Monthly Archives: November 2020

Cogs graphic with images within such as medal and graph

Gaining experience during lockdown

If you are looking to gain some work experience, don’t let lockdown deter you! We have put together a few ways in which you can gain experience and develop your employability skills, many of which can be done remotely.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a rewarding way to gain experience and develop your employability skills. There are numerous charities and organisations looking for help, including remotely. A few of these include:

  • NHS Responder Volunteers
  • Canterbury and Herne Bay Volunteer Centre
  • United Nations Volunteers
  • Translators without Borders
  • Zooniverse – research projects
  • Be My Eyes
  • TechSoup

You can also log your volunteering hours with the Kent Volunteering Scheme!

Virtual Internships

Virtual internships are flexible, online opportunities, where you can undertake remote experience. Many virtual internships exist in areas such as tech, marketing and social media roles. Some employers will give you project work to complete over a period of time, and you may have regular catch-ups with the employer.

Others are more flexible, allowing you to complete them in your own time, such as The Forage, which offers free open-access virtual internships. Great for building your commercial awareness! Opportunities include those in Law, Design, Tech, Investment Management, Banking and more!

Courses

There are lots of online courses you can explore, many of which are free. Whether that be something to complement your degree, or you want to learn something completely new, such as coding, a language or digital marketing. Find these on sites such as Coursera, The Open University and Future Learn.

We also offer free courses through Study Plus. We have a variety of online workshops, bookable online, covering a range of topics including: meditation, resilience, project management and photography!

You are not only learning something new, but having this on your CV will show your professional development outside of your degree.

View more resources for gaining experience, on our How to develop your skills at home guide.

You can also access the guide, plus all of our other resources and slides on our Moodle page: DP4450.

Laptop on top of table beside a vase of flowers

Care first webinars w/c 16 November 2020

Our official Employee Assistance Programme provider, Care first offers a numbers of services and provide useful advice and support, including weekly webinars.

This week’s (Monday 16 November – Friday 20 November) webinars are as follows:

Monday 16 November 2020 –  ‘How Care first can support you’
Time: 12.30-13.00 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link.

Tuesday 17 November 2020 – ‘Nurturing relationships during Lockdown’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Wednesday 18 November 2020 –  ‘Information for MHFA’s, Mental Health Champions & Managers on supporting teams during Lockdown’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Thursday 19 November 2020 – ‘Men’s Health Awareness in line with ‘Movember’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Friday 20 November 2020 – ‘Building resilience during lockdown’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Things you can do during lockdown 2:0

To help you through lockdown 2:0 we have organised a series of online events.

Whether you want to develop your CV, try something new or explore local parkland – there is something for everyone!

As well as a programme of events our support services are still available – so please get in touch if you have any questions or need some help.

Please remember – you can still go out for exercise as often as you like, either by yourself, with your household or with one other person from a different household. Read our explanation of the new lockdown rules for details.

We are here to support you and we will get through this together!

Look after your wellbeing

There’s a lot going on in the world at the moment, and students are being faced with challenges not yet seen before, which might make you more vulnerable to feeling anxious, depressed or just low.

Whether or not you have struggled in the past with mental health issues, take a bit of time to actively focus on your wellbeing and remember that whatever you’re going through, support is available at Kent.

View wellbeing support and events at Kent

Develop your CV

Our Careers Advisers have developed a Moodle Module to help you develop your skills at home and will be sharing advice on how to gain experience and prepare applications.

They have also organised a series of employability events for lockdown.

Read careers advice for lockdown

Get crafty

With Christmas around the corner, why not try making some handmade gifts? Student Support and Wellbeing have subsidised some art kits for students during lockdown. You can pick up an art kit for just £4.50 (instead of £10) by 18 November 2020.

Find out how to get an art kit

Studying during lockdown

Studying and keeping focus during lockdown can be challenging. Our Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) offers free one-to-one appointments and are running a whole series of online workshops.

Find out more on the SLAS webpages.

Let’s make music

We are asking all our students, staff, and alumni musicians to record a piece of music in isolation and submit to our Virtual Music Project. Our Music Department will then build it into a festive virtual performance for Christmas.

Find out more on the Facebook page.

Explore Kent’s scenic walks

One of the perks of living and studying in Kent is access to lots of outdoor space. From beaches to scenic parks and historic buildings, this county has it all!

During this lockdown you can meet one other person from a different household for a walk with a coffee or you could go as a household.

Get outdoors this lockdown by exploring some of these walking routes

Bond with housemates

During lockdown you can still socialise as a household. Kent student Rowena has shared some fun things you can do with your housemates during lockdown.

Try Kent Sport’s online workouts

Kent Sport has created a range of online workouts for you to try at home.

