Author Archives: Miriam Sandiford

Lots of students in plaza

Blackwell’s closure on our Canterbury campus

After many years on our Canterbury Campus, we have been informed that Blackwell’s Bookstore has made the decision to end their lease, and will be closing on Wednesday 28 May. While their lease was originally due to expire this summer, their decision to close has come sooner than anticipated and is in line with closures of their sites at a number of other university campus sites.

As a result of this closure, Café Nero, which operates under a concession through a commercial arrangement with Blackwell’s, not the University, may be affected while next steps are being assessed.

We had already been exploring the future use of the Blackwell’s space from the end of the lease to ensure we continue offering a vibrant mix of services and facilities on campus. We will share further updates on this once plans progress.

Students playing football

Get active this summer – sport membership options

If you’re looking to get active this summer, Kent Sport have a number of affordable options to suit any budget.

One-month memberships

Students can benefit from one-month memberships with Kent Sport, meaning you get more flexibility to start and stop your membership when it suits you. Prices for one-month membership are:

Premium Plus – £25 (one month)

Our all-inclusive membership option includes all the Plus member benefits, as well as access to the gym, classes, and free access to our ALL Active social sports programme, as well as 7-day advanced booking.

Plus – £20 (one month)

Our sport-only option provides recreational sport bookings, free access to our ALL Active social sports programme and 7-day advanced booking.

Purchase your membership online

Pay to Play membership

If you want to trial the sports and fitness facilities on campus or you’re only here for a short time, our flexible Pay to Play membership might suit you better. There’s no joining fee, and you only pay for the sessions you want to book. For students, that’s just £5.50 per session and gives you access to all the Kent Sport facilities on campus.

Or, join an ALL Active session for only £2.50 per session! These non-competitive, turn-up-and-play recreational sessions are ideal for students who want to try new activities, meet new people and maintain a healthy lifestyle regardless of ability or age.

Create your free Pay to Play membership online

Live in on-campus accommodation* or in your first year of undergrad?

You already have a free Premium Plus Kent Sport membership! *Excludes Summer School students.

Learn more about your free membership and how to activate it online

Students at Summer Ball

Events roundup: 27 – 31 May

We hope you had a lovely bank holiday weekend. Find out what’s on this week including watching a free film at the Gulbenkian and the Summer Ball!

Tuesday 27 May: Beach litter pick, free cinema tickets and live music

Get outside and help the environment by joining us for a beach litter pick at Seasalter. Transport and equipment will be provided.

On Tuesday evening, the Gulbenkian Student Arts Committee invites you to celebrate the last ‘2 for Tuesdays’ student night of the term, with free movie tickets and live music by student performers, including bands from the Live Music Society. De-stress and celebrate with music at the Gulbenkian café stage from 18:00 before the screening of Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning at 19:00.

Wednesday 28 May: Nature walk and henna tattoo event

Join us for a guided, nature-based wellbeing session designed to get you up close with nature at the Kent Community Oasis Garden. Debi and Emily will guide you through activities that allow you to spend time reconnecting with the natural world all within the peaceful setting of the garden. This session is ‘Take Flight!’ – what are the flying creatures that call the garden home, and how can we support them?

Join your ResLife Assistants Himadri and Neemisha for one final Henna Tattoo event this term in DG01-02 in Templeman Library. Bring your creative selves to the event and learn more about the art of henna tattoo and have some fun while enjoying some Bollywood music! A perfect way to de-stress and relax amidst the exam season.

Thursday 29 May: Graduation action plan and film night

In your final year? Join this online session from our Careers and Employability Service to help consider how ‘work ready’ you are and to create an action plan you can use as you prepare to move on from university.

On Thursday if you live in on-campus accommodation there’s two chances to watch a film in Eliot College. You can watch a Bollywood film or Pitch Perfect (or even both!)

Friday 30 May: Gardening and careers events ‍

Get outside and volunteer at the Kent Community Oasis Garden. They have open volunteering sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:00-14:00. You can drop in for as long as you want and there is no previous experience necessary. Enjoy being out in nature and trying something new.

There’s lots of online careers events on Friday with a session on how to clarify your career goals with the help of a mentor, plus refreshing your CV and cover letter and making applications to grad schemes, other job roles and PG study.

Saturday 31 May: The Summer Ball

Kent Students’ Union’s biggest event of the year is back – The Summer Ball! Celebrate the end of the academic year with friends with outdoor fairground rides, street food, fair games and much more during the day. Followed by exciting headline acts in The Venue from 22:00-03:00 (if you have purchased a day and night ticket).

