For many of us, 2022 has been another challenging year.  Workloads have remained high and we have all had to work hard to get used to new systems, new structures and our new post-pandemic normal.

In recognition of these challenges, the extraordinary efforts of colleagues across the University and the impact on staff wellbeing, Wednesday 21 December will be treated as a respite day and so the Christmas closure will begin on 21 December, with the University re-opening on Tuesday 3 January 2023.

Colleagues who have already booked leave for this day should cancel this via Staff Connect. Part-time staff who do not normally work on Wednesdays, those rostered to be on shift and staff in front-line roles who are required to work on this day should make alternative arrangements to take equivalent time off prior to 1 February 2023 in discussion with their line manager.

Annual Leave

We understand it’s often been difficult to take annual leave again this year, so as an exception to normal arrangements, all staff may carry forward up to 10 days leave (pro-rata) from their 2022 allocation into 2023.  Where this applies this will happen automatically via Staff Connect.  Any leave carried forward must be used by the end of July 2023.

Any exceptional carry-over of annual leave from 2020 and 2021 that has not yet been used will also be carried over automatically.

We continue to encourage all staff to take their annual leave regularly across the year to help maintain a reasonable work-life balance.

Winter can often be a challenge. Short days, limited daylight and cold days can all play a part in lowering our mood. Alongside this, Christmas is just around the corner. For many of us, Christmas will be a time for us to relax, enjoy ourselves and have a positive effect on wellbeing. However, for some, Christmas is a time of financial stress, family problems and feelings of loneliness.

If you find yourself affected by any of the issues outlined above, you can access support 24 hours a day through the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). This scheme is managed by Sodexho/Care first and provides easy access to expert help with both workplace and personal issues. You can phone Care first/Sodexho, free of charge, on 0808 168 2143 and get free and confidential advice from an information specialist or accredited counsellor. You may prefer to access services through their website. To log-in, use the username: uokent and the password: university. Their website contains information on a host of subjects relevant to how we live our lives and the challenges we face. There is even an AI interaction available for those who are drawn to technology.  

They also offer weekly webinars on topics such as how Care First can support you and grief awareness. Here’s the schedule for next week: 2022 Weekly Publicity Calendar – 5th December 2022.docx

The EAP is not just for Christmas and New Year; it’s there any time you need help; contact details are exactly the same. Please, keep this information handy so it is there if you need it. 

Brenda Brunsdon, Health and Wellbeing Manager

6 December 10.30-13.00: Medway Staff Forum and Christmas Social

Please join us for an end-of-term event on Tuesday 6 December:

Medway Staff Forum (M1-22) 10.30-11.30

An opportunity to receive updates and ask questions about the strategic direction for the University and the Medway campus.

Led by Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Strategy Planning and Performance, and Dr William Collier, Strategic Lead for Medway.

Christmas Social (Oasis Lounge) 11.30-13.00

A festive buffet, Christmas tunes and the chance to catch-up with colleagues.

If you would like to attend, please register using this form.

We hope to see you there!

6 December 17.00-18.00: Carols on Campus in the Touchdown Cafe, Rowan Williams Building.

Come along and join us for an evening of carol singing on the Medway campus. Refreshments will be served from 16.30. For more information email medwayinternationals@gmail.com

13 December 11.00-13.00: Staff Coffee break in the Oasis Lounge, Rochester Building

To mark World AIDS Day on 1 December, we are fundraising for the Terrence Higgins Trust.

Working to end the HIV/AIDS crisis

World AIDS Day is a time to come together to remember those lost to HIV/AIDS, and to work together to end the global HIV/AIDS crisis. Remember that if you are sexually active, you can protect yourself and others by using protection, including PrEP. It’s also important to get tested regularly, share your test results with your sexual partners, and where possible ask them for their test results. HIV-positive people can go on to lead healthy, happy lives, but it’s important to catch an infection early on to maximise the efficacy of treatment.

We must also campaign for fair distribution of PrEP and other preventatives, as well as sex education, not only within the UK but also to the Global South – more than a million adults and children die of AIDS each year on the African continent alone. Western governments and corporations control much of the supply of HIV-preventatives, and as citizens it is our responsibility to push to redistribute these more fairly.

How to donate

Terrence Higgins Trust are the UK’s leading HIV and Sexual Health charity. They support people living with HIV and amplify their voices, with the aim of destigmatising sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS in particular.

On Thursday 1 December, it will be 40 years since the first case of HIV/AIDS in the UK. We will be taking the time to remember all those who were lost in the epidemic. If you’d like to wear a red ribbon to show your support, you can find these in Nexus, located in the Templeman Library, available for a small donation either in cash, online or via phone:

Text RIBBON1 to 70580 to donate £1

Text RIBBON5 to 70580 to donate £5

We have now launched our Emergency Support Fund in response to the cost-of-living crisis. This fund aids staff facing a short-term, emergency cash flow problem. The fund is intended as a safety net and is not designed to help staff facing long-term financial problems.

Staff can now apply for a one-off grant by completing an application form, which will be sent to the HR Reward team. Send any questions to emergencysupportfund@kent.ac.uk and one of the team will get back to you. Please note, all enquiries will be handled in confidence.

Important FAQ’s

What qualifies as a short-term financial problem?

There is no set list of situations, however, the fund is to help purchase essential products or services that have arisen from an unexpected situation. For example, you travel to work in your car but it has broken down and you don’t have the immediate funds to cover the cost of repairs.

Who is eligible?

To qualify, staff must:

• Have been in employment at the University for at least 6 months
• Have no received a grant from the fund in the last year

How much help can I get from the fund?

A net of £500 maximum on one occasion. The amount provided to an employee will be at the discretion of the panel as will the method of payment e.g. cash or voucher

What information is required when I apply?

• How much money you need and a breakdown of these costs
• Information detailing the unforeseen circumstances
• A declaration that you do not have the funds to cover these costs
• A receipt if the goods or services have already been purchased or an estimate/formal quote

Who will decide the outcome of the application?

A panel comprising of the Reward and Recognition Manager, a representative from Finance and an employee representative.

See the HR webpage for further information and FAQ’s

Join Professor Matt Johnson, Director of Research and Innovation at the University of Sheffield on Tuesday 29th November 2022 in SLT1 at 1pm for his lecture Light for Life. 

Professor Matt Johnson will explain how plants harness the extraordinary power of the sun through photosynthesis and use it to weave life out of thin air and water. He will discuss how photosynthesis has shaped our world and will emphasise how humankind urgently needs to learn its inner workings if we are to successfully feed a growing population, estimated to reach 10 billion by 2050. Whilst simultaneously reducing CO2 emissions and increasing the generation of renewable energy.

Incorporating his own research, Professor Matt Johnson will highlight the great strides made in recent years in understanding photosynthesis by observing the photosynthetic machinery at work. He tells the story of how we are using this knowledge to grow bigger, healthier crops and even showing we are not alone in the universe.

www.sheffield.ac.uk/photosynthesis

For further information please contact Prof Martin Warren, School of Biosciences, University of Kent m.j.warren@kent.ac.uk