The Covid-19 webinars from Care First continue the week commencing Monday 20 July. Please see below for the schedule and where you need to register.

Monday 20 July 2020 –  ‘  ‘Mindfulness: how practicing mindfulness can help during the Coronavirus Pandemic’

Time: 14.00 – 15.00 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Tuesday 21 July 2020 – ‘Health At Work Centre on ‘How to build healthier habits beyond lockdown’

Time: 11.00 – 12.00 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Wednesday 22 July 2020 – ‘‘The science behind social distancing’

Time: 11.00 – 11.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Thursday 23 July 2020 – ”Travelling Safely after COVID-19′

Time: 14.00 – 14.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Friday 24 July 2020 – ‘Lizzie Marlow on ‘How PayPlan and Care first support people with debt’

Time: 12.00 – 13.00 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Blog written by Chris Morrison, Copyright, Licensing & Policy Manager…

I am delighted to announce the launch of the University of Kent Copyright Literacy Strategy 2020. As mentioned in previous posts this has been a collaborative effort involving University staff, students and peers across the sector and beyond.

The strategy is aligned with the University’s 2025 strategy and sets out a vision that by 2025 people working and studying at Kent will feel confident in making informed decisions about using copyright material and will understand the role copyright plays in innovation and creation of new knowledge.

Copyright issues have become particularly pressing as we have responded to the pandemic by shifting our work online as we never have before. It is now particularly important to understand the implications of copyright law and licences when sharing the work of others, and how to communicate the work we create whilst at the University.

I am very pleased that Professor Richard Reece, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Experience, has agreed to be the senior academic champion for the strategy. Richard says:

“The launch of the University of Kent Copyright Literacy Strategy represents a milestone. Across the sector, there is a deal of confusion among both students and academics as to precisely what can be done for teaching and other purposes with material produced by others. The Strategy aims to clarify this and provide support and other services to enable staff and students to move forward with confidence. By confronting copyright issues head-on, University of Kent is at the forefront of the sector and will enable the institution to respond more appropriately to the current pandemic and beyond.”

The strategy sets out a number of key values related to copyright. It clarifies that staff and students should act responsibly, but also be able to question assumptions about copyright. The strategy confirms Kent’s commitment to supporting its staff make informed decisions and we have just published entirely new copyright guidance that addresses the main areas that we come across at the University.

I’m looking forward to convening the steering group for the strategy which Richard Reece will be chairing, as well as developing our network of people whose roles involve advising on aspects of copyright law.

If you have any thoughts relating to the strategy, or you’d like to get involved in our work please get in touch: email copyright@kent.ac.uk

Assistant Housekeeping Manager Liz Ralph was the latest PRIDE Award Winner last month as she was nominated for producing numerous face masks during the early stages of lockdown.

Throughout lockdown, a skeleton Hospitality housekeeping team have continued working on campus to complete essential cleaning services, and it was when supply chain problems and an NHS shortage occurred early on, that Liz stepped in to produce hundreds of colourful, practical and reusable face coverings for the team still working on campus and beyond.

Describing her dedication, an extract from Liz’s nomination read: “she would often work late into the evening in her own time and cost to produce these much needed face masks for our essential housekeeping staff and deliver them on-site until an alternative supplier could be sourced, […] on top of this Liz made additional masks which she delivered to the vulnerable areas in her local community.”

We are sure that there are more of our staff going above and beyond, so if you know of any Kent Hospitality staff member from either the Canterbury or Medway campus it is easy to nominate them for a PRIDE Award. Just submit a nomination via the PRIDE website by completing our online form.

The award is given in March, June, September/October and December with each winner receiving £100 of shopping vouchers, a certificate and a PRIDE Award pin badge.

The closing date for the next PRIDE Award is currently Wednesday 16 September 2020 at 12.00.

The Covid-19 webinars from Care First continue this week. Please see below for the schedule and where you need to register.

Monday 13 July 2020 –  ‘How to be a good business  Leader post lockdown’

Time: 11.00 – 11.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Tuesday 14 July 2020 – ‘The anxiety of fake news’

Time: 12.00 – 12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Wednesday 15 July 2020 – ‘Managing stress in uncertain Times’

Time: 14.00 – 14.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Thursday 16 July 2020 – ‘Communication: The Importance of Listening’

Time: 15.00 – 15.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Friday 17 July 2020 – ‘How to manage change’

Time: 14.00 – 15.00 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

We asked you to share your favourite reads with us. Thank you to everyone who sent in their recommendations. Here are the ten books recommended by colleagues:

1. The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud by Ben Sherwood

Recommended by Krystal Allsopp (Accounts Assistant in Hospitality Finance)

Krystal says: ‘It grabs you from the first page and pulls you in, taking you on a journey that will stay with you long after you’ve closed it.’

2. ‘A Small, Good Thing’ by Raymond Carver, a short story from Where I’m Calling From

Recommended by Natasha Moulton (Senior Library Assistant in Academic Liaison Services)

Natasha says: ‘I love this story because it beautifully illustrates the depth of emotion and ultimate kindness that is present in all of us.’

3. The Corduroy Mansions series by Alexander McCall Smith

Recommended by Melissa Mulhall (Assistant Director in Education & Student Experience)

Melissa says: ‘I adore all McCall Smith’s books, the stories and lives of his rich characters. This one stands out due to the affinity between humans and their pets – namely, a dog called Freddie de la Hay.’

4. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Recommended by Brenda Brunsdon (Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team Manager)

Brenda says: ‘I love books that focus on the mystery of time and this is probably the best I’ve read.  Any book that connects you with the characters so much it makes you cry has to be special, and I sobbed at the end of this one!’

