An animation made by four students from the School of Engineering and Digital Arts (EDA) documenting issues with mental health treatment has led to an apology from the CEO of the NHS Trust involved and a promise to improve services.

The video tells the story of Sophie, who suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder, and details her experiences with mental health services in the UK, as part of a project for Mental Health Awareness Week.

It was published online on the BBC and was viewed hundreds of thousands of times, including by Helen Greatorex, the chief executive of Kent and Medway Partnership Trust.

She said that on watching the film she felt compelled to apologise for the treatment Sophie had received by writing a letter promising things would change.

The video was produced by four final year students, three from the BA in Digital Arts, Sophia Ppali, Roan Caulfield and Rhianna Taylor and one from the BSc in Multimedia Technology and Design, Samantha Body.

Read the full story here.

Children can have fun at action-packed, multi-sports camps at the University of Kent this summer.

Kent sport will be running SummerZone sports camps for children aged five to 14, which will run on weekdays from 7 to 11 and 14 to 18 August, 09.00 to 15.00 with late pick-ups available.

Available to book from 1 June to 21 July and University of Kent staff can benefit from a discounted rate.

SummerZone offers a wide range of activities from skills-based sessions to fitness activities and sports-specific coaching, each led by qualified coaches and supervisors. This year’s sports include cricket, football, hockey, tag rugby and tennis.

Find out more information including staff discounts and how to book.

Booking is now open for the Athena SWAN Awareness Day, taking place from 10.00 to 15.30 on 21 June at Sibson, Canterbury Campus.

This event is for staff and students who are involved in, or interested in being involved in, the University’s work for creating an inclusive work environment for everyone.

The highlight is an external speaker we are privileged to have at our event; Professor Sara Mole from the UCL, who is going to share her department’s story from Bronze to Gold.

What is Athena SWAN?

“Recognising advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all.” ECU’s Athena SWAN Charter

The charter, which launched in June 2005, was first implemented to advance the representation of women in science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics (STEMM). In 2015, the charter was expanded to also include arts, humanities, social science, business and law (AHSSBL) disciplines as well as professional and support roles, and for trans staff and students. The charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.

Find out more about Athena SWAN and the awareness day.

Next year will see the introduction of new legislation relating to data protection. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force in May 2018 and will replace the Data Protection Act 1998.The new legislation seeks to strengthen the rights of all EU citizens in an increasingly digital environment and to facilitate business by simplifying rules for companies.

Despite Brexit, the UK will still have to comply with the legislation. For the most part, GDPR requirements will be the same as under current data protection legislation. However, there is a new focus on accountability and the ability to prove that personal data is being protected throughout its lifecycle. Failure to comply with the new requirements will result in significant penalties, far greater than those currently incurred under the Data Protection Act.

Work is underway at the University to prepare for the new legislation. In the meantime, please complete the data protection online training module, if you have not done so already. This is mandatory for all members of staff. You can also find out more about data breach here https://www.kent.ac.uk/infocompliance/dp/staff-info/data-breach.html

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The University has launched a new 24/7 security service at the Medway campus. The new security team will be patrolling the Pembroke and dockyard sites to keep our students, staff and visitors safe.

The team will be based in the Medway building and can be contacted at any time on the phone numbers below.

Emergencies:

• 3333 (if dialling from a University landline)
• 01227 823333 (if dialling from a mobile or external landline)

General enquiries:

• 3300 (if dialling from a University landline)
• 01227 823300 (if dialling from a mobile or external landline)

The team will be working closely with other security teams from Greenwich University, Canterbury Christ Church University and Historic Dockyard, Chatham to provide a quality security service that meets the needs of our communities.

And don’t forget that the SafeZone App is available and can be used to contact the team for both security and first aid emergencies saving the need to remember or dial any phone numbers. Please see the SafeZone webpage for more details.

The Security Supervisor, Mick Miles, is available Monday to Friday during the day at the Medway building (next to reception) to answer any queries you may have about the security service at the Medway campus.

We are looking for volunteers to help with a variety of duties at this July’s graduation ceremonies.

The ceremony dates and times are available here: https://www.kent.ac.uk/congregations/ceremony-dates/index.html

This is a special day for all of our students and staff so any help you can offer at any of the ceremonies would be appreciated as we aim to make the day as memorable as possible for all our guests. We would not be able to achieve the success of Congregations without your help.

Any helpers who volunteer at two consecutive ceremonies in one day will be provided with refreshments.

We offer full training for your roles and members of our team will be there on the day to support you.

We have a variety of roles and if you’d like to help or need further information please email congregations@kent.ac.uk with the dates and times that you are able to help.

If you have never volunteered at congregations, then this year is your year!

Staff and students are invited to attend the U3A and University of Kent Research Showcase on Tuesday, 23 May from 11.30am in the Gulbenkian Foyer.

The University of Kent is welcoming over a hundred members of the Canterbury and District branch of the University of the Third Age to campus for the research showcase. We will share research projects, posters and performances, as well as finding out more about areas for future partnerships.

It will be fast-paced, fun and wide-ranging, with a strong contingent of postgraduates presenting their work in an accessible format, and input from academic staff from across all three faculties and an array of disciplines.

12.00-13.15: Research Showcase #1

• Gulbenkian Theatre: War, Reflections, and Representations
• Gulbenkian Cinema: Music and Making Voices Heard

13.45-14.45: Performing Together

• Colyer-Fergusson Hall: U3A choir, Moving Memory and Moving Well

15.15-16.30: Research Showcase #2

• Gulbenkian Theatre: Health and Memories
• Gulbenkian Cinema: Culture, Heritage, and Ecology

16.30-17.30: Looking Forwards

• Wine reception, prizes, Gulbenkian Youth Theatre demo, signing of memorandum of understanding, conversations.

Click here for the Research Showcase Final Programme

So if you are looking to take a break from exams or marking, need caffeine, have your own research ideas or just want to come and see what’s on display, then please do join us for whatever part of the afternoon you can. You can further support your peers by filling out the odd feedback form, which would be much appreciated.

Summer Music Week is your chance to enjoy a range of musical styles from our talented students, staff and the local community. Bringing you a glimpse of what’s on offer throughout the year, from classic swing tunes and forgotten gems to more recent popular music. Join us to celebrate music at Kent.

Find a list of performances and further details.

Tickets are now on sale for bOing! and with performers from The Netherlands, Portugal, Norway, Finland and the UK confirmed to headline its set to be another outstanding weekend.

On Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August 2017, the annual bOing! International Family Festival will once again host some of the most innovative and exciting performances for two days of multi-sensory fun.

The programme boasts a number of new performances and also welcomes back some bOing! regulars. All offering mesmerising, high-energy entertainment.

For more details about performances and to buy tickets please visit the festival website http://boingfestival.com