whether that’s musical taste, your faith, a mutual love of art, or just a way of life.

Be a kid

Whether it’s a roller disco or bowling it is great to remember your childhood and indulge in some good old fashioned fun.

See what’s on

You will be amazed at how much is happening at not just the University but in the local area. Special events provide countless great nights out from art to food, sport to history, concerts to festivals, and even spooky ghost tours.

• Canterbury – My Canterbury
• Medway – Visit Medway
• University Events Calendar