Author Archives: Miriam Sandiford

Summer vacation support from Student Support and Wellbeing

Student Support and Wellbeing continues to be open throughout the summer vacation - our offices are only closed on weekends and bank holidays, including Monday 29 August. 

Booking appointments with Student Support and Wellbeing staff

You can still book online or face to face appointments with specialist support staff from 9.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00 throughout the summer, both in person and online, as long as you’re a registered student at Kent. Contact us at KentSSW@kent.ac.uk for Canterbury students, and MedwaySSW@kent.ac.uk for Medway students to arrange support during the summer vacation.

Mental health crisis support

If you’d like to speak with support staff urgently in office hours, Monday to Friday, 9.00-17.00, please phone on 01227 826573 for the Canterbury campus or 01634 888474 for Medway.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need emergency wellbeing or counselling support outside of office hours, our external partners Spectrum Life can offer you online, text, and telephone support from qualified counsellors and therapists.

Spectrum will work with you in getting initial support and help during your crisis and the University Student Support and Wellbeing teams will contact you on the next working day. Spectrum Life is available on Monday to Friday evenings from 20.00 till 08.00, and on weekends and Bank Holidays. Telephone: 0800 0318227 and press option 1, or Text ‘Hi’ to: 00353 87 369 0010. Search for the Spectrum Life app from your app store and follow the log in instructions

If you need emergency support on either Canterbury or Medway campus, Campus Security staff are on duty 24 hours per day, 365 days per year and can always be contacted on their emergency number: 01227 82 3333.

More mental health support providers

For 24/7 free online support from peers and trained professionals, all Kent students can access Togetherall.
If you’re having a difficult time and want to talk to someone, you can call the Samaritans free on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org. 
If you would prefer to receive support via text message, Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope, simply text 85258.

Together with our partner organisations, we’re here to support you over the summer.

If you use Instagram, follow @UniKentSSW for information any wellbeing support groups or opportunities over vacation, and inspiring articles and information to help you stay well and connected to yourself and others, whatever you’re doing during vacation.

Industrial action goodwill payment scheme

From Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

Thank you for your continued patience during the periods of industrial action this academic year. We have been working hard to assess the impact of the industrial action on each of you across all our academic Divisions. We appreciate this process has taken some time. However, it was important to ensure that the effect of the industrial action on all our students was assessed fairly and equitably.

Goodwill gesture payments for eligible students

Based on the information that we have about teaching events impacted by the industrial action from Divisions, and in conjunction with Kent Union, the University’s Executive Group has now approved a goodwill gesture payment scheme. Through this scheme, eligible students whose teaching activities were disrupted will receive payments directly to their bank accounts based on the impact in their areas.

Because the University does not hold students’ bank details, we will work with Western Union to ensure safe, secure payments can be made to students’ bank accounts allowing all eligible students to receive the payment they are entitled to.

When will I find out if I am eligible?

If you are eligible for an industrial action goodwill payment, we will contact you via your Kent student email by the middle of July to arrange payment.

Final year students’ email accounts will remain active until 12 August 2022* to allow time to complete the payment process. Reminder emails will be sent before Finalist email accounts are closed.

For further information, you can contact industrialaction@kent.ac.uk.

Best wishes,

Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

*this date has been extended until 12 September 2022.

Kent Star: Meet Activities Advocate Lewis

This month’s Kent Star is Lewis Powell, who has been involved in a wide range of activities during his time at Kent. From football to esports, President of the Poker Society to Peace Ambassador. Hear from our Activities Advocate Lewis about what he’s been up to:

“I’m Lewis Powell and I’m a final year student studying Economics with Econometrics. I have many hobbies which take up most of my free time. I love football (playing and watching), although Southampton’s end of season form have been testing that love. My other interests include esports and poker as well as travelling. Last September I was a Peace Ambassador for an organisation called Peaceline where we travelled through Germany, Latvia. Lithuania and Poland. A fun fact is that I qualified and played in the €1150 Irish Open Main Event poker tournament in 2019 in Dublin when I was 19.”

Tell us about some of the activities you have been involved with during your time at Kent.

“I have played 6-a-side football with my team every week at Football Frenzy which has been great fun and fuelled my competitive spirit. I had always loved supporting my football team but hadn’t played much during secondary school. Getting involved, improving as a player and having my own team is one of the best things I’ve done during university and it is an activity I look forward to every week.

During the various lookdowns, I decided to fuel my competitive spirit by joining one of the university Counter Strike Global Offensive online teams in my third year at Kent. I hadn’t played hardly at all in the two years prior but soon got super invested in my team and loved competing against other universities twice a week in NUEL and NSE (Esports platforms). As our team evolved through various changes to the roster I decided to step up by becoming the captain and in-game leader. We had a team who were willing to practice, on the same page and whom we had good synergy. Shoutout to Ethan, Max, Tommy and especially Jamie (who I’ve teamed with for 2 years) for all the hard work they put in.