See more student events.

Opportunities and reminders 

See more student opportunities.

 

Gulbenkian with light projection

Free movie tickets at The Gulbenkian!

To celebrate the end of exams (getting there!) and the start of Summer, the Gulbenkian is giving away 500 free tickets to students, starting with the release of Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning Friday 23 May.

Use code ‘Student’ in the promo code box before selecting tickets to book 2 free tickets for ANY screening at the Gulbenkian Cinema!

The first 500 tickets booked are FREE! Welcome and enjoy! The code is valid for any screenings starting with Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning on Friday 23 May.

Join us for free music and film, Tuesday 27 May

The Gulbenkian Student Arts Committee invites you to celebrate the last ‘2 for Tuesdays’ student night of the term on 27 May, with free movie tickets and live music by student performers, including bands from the Live Music Society.

De-stress and celebrate with music at the Gulbenkian café stage before the screening of Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning at 19:00.

Student night at the Gulbenkian. Tuesday 27 May. Live music and free tickets

Students walking towards Templeman Library

Events roundup: 19 – 25 May

Find out what’s on this week including outdoor activities and award ceremonies.

Monday 19 May: Medway Summer Global Hangout and finding a part-time job

Join us for the Medway Summer Global Hangout on Monday. You can plant your own seeds and decorate a pot, get creative with crafts, or join in with fun games and refreshments. It’s a chance to relax, meet with existing friends and make some new ones.

Thinking about finding a part-time role? Come along to this online session to find out what steps you can take to secure a part-time job.

Tuesday 20 May: ResLife Social and navigating the UK graduate job market

If you live in on-campus accommodation, you’re invited to join your ResLife Ambassadors in the Sports Pavilion for a social with free pizza, table tennis, pool, Nintendo switch and board games. There will also be a quiet crafting room if games aren’t your thing.

On Tuesday afternoon you can join this external career webinar about navigating the UK graduate job market, which includes a Q&A with industry expert Brian Sinclair. The webinar will include job boards and beyond, LinkedIn and social media, direct applications and recruiter insights.

Wednesday 21 May: Guided nature walk and Archery Tag

Come join us for a guided nature-based wellbeing session designed to get you up close with nature at the Kent Community Oasis Garden. Debi and Emily will guide you through activities that allow you to spend time reconnecting with the natural world all within the peaceful setting of the garden. This session is ‘The Secret Life of Plants’ – noticing the variety of plants we have and how plants can support our wellbeing.

ResLife and Kent Sport are delighted to host our new Archery Tag session. Think Nerf and Dodgeball but with Bows and Arrows! You can drop in any time between 16:30 and 19:30 and have a go. This session is free and open to all.

Thursday 22 May: Introduction to placements, mindfulness colouring and Activity Awards

Taking a placement year can be of many benefits and industry experience is highly recommended when it comes to your graduate job search. Find out all you need to know in this Placements introduction session.

Join us in DG-01 in Templeman Library for a gentle and welcoming mindfulness colouring session designed for relaxation and self-care.

On Thursday evening it’s Kent Students’ Union Activity Awards, celebrating the very best societies, fundraisers and volunteers this year.

Friday 23 May: Working abroad and Team Kent Awards

Thinking of working abroad? Join this online session to find out information and tips on how to find opportunities abroad.

Friday evening is Kent Students’ Union Team Kent Awards, a chance to celebrate the very best Sports Clubs of the year.

Saturday 24 May: ResLife Afternoon tea and lawn games

On Saturday, if you live in on-campus accommodation ResLife are inviting you to tea! Join them for an afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes and scones as well as lawn games to enjoy with friends. Tickets are limited so be sure to book on the Home At Halls app.

See more student events.

Opportunities

  • Are you a postgraduate student? Register for the annual Postgraduate Conference on Wednesday 25 June. It’s a collaboration between the Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) and all the academic Schools. There’s also a Research Talk competition and Research Poster competition, as well as GRC prizes.
  • If you need a quiet, convenient place to stay during the exam period, we’re offering on-campus accommodation in Keynes College for £52.50 per night, which includes £14 daily credit to spend in any of the University of Kent food outlets.
  • Or if you’re looking for longer term accommodation on campus over Summer, take a look at our options in Darwin and Woolf Colleges.

See more student opportunities.

Students showing artwork

South Asian Heritage Week, 19-23 May

South Asian Heritage Month is an annual celebration to recognise, honour and celebrate South Asian history and culture and the achievements and contributions of South Asian British people to politics, social reform, science, academics, sports, entertainment, arts and culture. British South Asians represent a significant proportion of the British population and also a large community here a Kent. 