Have a go at Kent Sport’s free online workouts

Photo by Rebecca Grant on Unsplash

Care first Zest Wellbeing Resource poster

Care first ZEST Wellbeing Resource

Care first ZEST is a Wellbeing Resource which is part of the Employee Assistance Programme package provided by Sodexho/Care first.  It is open to all staff.  It is the same resource package that was available previously via the University of Kent Wellbeing Hub.

The resource allows you to self-assess your health in 12 areas by answering a series of simple questions.  You can then set goals to improve your scores in the areas where you might be weaker.  You can access exercise regimes and dietary advice through the programme using various tools, for example, a food diary.  You can even link up with friends using the same resource and form buddy groups.  You can use these for diet and exercise challenges.  And you can link up exercise and movement apps, like Fitbit and Strava, to the Zest system as well.

One of the great features of the Zest Wellbeing Resource is that it has lots of articles on all elements of health and wellbeing.  There is something there for everyone.

To access the resource please visit the Care first zest website.  You can use the Organisation Code –  SODEXO01 and then register using your own details and set up your own password.

 

Woman holding maple leaf to camera during the daytime

The second lockdown: The importance of the long lunchbreak

Article from Brenda Brunsdon, Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team Manager:

How did you feel last Saturday night when the Prime Minister announced the Second National Lockdown?  I was surprised by just how annoyed and dispirited I felt.  My life is structured well to deal with the challenges the coronavirus crisis represents but I know that many people face far greater pressures and adverse factors.  I am sure that the month long lockdown ahead is hanging over many people and weighing them down.

How can you best approach the new lockdown?  Pretty much in the same way as the last: try and keep some structure to your day; ensure that you don’t let work invade your personal space and time; keep up communications with friends and family as best you can; keep getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine; keep being active and exercising; don’t turn to self-medication by increasing the food, nicotine or alcohol intake; be kind to yourself and others in terms of expectations; don’t fret over what you can’t control.  Try reframing any despondent thoughts you might have.  Instead of thinking ‘It’s a whole, long month’, try ‘It’s only for one month’.

The Government is encouraging us to work from home as much as possible.  Many of us have remained working that way since the first lockdown started.  Working from home gives us flexibility.  There are doctors and health experts who are specifically encouraging us to take a longer lunch break so we can get out for fresh air and exercise in the middle of the day.  With the shorter days that late autumn brings, it’s more difficult to go out after dark and feel safe.  That is why the longer lunch break is such a good idea throughout this second lockdown.  It might not be possible every day, due to either work commitments or the weather, but it’s still possible to make it a priority, whenever possible.  Sunshine gives us that all important vitamin D; exercise is good for physical and mental health; a break in the working day is researched to increase creativity and productivity; it will help against symptoms associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder.  These are all excellent reasons to work flexibly and get out and exercise in the middle of the day.  It doesn’t have to be highly strenuous; a good walk will do.  It’s surprising how quickly you build up your stamina.

There is research published by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) which found that most people (64% of those researched) are coping well with the coronavirus crisis, including the need to lockdown.  You can read the full detail in the link below; it is a very interesting report.   It does, however, highlight that people with a pre-existing mental health problem have been less likely to cope well the demands of the coronavirus crisis.

If you are struggling from a mental health perspective, remember all the support put in place for staff by the University.  This link will take you to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP); details to log on are USERNAME: uokent |PASSWORD: university; the Freephone number for the service is 0808 168 2143.  If your home issues are impacting on your ability to work then discuss with your manager or contact HR or OH.  Corporate Comms publish the EAP’s webinar schedules each week.  All of these, for current and previous weeks, can be found on the University’s Staff Health and Wellbeing website; this also has physical and mental health information including past blog posts.

Useful links

‘Resilience across the UK during the coronavirus pandemic’: assessment of the research, ‘Coronavirus: mental health in the pandemic,’, led by the MHF in collaboration with University of Cambridge, Swansea University, the University of Strathclyde and Queen’s University Belfast

‘How to look after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak’ on MHF website

‘Facing a winter during the coronavirus pandemic’ on MHF website

‘UK employers told to allow for ‘hugely beneficial’ long lunch break to cope with lockdown’; by Aurora Bosotti on express.co.uk

‘7 ways to support your mental health during lockdown’ on mentalmovement.co.uk

‘”This too shall pass”: Mental health tips for lockdown two’; on shropshirestar.com

‘Lockdown in the dark brings so many new fears and challenges’; by Megan Murray on stylist.co.uk

‘Pandemic, Lockdown & Mental Health and Wellbeing’ by Tina Abena Oforiwa on YouTube.  This is a longer clip than I use but it is very accessible, articulate and comprehensive.  So, for those who prefer watching a video to reading an article, it could be very helpful!