I have also been President of Kent Poker the last two years. I am extremely proud of building back the society after the pandemic to build a loyal community of poker lovers. I am sure the community will continue to thrive going into next academic year.”

What advice would you give to other students?

“Your input is your output. Get involved! There really is a society for everyone at Kent and I would encourage anyone to pursue their hobbies in your spare time. You don’t want to look back on a university experience where you only studied and partied. Some the best time I’ve had at university have been within my various teams and societies and meeting many different people. I would also encourage students to do things over summer; whether that is working, spending time on a side project or participating in programs abroad. This will give you lots of stuff to talk about with potential employers.”

What are your plans for the next year?

“As soon as I finish my exams I am off to Las Vegas for 7 weeks. I will be working as a tournament reporter at the 53^rd World Series of Poker from 31 May-19 July for PokerNews. There I will be covering the action from the most popular poker tournament series in the world. I am also hoping I will have some time to relax after a really intense academic year. When I return to the UK I will evaluate my options and see what direction I want to go in next.”

Learn more about the Kent Stars campaign.

Events roundup: 13-19 June

It’s the final week of term (and the undergraduate academic year!) Here’s a roundup of our top events this week, with plenty of opportunities to get outside and celebrate with friends.

Complete the Race Equality Charter Student Survey by 17 June

Make sure you complete the survey by Friday 17 June to help shape the University’s anti-racism strategy. Plus, you’ll be in with the chance of winning one of three £50 shopping vouchers.

Monday: Community litter pick and reducing waste

Give back to your local community by joining the College and Community Life Team and other students for litter picking, 12.00-15.00. Meet new people, help the environment and earn Employability Points.

And while we’re on the topic of waste… if you’re moving out and don’t want to take everything with you, you can donate it on campus. See the StuFF and BHF donation points. Find out more information about moving out of accommodation or your student house.

Tuesday: Get outdoors with mindfulness and live music

Learn about the basics of mindfulness practice and how it can help us to deal with stress, while relaxing in the Rutherford Commemorative Garden from 11.00-12.00 on Tuesday.

It’s the final week of the Gulbenkian Summer Festival. Chill out listening to live music from Pearl Hannaford outside the Gulbenkian. Plus, you can purchase food and drink to enjoy while you listen and catch up with friends.

Wednesday: Explore Kent Community Oasis Garden

Explore the Kent Community Oasis Garden (Kent COG) in Park Wood College with an introduction to mindfulness practice. Meet up outside Woody’s at 13.45 to walk over to the garden. Emily Mason and Debi Adams from the Kent COG will tell you about different activities you can join in and how you can use the space for relaxation and wellbeing, followed by a guided outdoor meditation by Miriam Zapp from the College and Community Life Team.

Thursday: Outdoor cinema sing along and see Kent’s new brand

We’re developing a new look and feel for how we talk about Kent. Come along to the brand roadshow in Templeman Library Foyer on Thursday and Friday, 10.00-15.00 or the Medway Student Hub social space between 11.00-14.00 on Thursday. See the thinking behind the updated brand, alongside mock-ups that you can feedback on. There’ll be an online version too so watch out for the link later this week.

The final outdoor cinema showing for the Gulbenkian Summer Festival is Rocketman sing along, an epic musical fantasy about the fantastical human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years. The film starts at 21.00 but you’re welcome to join earlier to get comfortable and order some snacks.

Saturday: Pride Picnic

Join the Kent and Medway Network of LGBT+ Networks for their Pride Picnic in Coleridge Gardens (at Canterbury Christ Church University) and Rochester Building Lawns (Medway campus). Friends, families and allies welcome. Bring your own picnic and blankets and any Pride flags and decorations.

Sunday: Aqua Park Trip (Medway)

Enjoy this great summer day out at Kent’s Aqua Park on Sunday, 11.00-14.00. Have fun slipping and sliding around all the obstacles and slides. Tickets cost £10 per person. Transport will be provided from Pembroke building.

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Access skills development training and quizzes for free

Over the years, The MTD Training Group have provided several courses as part of the Employability Points programmes.

These have included Management Training Courses, Sales Training Courses and also access to an Online Learning Platform.

They are now giving all Kent students access to several FREE resources to help them with their studies and to also help prepare them for the working world.

Leadership Test

Benchmarks your management and leadership skills against 12 competencies and 96 key skills. Learners receive a personalised report with the findings and tips on how to improve.

Coaching Skills Assessment

Just how good are you at coaching? Answer 36 questions and receive a personalised report of the results and areas to work on.