South Asian Heritage Month (national)

Nationally, South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) encompasses several independence days connected to South Asian countries. The beginning and end dates of SAHM particularly call back to two significant events in 1947; the 18th of July marks the date that the Indian Independence Act gained royal assent from King George VI, whilst the 17th of August marks the date of publication of the Radcliffe Line, which established where the borders between India, West Pakistan, and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) would be.

It seeks to raise the profile of British South Asian heritage and history in the UK through education, arts, culture and commemoration, with the goal of helping people to better understand the diversity of present-day Britain and improve social cohesion across the country.

Celebrating at Kent

At Kent we have made the conscious decision to move the celebrations to May due to the clash with the summer holidays. 

In 2025, the theme of South Asian Heritage Month is ‘Roots to Routes’, exploring the rich journey of growth, and the evolving connections we make through generations. We have taken the opportunity to explore the achievements and influence of 10 notable individuals from the last 300 years of British history and shine a spotlight on them. There is a wealth of stories, narratives and lost history out there to explore, and we have just touched the edge of it. 

To help you dive deeper, we have compiled resources for staff and students to learn more, through books, blogs, online magazines and podcasts, all recommended by our Asian and British-Asian staff and students 

British South Asians have left a huge legacy on the British political, social and cultural scene, and continue to shape our future as a nation. Why not start a conversation with your colleagues or students and take some time this week to learn a little more about this rich history for yourself.  

Take a browse of the South Asian Heritage Week webpage.

PG conference in Sibson atrium

Register for the Annual Postgraduate Conference 2025

The Postgraduate Conference, hosted by the Graduate and Researcher College in collaboration with the Academic Schools, is back!

The Postgraduate Conference is open to all postgraduate students and will take place on Wednesday 25 June in the Sibson Building.

It’s a celebration of research, innovation, and community. This is an opportunity for postgraduate researchers from across disciplines to share their work, receive feedback, and connect with peers and academics in a supportive environment.

Whether you’re presenting or attending, the day is designed to inspire, inform, and foster collaboration.

Competition prizes

Prizes will be awarded in the Research Talk Competition and the Research Poster Competition. There will be prizes for the best presentation (£100 winner) and also the best research poster (Judge’s Choice £50 and People’s Choice £25).

GRC prizes

The GRC Prizes were established to recognise and encourage the exceptional efforts and achievements of the university’s postgraduate research students and staff.

Winners in each category will receive £250, with two runners-up in each category awarded £75. You can either nominate yourself or someone else. Categories include Postgraduate Research Student and Research Degree Supervisor. The deadline for submission is deadline for submission is Monday 9 June 2025.

Find out all about the Postgraduate Conference including the day’s programme.

 

Woolf College flats

Stay on campus this Summer – open to all students 

Looking for a convenient, affordable place to stay over the summer? Whether you normally live on or off campus, you’re welcome to book summer vacation accommodation at the University of Kent. Enjoy easy access to campus facilities, a comfortable living space, and a great base for work or relaxation. 

Book online by Friday 6 June 2025 to secure your place. 

Summer Accommodation Options 

Available: Saturday 14 June 2025 (from 14:00) – Wednesday 10 September 2025 

  • Darwin College – £23 per night 
  • Woolf College – £35 per night 

Key details: 

  • Minimum stay of 21 consecutive nights 
  • Last bookable night: Wednesday 10 September 2025 

Find out more and book your summer stay now 

Student doing crafts at Global Hangout

Events roundup: 12-18 May

Discover what’s happening this week for Mental Health Awareness Week — from creative and mindfulness activities to stress-busting workshops and ways to boost your memory, plus a Eurovision watch party this weekend!

Monday 12 May: Improve your memory, wellbeing workshop and designing and presenting a research poster

Boost your memory and productivity in 90 minutes at this Study Plus workshop with Mark Channon, author of ‘The Memory Workbook’ and memory coach on Channel 4’s ‘Can I Improve My Memory?’

Student Support and Wellbeing’s wellbeing workshop this month is on the theme of ‘New beginnings’ and will take place in Keynes. Come along to learn about ways to support your wellbeing and to meet others.

Postgraduate Researchers are invited to join a half-day workshop where you can learn how to design and present a research poster that effectively communicates to an academic audience.