Kent logo

Response to Government end of term announcement

From Professor Richard Reece, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience:

As you will no doubt be aware, the Department for Education has announced its plans to bring students safely home for Christmas. The guidance, released earlier today, makes it clear that you will still be need to remain in lockdown until 2 December. The following week – 3-9 December – has been designated as the ‘Student Travel Window’ and the Government has requested that we, like all universities, develop a plan to enable students to have staggered departure dates.

The Government also requires all teaching to be online from 9 December at the latest.

I appreciate today’s announcement by the Government may cause you some concern. Please be assured that we are now looking at this latest guidance to assess how it impacts on our existing plans for this term, including assessments that may be due between now and the end of term, and will issue further updates over the next few days.

We will continue to update our online guidance for students in response to the latest guidance from the Government.

I would also like to reassure you that the health and wellbeing of our students and staff remain our key priority and will inform all our decision-making in response to this latest guidance.

In the meantime, until you hear otherwise, please continue to attend your face-to-face and online learning sessions where you are expected. If non-attendance has not been approved, it will have an impact on your attendance record and learning outcomes. If you cannot attend a teaching session on campus, you must notify your school as soon as possible.

We are committed to supporting you during this challenging time and we are here to support and advise you. If you have any concerns and wish to speak to someone please call Student Support and Wellbeing on 01227 823158, email CovidSupport@kent.ac.uk or ring the University Nursing Service on 01227 823503.

My very best wishes to you and your family.

Richard

Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

 

Kent logo

Response to Government end of term announcement

As you will no doubt be aware, the Department for Education has announced its plans to bring students safely home for Christmas. The guidance, released earlier today, makes it clear that students are required to follow current national restrictions until 2 December, with 3-9 December being designated as the ‘Student Travel Window’ with staggered departure dates.  The Government also requires all teaching to be online from 9 December at the latest.

We are now looking at this guidance in detail to assess how it impacts on our existing plans for this term and will issue further updates over the next few days.

We will also continue to update our online guidance for staff and students in response to the latest guidance from the Government.

We have also written to students to let them know of our current position, and to remind them that they need to continue to comply with the current lockdown restrictions and to continue to attend face-to-face and online learning sessions until they hear otherwise.

Please be assured that the health and wellbeing of our students and staff remain our key priority and will inform all our decision-making in response to this latest guidance.

Thank you for your continuing support at this challenging time,

Karen

Professor Karen Cox | Vice-Chancellor and President

Multicoloured pencils joined to make a circle

Lockdown: Study Plus free online events and workshops

During lockdown, why not make the most of all the online Study Plus and Careers events? Develop your skills and meet others with similar interests.

Session include Photography, Editing and Proofreading and Resolving Conflict.

Wednesday 11 November 14.00-15.30 – Introduction to Project Management 

Projects are happening all around us and in the workplace it is likely that you will find yourself either involved in a project or managing one.

The aim of this course is to share some tools and approaches that will help you set-up and deliver your project successfully.

Saturday 14 November – 10.00-14.00 – Emergency First Aid 

An introduction to Emergency first aid. This will be a 4 hour event.
Please note we have limited spaces available so book soon to avoid missing out!

To promote the concept of continuous personal development, positive curiosity, and resilience to succeed.

  • What is a growth mindset
  • Fixed mindset v Growth Mindset – 5 key areas
  • The power of ‘yet’
  • The role of feedback
  • Define what it is and why it is important
  • Common barriers to good time management
  • Understand different types of time management issues, strategies, techniques and tools to address these.
  • Know what their own time management issues are
  • Leave with practical plan specific to their needs

We are living in exceptional times. Lockdown took us all surprise and for many of us it meant reimagining the way we work and manage our lives. But as we ease into this ‘new normal’ what are we doing to ensure that our approaches are as inclusive and emotionally intelligent as possible? You are graduating into a world that is more digital and global than ever before, and this session has been created to give you space to think about your role in making that space accessible and safe for you, and others. This session covers:

  • Why does being inclusive matter: the ethical and business case
  • Power and Privilege and its impact on our working lives
  • The Equality Act 2010 and the legal context
  • Harm reduction: action planning and behavioural changes

No matter who you are, if you interact with people there are bound to be times when we are required to have difficult conversations. Most people would rather not have the conversation, will try to avoid it if possible or hope it goes away, or sometimes we may address the situation ineffectively and potentially make it worse. This course is designed to give you the skills and confidence you need to have those challenging conversations in an effective way.