EQ Test

How emotional intelligent are you? We’re talking EQ not IQ here. How good are you are recognising and then managing your emotions? This 50-question diagnostic will reveal all.

Sales Skills Test

Answer 64 questions and receive a personalised report on your sales and influencing skills.

Management Apprenticeships

Further information on management and leadership apprenticeships.

Management Blog

Over 1,000 quality articles and blogs on leadership and management theories and models.

Sales Blog

Over 1,000 tips and techniques on how to improve your sales and marketing.

Sales Techniques & Free Sales Training Material

Videos, audios, and cheat sheets to help you improve your sales and sales management skills.

Moving out of your student house (Canterbury)

We appreciate that when moving out, extra rubbish can be generated but we want to work to reduce any impact on the local community.

Bins and waste

All the information you need to know about what goes in what bin, when the bin collection dates are and how to recycle are on the council website.

Bin Amnesty: In central Canterbury, thanks to the Canterbury City Council and Canenco, there will be a bin amnesty from Monday the 20 June to Friday 1 July where all rubbish left out in key areas will be picked up as part of a weekly collection. See Canterbury City Council list of roads where the bin amnesty applies to.

Donating your unwanted items

We’ve teamed up with the British Heart Foundation to make it easy for you to donate unwanted possessions to this fantastic cause. See the map of British Heart Foundation drop off points at Canterbury campus.
You can also donate your unwanted items and food, with a long shelf life, to Kent Union, donating towards Kent Union’s Foodbank and Freecycle STUFF services. Find STUFF donation points.

Bulky waste disposal

Large items that might not fit in your regular bin can be disposed of in the following ways:

Book a slot at your local tip to drop off larger items or electrical appliances
Contact the council for bulky waste collection services. You can pay to have larger items you need to throw away to
Find out where to donate bulky items or furniture.

Make sure you don’t leave large items or old furniture in your rented accommodation without prior permission from your landlord, as otherwise you are likely to be charged.

Get involved and volunteer

Do you want to help out and give back to your local community on a local litter pick? This looks great on your CV and can really make a difference in your community!

If you have any concerns throughout this busy move-out period, you can get in touch with the College and Community Life Team by emailing cclteam@kent.ac.uk.

Find out more about the College and Community Life Team.

Canterbury campus accommodation

If you’re moving out of our Canterbury campus accommodation on or before 10.00 on Saturday 18 June, make sure to follow the guidance on the Accommodation webpage. There’s also information for recycling and waste on campus, storing and shipping your belongings and booking vacation accommodation .

Events roundup: 6-12 June

Here’s a roundup of this week’s top events:

All week: Summer Music Week

A week-long music festival celebrating the end of the extra-curricular musical year at Kent. Includes some free lunch time concerts as well as ticketed musical performances for you to enjoy.

Tuesday: Screenwriting Festival and live music

The Film and Media department, with the Film and Media Writing Club, are hosting a Screenwriting Festival on Tuesday 13.30-17.50. Join for a series of workshops and discussions about writing for the big and small screen. The day will conclude with a screening of No Time to Die at the Gulbenkian, which will be preceded by an interview with the film’s screenwriter Kent alum Robert Wade at 18.45

Or if you fancy listening to some live music, the Gulbenkian Summer Festival continues with an outdoor live performance from professional singer/songwriter Avi Simmons at 17.00 on Tuesday on the Gulbenkian Lawn.

Wednesday:Mindfulness relaxation

On Wednesday you can have a moment of calm with an online guided meditation and breathing session at 13.00. Or if you’d prefer to meet in person, you can join a mindfulness session in Cornwallis East at 17.00. Take a break from exams and life’s stresses and relax with other students in person or online.

Thursday: Events for postgrad students and outdoor cinema

As part of Postgraduate Week, on Thursday there are lots of events to help Master’s students decide what to do next. Plus events around becoming an academic and teacher training opportunities for postgrad students with Teach First.

This week’s Gulbenkian Summer Festival film is the award-winning ‘Nomadland’, showing on a big screen in the open air on Thursday at 21.00. There will also be a selection of delicious food and drink available for purchase during the event.

Saturday: BioBlitz, Summer Ball, and Pride Canterbury!

There’s a lot happening in Canterbury on Saturday! There’s something for everyone.

Interested in nature and sustainability? The University of Kent BioBlitz is a free, interactive event with the aim to record as many living species as possible in a specific area in a short amount of time. There are also nature events such as bird walks, bumblebee surveys and badger surveys. View the full timetable.

Kent Union’s Summer Ball returns! It’s the party of the year with live music, free fairground rides and plenty of photo opportunities. It’s the perfect way to celebrate with friends as we come to the end of the academic year.

