Did you know that one in every hundred students in our Kent community has said that they identify as transgender or gender non-conforming? However we suspect this number might be much higher.

13-19 November is Transgender Awareness Week, which aims to:

• raise awareness of the experiences of transgender and gender non-conforming people
• share stories of transgender people in our society
• advance advocacy around the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender community.

Recent figures show that the number of UK students who define themselves as neither male nor female has more than doubled in the last two years. LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall explains that people are becoming increasingly confident to be themselves, thanks to more social acceptance and visibility of different sexual and gender identities.

The big impact of small actions

At Kent we hope to further our inclusive community, eradicate prejudice, and support one another.

On this subject, Lynne Regan, a senior member of the Student Support and Wellbeing team on the Medway campus, who also recently completed her Doctorate on the experiences of trans students at uni, explains how small actions of recognition and awareness of trans students can have a big impact:

‘Rainbow lanyards are available for staff and students from most college and library receptions at Canterbury and Medway. Designed around the “Inclusion Flag” which incorporates the Pride rainbow flag with pink, blue, brown and black representing the trans community and people of colour within the LGBT+ community. Wearing the lanyards shows students that they can ‘bring their whole selves’ to you without fear of judgement or an unsupportive reaction. One of the interview participants in my study stated “I love that many of the lecturers wear these lanyards with the rainbow pattern on them, which signals to the students that they are LGBTQ+ allies and can be approached… I like that I have someone I can actually turn to very visibly… It makes me feel very welcome.”

‘Another thing you can do is to use inclusive language and respect pronouns. If someone has told you the pronouns that they use, then respect this. Use the pronouns they have asked you to use. Do not assume pronouns based on the way someone looks or sounds.’

Support for students at Kent

• There is a support group in Canterbury that meets twice a month. It is open to trans, intersex and non-binary people at Kent. The group is run by trans/non-binary people for trans/non-binary people. Family and partners are welcome.
• There are gender-neutral toilet facilities across our Canterbury and Medway campuses.
• Student Support and Wellbeing offer free mental health support, counselling and peer support groups to all students and have an advisor with specialist LGBTQ+ support knowledge.
• Check out our directory of LGBTQ+ self-help resources including details of free, confidential, specialist helplines and support group networks, such as Metro, The Be You Project, and Gendered Intelligence.
• You can also update your gender and preferred name (which shows on your Microsoft Teams account) on KentVision.
• Have you heard of the Gender Affirmation Fund? In early October 2022, Kent released a new Gender Affirmation Fund to support students who identify as transgender, non binary or gender non-conforming with the purchase of gender affirming items. You can access the Gender Affirmation Fund from the 11 November 2022 via the link above; you must be a University of Kent student on a registered course and use the funds to support your purchase of gender affirming gear. Applications are capped at £100 per person.

Experienced hate or discrimination because of your gender identity?

You can report incidents of assault, harassment, and hate via the REPORT + SUPPORT tool, with or without giving your name. Even if you don’t choose to request support, by reporting an incident you will help to make the University a safer place for all.

Help us create a university community which belongs to all students, and where all students feel they belong by sharing this information on transgender awareness. #InclusiveKent

Follow @UniKentSSW on social media for more information on support at Kent. If you’d like to comment on or contribute to a podcast or article for Student Services, email us at StudentServicesWeb@kent.ac.uk.

Written by Joshua Stevens and Natalia Crisanti, Student Services, 02.11.22

Are you making the most of all the support and services on offer at our Medway campus? Here’s a quick guide of the support on offer and where to go to access it.

Medway Student Administration Team

The Medway Student Admin Team is responsible for student registration, online registration, record updating and much more. You can find them on the ground floor of Rochester Building.

Learn about all the ways the Student Admin Team can support you from council tax exemption to replacing your Kent ID card.

College and Community Life

As a Medway student you’re part of Medway College. Look out for events run by your Medway Residential Life Assistants. They can also offer you support. Learn more about College and Community Life and follow them on Instagram.

Finance

The Student Finance Team are committed to helping you understand the cost of study, how to manage your money and how to take full advantage of any financial support you are eligible for.

The team are based on the ground floor of the Medway Building and are available via email and telephone Monday to Friday 9.00-17.00.