By attending this course, you will learn:

  • the common reasons why we avoid having difficult conversations
  • principles that will help you get the best out of challenging situations
  • understand common motivations with challenging behaviour
  • how to be assertive

Many organisations now expect all employees to help write quality web content. These skills are a great asset to any company and your career, whatever your academic background and job role.

Whether writing web pages, a corporate blog or helping to build a social media campaign, this session will give you the basics for writing compelling online content. It is highly interactive including group discussion and practical exercises.

During this taster course you will:

  1. Be provided with tools to help you identify your core values, i.e. what matters to you.
  2. Experience increased clarity as to your core values and feel more connected to your own potential and deeper sense of purpose.
  3. Be provided with tools to build self-confidence and curiosity to approach experiences and feedback from a positive and constructive angle.

Learning Outcomes:

  • How you can use the rule of thirds to compose your images
  • How to use layering and  negative space in your images
  • When to change the aperture on your images

The focus of this session the focus will be around language, phrasing, championing and challenging. We will share best practice models, research and advice to ensure attendees feel confident to talk about Equality and Identity in an inclusive and thoughtful way. In the workshop we will explore:

  • Can I say that? Looking at current news stories and challenges
  • Exploring what we mean by ‘tone of voice’ in organisations
  • Guiding principles and best practice
  • Weaponised language and reclaimed words
  • Surgery session

This 2-hour workshop course will provide you with useful communication and leadership skills that will enhance your ability to build relationships and gain respect.

By attending this workshop, you will learn:

  • practical skills to build your confidence when communicating both personally and professionally
  • how to communicate like an influential leader
  • what is needed to build rapport.

Editing and proofreading are transferable skills that will be valued in any job role. At work, you will need to check your own emails and reports. Your employer may also ask you to check other people’s work as part of your role. This session will give you the skills, tools and resources to check written work effectively. It is highly interactive including group discussion and practical exercises.

By the end of the session, participants will have:

  • Understood the need to manage yourself, the team, and the task!
  • Examined their own personality style and therefore how they may manage
  • Explored Problem Solving and Decision-Making tools.
During the second part of this taster course, you will explore how your key values from part 1 are crucial to your chosen career and how to approach your careers and job search from a place of creativity, authenticity and possibility.

Check our Target Connect to see all the Study Plus and careers events on offer. 

Two Kent Sport staff members in PPE standing next to physiotherapy clinic poster

Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic remains open

Although sport and fitness facilities are currently closed during the national lockdown, the Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic remains open for essential services. We are currently offering face-to-face physiotherapy and some referral appointments, including exercise and occupational health referrals. Our staff follow the latest guidance on safety and are fully prepared to see you in a Covid-secure environment.

You’ll also be able to book an online consultation with Vicky Annis, the Clinic Manager, if you’re not able to make it to the Sports Centre. Each session lasts approximately 20 minutes, and you can choose from a variety of online methods including Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, or a simple phone call.

“I just wanted to say a big thank you for taking the time to see me and advise me on what I might do to reduce the discomfort in my back. And also, thank you for these fantastic links! I’m so much better now and regularly stretch whilst working from home.”

Sameena

See our Frequently Asked Questions for information on booking, clinic hours and safety measures.

 

Be kind written in coloured chalk on a chalkboard

Top 10 ways to be kind to yourself and others!

Being kind to yourself and others is something we should all practise and a message that’s even more important during the current pandemic and lockdown.

World Kindness Day is celebrated annually on 13 November (Friday 13 November this year), and is marked by good deeds and pledging acts of kindness to make the world a better place. In the UK, Kindness Day UK was launched in 2010 and is organised by Kindness UK, a not-for-profit organisation.

If you wish to take part, you can pledge a good deed or share your acts of kindness on the Kindness UK website.

Here are some suggestions on how you can show kindness during lockdown (and remember being kind is not just for the day, but always):

1. Thank a colleague for their work by using the ‘Praise’ button on Microsoft Teams or sending a ‘thank you’ email to a staff member who deserves recognition.

2. Invite your friends list to ‘like’ the page of a local business to help it grow.

3. Write a LinkedIn recommendation for a co-worker or a connection.

4. Drop a note into an elderly neighbour to ask them if they need anything.

5. When working, be kind to yourself by taking well-deserved breaks away from the computer screen.

6. Organise a surprise virtual get-together for someone who’s going through a rough time.

7. Clear out your old clothes ready to take to a charity shop. If you don’t need it, give it!

8. Take time to check in with a friend you haven’t spoken to for a while.

9. Always say thank you – even for the small things that people do for you.

10. Take some time for yourself! Be sure to set some time aside in the week to do something you enjoy, even if it’s for 10 minutes!

 Share your ideas on how to show kindness to yourself and others with us at stories@kent.ac.uk