Representing a range of culture, academic discipline, and personal interests, we are delighted to showcase this year’s cohort of Global Officers who are taking part in the Global Officers Leadership Development (GOLD) Programme.

Here are the Global Officers Profiles.

The programme is a co-curricular venture, designed to fit around your academic studies.  It provides a framework of activities for globally-minded undergraduate students at Kent to develop their leadership skills, global citizenship and cultural awareness.

So far this year, our Global Officers have explored their own Cultural Intelligence and how they can develop this further; engaged in various virtual exchange projects with students from across the world; participated in inspirational talks offered by our partner universities in addition to playing a key role in future culturally themed WebHangouts.

In addition to their core activity under the programme, Global Officers are available to partner with Kent staff for any divisional, school or departmental projects, events or activities on campus.  Some students are already engaged with International Recruitment on an International Experiences at Kent project as well as working with International Partnerships on supporting its activities relating to the Year Abroad.

“The Programme so far has been excellent, and I’ve been given so many opportunities to develop.  I’m looking forward to managing and organising events myself and engaging with the diverse student body” 

Jordan Pali, first year student, Finance and Investment with a Year in Industry.

If you have an activity that you would like to engage our Global Officers, please get in touch.

Did you know that you can also incorporate the GOLD Programme within your degree programmes by listing it as a wild module option, GOLD500? If your programmes do not allow for this, then students can still take this as an extra-curricular activity; applications for 2021/22 will open in the summer.

For more information about the Programme, please email deaninternational@kent.ac.uk

Despite tighter safety measures in place, the majority of catering outlets at Canterbury remain open for breakfast time treats, delicious lunches, barista coffees, and everything in between.

With the exception of K-Bar, The Street Kitchen and Create, all other units remain open for business, operating a takeaway only service.

Please remember to follow current safety and social distancing procedures when visiting an outlet, to keep yourself and those around you safe. If you would like more detailed information regarding Coronavirus and the University’s catering operations, a full list of FAQs can be found on the catering website.

Below is a list of campus outlets currently open during the national lockdown:

Origins (Darwin College)

• Monday – Friday, 12:00 – 21:00
• Saturday – Sunday, 15:00 – 21:00

Gulbenkian Café Bar (Gulbenkian)

• Monday – Friday, 10:00 – 15:00

Mungo’s (Eliot College)

• Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 14:00, 15:00 – 21:00

Dolche Vita (Keynes College)

• Monday – Friday, 08:30 – 17:00

Sibson Café (Sibson Building)

• Monday – Friday, 08:45 – 15:00

Hut 8 (Turing College)

• Monday – Friday, 12:00 – 22:00
• Saturday – Sunday, 17:00 – 22:00

Bag It (Rutherford College)

• Monday – Friday, 09:30 – 16:00

Rutherford Dining Hall (Rutherford College)

• Monday – Friday
• Lunch 12:00 – 14:00
• Dinner 17:00 – 20:00
• Wok Bar 12:00 – 20:00
• Saturday – Sunday
• Brunch 08:30 – 14:00
• Dinner 17:00 – 20:00

No.1 and The Galvanising Cafe at Medway are currently closed until the new year.

Please note, eat-in arrangements have been made for students on Bed and Bistro or Bed and Flex contracts.

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

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.

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!