Careers and Employability Service (CES)

There’s a wealth of information around careers on the CES webpages. You can also join career events and book an appointment with a Careers Advisor.

Find the Medway Careers Team on the ground floor of the Gillingham Building.

Student Support and Wellbeing

Student Support and Wellbeing supports students who have a disability, mental health condition, long term medical condition, autistic spectrum condition and/or specific learning difficulty, whether already diagnosed or suspected.

Our Advisers can help with Inclusive Learning Plans, study support, Disabled Students’ Allowance and counselling. They can also provide specialist support to students who have experienced sexual assault/harassment.

Medway Student Support and Wellbeing are based on the ground floor of Gillingham Building, room G0-05. You can pop in any time Monday-Friday 9.00-17.00, telephone 01634 888474, email MedwaySSW@kent.ac.uk, or complete our registration form.

Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS)

SLAS are here to advise you academically whether you’re an undergraduate or postgraduate student. They hold bitesize (15 minute) online events on topics to help you with your studies. You can also book a 1:1 advice appointment.

Medway Chaplain

Lynne Martin, our Medway Campus Chaplain, is here to support you through your academic journey, providing a listening ear for all students of any faith or no faith.

Find Lynne in the Chaplain’s Office in Pilkington (003/004) or you can email medwaycampuschaplain@gre.ac.uk. You can also follow the Medway Campus Chaplaincy Facebook page to find out about upcoming events.

Kent Union at The Hub

With so much to think about with your studies, you may find you need help with housing questions, your finances, or academic concerns. This might feel a little overwhelming so it is important to remember that you can access The Hub’s free Advice Service for confidential and impartial advice helping you make an informed decision to keep you on track.

Drill Hall Library

Drill Hall Library offers a variety of study spaces from individual silent study booths to relaxing sofas in the group zone. You can contact the Library Team by emailing dhlhelp@medway.ac.uk or calling 01634 883878. Get the latest news from your library on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Campus Security

Campus Security are on campus 24/7, 365 days a year. You can find Campus Security on the ground floor of the Medway Building next to reception. Come say hi and pick up a free personal safety alarm.

Kent Union is holding Strike Forums to gather student opinion about the upcoming University and College Union (UCU) strike action and to decide whether Kent Union should support the action or not.

This is an opportunity to hear both sides of the dispute, with members of UCU and the University’s Senior Leadership offering their perspectives. Students are encouraged to ask questions, and use this as an opportunity to fully understand the background of and types of action that they will see during the strikes.

Strike Forum dates

• 14 November, 17:30-18:30 (Online – Teams link)
• 16 November, 14:30-15:30 (Grimond Lecture Theatre 3)

See all Kent Union events.

Competition winners

Congrats to our SafeZone competition winners! They each won a £50 Coop gift card, and were  chosen from a pool of students who registered on SafeZone at the start of the year.

Pictured are winners Dan and Roland, along with Mark, Head of Security, and Kelsey, Sustainable Travel Operations Coordinator.

What is SafeZone for?

SafeZone is a free and simple-to-use app for students and staff at the University of Kent. It’s main uses include summoning emergency help and first aid to your exact location on the Medway and Canterbury campus and support on the Canterbury Connected Routes between the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University.

You can use SafeZone:

• in an emergency for urgent assistance from Campus Security
• to get first aid and medical assistance for you or a friend
• to receive notifications if there is an incident on campus that requires you to take action
• to check-in when working late on campus
• for general enquiries with quick access to the University of Kent switchboard.

SafeZone only shares your location when you request help, and when you do so this is only shared with the Campus Security team. The team will always call you when they receive an alert, so if you do press a button by accident, be sure to answer the phone so they know you are safe.

Download SafeZone and find out more on the University of Kent SafeZone guide

Connected Routes

If you are living off-campus or regularly walk into the city centre, make sure you have SafeZone installed to access the Canterbury Connected Routes. Any activation of SafeZone on the Connected Routes will give the University of Kent or Canterbury Christ Church University security control room your location, so they can offer you support.

Connected Routes have regular patrols from local services and university Street Marshals, increased lighting and CCTV coverage and are covered by the SafeZone App. There is also refuge points along these routes where you can wait for help to arrive in a safe space, you can find out more information on the Connected routes refuge points.

Find out more about Canterbury Connected Routes, and download a Connected Routes map here.