5. PopCo by Scarlett Thomas (Professor of Creative Writing and Contemporary Fiction at Kent)

Recommended by Catherine Morris (Environmental Adviser)

Catherine says: ‘PopCo manages to combine mystery and the world of children’s toy invention and satisfies my inner geek with interesting explanations of basic cryptography.’

6. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Recommended by Daniel Harding (Deputy Director of Music)

Daniel says: ‘No film or television adaptation can capture its seasonal magic, and no Christmas is complete without Dickens’ literary present to the world.’

7. Normal people by Sally Rooney

Recommended by Olivia Miller (Press & Public Relations Officer)

 Olivia says: ‘I read this modern-day romantic novel before it became a phenomenon and it’s an emotional rollercoaster, prompting feelings of nostalgia, comfort, frustration and heartbreak – sometimes all at the same time!’

8. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Recommended by Jonathan Thirwell (UX Developer)

 Jonathan says: ‘It’s a coming-of-age story about survival and fighting prejudice as apartheid rises in South Africa. It’s a fantastic read, with brilliant characters and is relevant for our current times.’

9. Witches Abroad by Terry Prachett

Recommended by Nicola Baldwin (Marketing Assistant in Hospitality)

Nicola says: ‘Pratchett’s books are always funny and insightful, but this is the book I always come back to for a good reread.’

10. Wonderland Avenue by Danny Sugerman

Recommended by Ben Watson (Accessible Information Adviser)

Ben says: ‘An absolute riot of excess, disfunction and wilfulness, it epitomises many rock and roll platitudes. You could sum up Sugerman’s philosophy in the words of Viv Savage from Spinal Tap: ‘Have a good time all the time’.’

Keeping sending your ideas for other ‘Top 10’ features to: stories@kent.ac.uk

Dr Dieter Declercq, Lecturer in Film and Media Studies, will be running a webinar in partnership with Kent Innovation and Enterprise entitled ‘Stories, Wellbeing and Business: Finding Meaning in Covid-19 Disruption’ on Friday 17 July at 10.00.

Dieter’s webinar is part of the University of Kent’s Covid-19 Business Recovery Response Webinar Series.

What story is your business going to tell about COVID-19? And why tell a story about it? The COVID-19 crisis presents an unprecedented disruption to our personal and professional wellbeing.

This webinar will explore how stories and narrative art offer strategies to manage wellbeing by making sense of crisis. ‘Stories, Wellbeing and Business’ will explore coping strategies for dealing with profound disruption, and will also investigate how we can harness this disruptive moment to re-examine ambitions moving forward. The arts may not outline ready-made solutions, but they do offer valuable strategies for reflection and creativity in times of uncertainty.

This two-and-a-half hour webinar will include a 30 minute Q&A, and a 30 minute networking session where delegates will be able to dive deeper into the topics raised.

The webinar is open to all and free of charge. Participants can register for the webinar on Eventbrite

Further information about the webinar is available in an interview with Dieter on Kent Innovation and Enterprise’s YouTube channel.

The Covid- 19 webinars from Care First continue this week. Please see below for the schedule and where you need to go to sign up.

John Lovell died on Thursday 25 of June in his home at Blean, not long after his 80th birthday.  He had spent his entire career, from 1967 to 1996, at the University of Kent. John was esteemed nationally and internationally as a researcher in his specialist field, trade union history, and an approachable and devoted teacher of economic and social history.

He was also an exceptional and selfless servant of the University, acting at various times as  Chair of the then AUT, Senior Tutor in the Social Science Faculty, and Deputy Master of Eliot as well as being the moving spirit behind the establishment of the University’s Industrial Relations degrees.

Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic online consultations continue to be highly successful and have curved their way through the obstacles created by the pandemic to remain open – virtually.

They’ve been able to adjust the way they approach assessments of functional movements, joint range of movement(s) such as squatting technique corrections and have found the production of online videos to show specific movements has been highly effective. Many have been increasing their running or getting involved in virtual fitness classes, but found themselves getting niggles. The consultations have been great to speak to people and look at their techniques and movements then discuss exercises to help combat the symptoms.

They’re extremely proud of what they’ve achieved and, to date, have been able to reach out and provide more than 150 free initial consultations with clients kindly donating to the NHS Charities.

They will continue to provide free initial consultations and hope to be able to provide face-to-face consultations, with a triage system, in the near future to add the manual therapy treatments which they know many will benefit from and make those next steps towards their goals. This may be the lingering neck pain, back pain or perhaps shoulder pain where exercises have been completed daily as recommended with significant improvements already gained.

“I have recently taken advantage of the free online consultations that are available through Kent Sport Physiotherapy clinic. Although I was unsure whether Vicky would be able to help me online, she diagnosed my problem almost straight away during our first Zoom meeting. She then sent me some exercises which I have been doing daily and which have been helping to reduce the pain I was in. Vicky has also given me a follow up consultation just to check that the exercises are working. It has been really good to know exactly what was causing my pain and to be able to talk to someone so knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you Vicky for all your help!” – Susan Grimer, Library Assistant

So far, they’ve been able to reach out to 32 members of University of Kent staff, who have not been to the clinic before and provide professional physiotherapy advice to them. This number does not include the many staff members who have visited the clinic before lockdown and continue to have contact.

The testimonials from staff members has been incredible and they thank you for your feedback.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the clinic via email: physio@kent.ac.uk.

Find out more about Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic by visiting their website and like them on Facebook. Please consider showing your support by donating to the NHS charities.