Tuesday 13 May: Crafternoon (Medway), Mindful colouring with Counselling team and Fireside chat with Chancellor YolanDa Brown

Get creative and enjoy a Crafternoon at The Hub, the final one of the academic year.

Between 12:00-14:00, members of the Counselling team will be available in Nexus to answer any of your queries you may have about therapy and mindfulness. There will also be mindful colouring to help you de-stress during the exam period.

We are delighted to have award winning saxophonist, broadcaster and our very own Chancellor, YolanDa Brown to give the closing keynote speech at our Kent and Medway Business Summit. Kent students can sign up for free to join the special fireside chat with YolanDa Brown on Tuesday 13 May from 15:30, where our Chancellor will be talking to Susie Warran-Smith CBE DL, entrepreneur, author and broadcaster.

Wednesday 14 May: Creative pause and managing stress

For students who live in on-campus accommodation, take a creative pause from studying with ResLife in ESR2 in Eliot. Try your hand at making charm bracelets or phone straps, paint a small canvas, or personalise your own tote.

Feeling stressed? Jeffrey Wotherspoon is running an online Study Plus workshop about how to manage stress well when you are busy or have a heavy workload. Learn how stress can aid you as well as tips for managing stress.

Thursday 15 May: Teaching training, support after graduation and tie dye

Interested in teaching? Pop along and meet our team to find out about our teacher training programmes in primary and secondary schools near you in Caffe Nero. Grab a coffee and have a chat.

Graduating soon? Explore tools and services to help you succeed in this online workshop from the Careers and Employability Service.

Give tie dye a try on Thursday afternoon. Bring any old T-shirts, pillowcases, tote bags and more. As long as it’s cotton and lightly coloured, you can tie dye it! This will take place on the Library Lawn or DG-01 in the library if the weather is not great.

Friday 16 May: Understanding stress and self-care and Summer Global Hangout

Learn more about stress and self-care at this online Study Plus workshop. You will have the opportunity to explore the symptoms of stress (physical, emotional, and behavioural) and then think about the steps you can take to develop your self-care routines and those important work-life boundaries that will keep you well.

On Friday afternoon it’s the Canterbury Summer Global Hangout. Join us to celebrate the flavour of summer with creative crafts, fun games and refreshments. As with all our Global Hangouts this is a chance to relax, meet with existing friends and make some new ones. Open to all students. The Medway Summer Global Hangout will be on Monday 19 May.

Saturday 17 May: BioBlitz and Eurovision Song Contest Watch Party

Saturday marks the annual Kent BioBlitz, where students, staff and the local community come together at our Canterbury campus to record as many animal species as possible. There are also events throughout the day including guided nature walks, butterfly and bumbleebee surveys, pond dipping and more. The BioBlitz is organised by students from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology and is open to all.

Get ready for a night of glitter, drama, and outrageous key changes! Join us in ELT2 in Eliot College for the ultimate Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Watch Party which includes big screen viewing, a selection of free international snacks and soft drinks, Eurovision score sheets and more!

See more student events.

Opportunities

  • Could you make use of the Kent Career Fund? The funding can be used towards the cost of travel or accommodation for unpaid extra-curricular work experience, travel to an interview, employment-related activities or training.
  • We are excited to announce a new collaboration with Kent Food Hubs CIC, launching a student-run collection hub on campus. This gives students, staff, and local residents the opportunity to collect their orders of fresh, local produce without a delivery charge – making sustainable and affordable food more accessible than ever.
  • Still sorting your housing plans for next year? There’s still time to secure a room on campus. It’s a great option if you haven’t arranged private housing or don’t have a group to live with, plus many of our accommodations come with an en-suite.

See more student opportunities.

Revolutionising student mental health: how Kent is setting a new standard  

Wellbeing Student Advisory Board (WSAB) board member Ryan Wong recently wrote an Op-Ed published in the Times Higher Education publication about the pioneering initiative that is revolutionising our mental health and wellbeing offering here at Kent.  

Through the WSAB, Kent is actively reshaping how students’ access and interact with services, ensuring support reaches those who need it most. With over 4,177 students registered with Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) — a significant 22% of the student population — Kent is proving that its approach is making an impact. 

So, what’s different about WSAB? Unlike traditional mental health services that rely on students making the first move, WSAB acts as a bridge, ensuring students feel heard and supported before they even realise they need it. WSAB is implementing peer-led discussions, targeted awareness campaigns, and proactive outreach efforts to ensure students don’t slip through the cracks.  

Ask students what mental health support they need 

By Ryan Wong 

When Alex*, a third-year politics and international relations student, found that financial stress, academic pressure and anxiety were building up last year, he didn’t immediately turn to student services for help. “I was really struggling, but I didn’t think services were for me.” His response shows that the problem in student support isn’t always the absence of support, but how it’s perceived and accessed. 

And right now robust, accessible mental health and wellbeing support for students across the sector is critical. Between 2016/17 and 2022/23, the proportion of undergraduate students in the UK reporting mental health difficulties rose from 6 to 16 per cent, according to a 2023 report from King’s College London. A 2021 survey by the Office for National Statistics found that 37 per cent of first-year students reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, only reinforced the situation.  

As a student, I recognise that in challenging times, finding the right wellbeing support at university can often feel overwhelming. Whether due to stigma, lack of awareness or simply feeling lost in the moment, too many who need help don’t seek it out. 

Another reason students don’t engage is that they are rarely involved in shaping the support services designed for them. Without meaningful student input, services can miss the nuances of student life, leading to well-intentioned support that’s functional but underused. 

I wanted to make a difference to this situation, so I joined the university’s Wellbeing Student Advisory Board (WSAB). From a student’s perspective, here are actions that may help wellbeing offices increase student engagement with their services. 

Give students a seat at the table 

To support student mental health, universities need to go beyond funding. Students should be actively involved in designing the systems meant for them. The issue isn’t just having services; it’s ensuring that students engage with them.  

One way to do this is to bring student representatives into decision-making. At the University of Kent, our advisory board includes 20 students from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, working to make wellbeing support more accessible and less intimidating. It’s chaired by the vice-president for welfare and community and run through the students’ union, ensuring it remains student-led while being closely supported by the University. We meet at least twice a term, with each meeting attended by the Head of Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW), Lee Fellows. We then share key insights and action points with student support.  

Application-based recruitment means every member joins with a genuine interest in mental health or lived experience of using support services. The two-way communication also helps the university manage services and spending. 

“The Wellbeing Student Advisory Board provides a direct communication line to students,” according to Fellows, which helps the University ‘to understand what students expect from support services and how we shape our priorities.” 

Ensure the message that support is available to everyone is clear 

Many students assume that support services are only for those in crisis. Despite significant investment, engagement remains a challenge. Some students fear judgement, others aren’t sure how to start. For example, at Kent, more than 4,177 students are registered with SSW and 2,982 have individual learning plans, yet many others still struggle in silence. This year so far we have seen 222 missed counselling appointments and 1104 missed DSA and Adviser appointments, suggesting that accessibility and engagement still need work. 

That’s why visibility matters. We promote services through the Students’ union website, social media and campus events. We also use insight from support data, union-led surveys, and face-to-face conversations on campus to shape responses. After positive feedback about Coco the therapy dog, for example, the board supported continuing on-campus therapy dog sessions. When students asked for alternative wellbeing activities, we expanded the Kent Community Oasis Gardens –a space for gardening, reflection, and connection. 

Students gardening at KentCOG

Make support accessible 

An online platform can offer practical advice and mental health resources, accessible even for remote students. Online resources, such as Kent Students’ Union wellbeing hub, allow students to seek help at their own pace.  

The board also works with the union to ensures students know that support extends beyond mental health, addressing challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis through the campus pantry, which provides free food, and JobShop, which connects students with part-time work. 

For politics student Alex, this joined-up support made all the difference. After seeking advice from SSW, he was signposted to JobShop and student services. “Once I finally reached out, they pointed me to things on campus that really helped,” he said. “I feel so much more positive now.” 

Peer-led boards like the WSAB help services feel more relatable and encourage students to take that first step towards seeking help. They also need to know support is about more than just for crisis moments -it’s about helping students to thrive in all aspects of life.  

From my experience, students are rarely invited to help shape the systems they rely on. That needs to change. Students shouldn’t be passive recipients of wellbeing services; they should be active partners. If universities are serious about supporting students, they need to put their trust in them, too. 

If you are struggling please visit the WSAB website attend a drop-in session or reach out to a peer advisor. The support is here, you just need to take the first step! 

Blog originally repurposed from The Times Higher Education which can be found here 

* Name has been changed. 

References 

Office for National Statistics (2021). Coronavirus and first year higher education students, England – Office for National Statistics. [online] www.ons.gov.uk. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/bulletins/coronavirusandfirstyearhighereducationstudentsengland/4octoberto11october2021. 

Sanders, M. (2023). Student Mental Health in 2023: Who is struggling and how is the situation changing. The Policy Institute, Kings College London.