And if that wasn’t enough, it’s also Pride Canterbury, which Kent are proudly sponsoring. There’s a parade through the high street at 11.30 and live music all afternoon in The Dane John Gardens. It’s a great way to celebrate LGBTQ+ diversity, equality and progress. Find out how you can join us in the Pride parade.

If you’re based at the Medway campus, you can book a seat on the free Campus Shuttle to attend any of these events. Just make sure you also book your seat for the journey home.

Student Support and Wellbeing survey closing today

The Student Support and Wellbeing survey closes today. If you want to give your feedback and be in the chance of winning one of three Love2Shop vouchers, complete the short survey now.

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Applications open for Internship Experience UK, 20-22 June

Applications are now open for Internship Experience UK,which is taking place on 20-22 June.

Created to help you explore a new sector and upskill, this is the no.1 virtual internship experience to supercharge your CV ahead of the autumn application season. Better yet, you’ll also be able to hear from top employers who have renowned internship, placement and graduate programmes and ask them your questions on how to secure a role.

What is Internship Experience UK?

Internship Experience UK is a three-day virtual internship programme which takes place every summer – each year is a completely new programme designed to support you with your career. So far, over 140,000 students and graduates have taken part and reaped the rewards of spending a few days of their summer with the world’s top employers. 10,000 of them have even secured roles with the firms they met on the experience. Now it’s your turn!

You can join any one of the following streams, with no experience or prior knowledge required:

Can’t make the live experiences or want to take more than one stream? You can always catch up and take multiple streams with Internship Experience UK On-Demand.

How does it work?

12+ leading businesses and organisations will be joining each stream, running sessions to help you enhance your CV and get a taste of what it’s like to work in your chosen sector by completing a work sample.

With the majority of employers hiring more graduates, and none hiring fewer than last year, Internship Experience UK is the perfect springboard to land your dream role.

What’s new for 2022?

Meet the winner of The Apprentice and top business mogul, Tim Campbell, who will be joining us as the keynote speaker. As an MBE for Enterprise Culture, author of one of Amazon’s Top 10 business books and co-founder of the Bright Ideas Trust (a charity that helps young people set up their own businesses), Tim is a fantastic person to learn from at the start of your career journey.
Complete internship-style projects set by top global employers to help you familiarise yourself with the types of tasks you’d be doing as a graduate. Completing the work sample provides you with a tangible example to talk about in your interviews that can make you stand out from the competition.
Each year features even more top employers for you to meet and be trained by on a range of new topics. In 2022, you’ll meet: Amazon, Bank of America, Bloomberg, British Airways, Clyde & Co, EY, Google, Macquarie, Nestle, Ofcom, PwC, PA Consulting, Teach First, Vodafone… and many more still to be announced!

Who is Internship Experience UK for?

Students and graduates at any level are welcome to apply to Internship Experience UK.

Whether you’re certain about joining a specific industry or have no idea what you want to do or where to start, Internship Experience UK is for you! You don’t need any previous experience – this is a chance for you to learn about different sectors and gain clarity over what roles suit you.

Took part in the 2021 stream and wondering if you can still take part? This year’s programme is completely new so you can build on your learnings from previous experiences with training on new topic areas, meet new employers and widen your network.

How to apply

Applications for Internship Experience UK 2022 are now open. To apply, click on the stream you’re interested above.

Any questions in the meantime? Take a look at the FAQ page.

Postgraduate Week, Careers and Employability Service: 6-10 June

Join us for a week of online employer talks and workshops for postgraduate students, to help you prepare for your next steps after your master’s. Career planning, job insights and workshops to prepare you for the recruitment process.

Sessions include:

Becoming an Academic
Discover Project Management
Working in research outside of academia
Next steps after your Master’s
Consultancy Training
Teacher Training with Teach First

See the full Postgraduate Week schedule of events and book your place online.

We hope to see you there!

Student Screenwriting Festival, 7 June

Calling all Screenwriters!

The Film & Media department – in conjunction with the Film and Media Writing Club – will be hosting a Screenwriting Festival on Tuesday 7 June, 13.30-17.30.

Join us for a series of workshops and discussions exploring key topics in writing for the big and small screen. This is your opportunity to hone your writing skills, to try something new, and to meet and network with fellow writers!

The day will conclude with a screening of No Time to Die at the Gulbenkian, which will be preceded by an interview with the film’s screenwriter Kent Alum Robert Wade at 18.45.

There are a limited number of complimentary tickets available for the Gulbenkian event for attendees of the Screenwriting Festival*. To attend the Festival – and claim your free Gulb tickets! – please register online.

All students at all levels welcome!

Any questions please email: Lawrence Jackson (l.g.g.jackson@kent.ac.uk) and Frances Kamm (f.a.kamm@kent.ac.uk)

*Complimentary tickets for the Gulbenkian event will be issued on a first come first served basis. More information about the Gulbenkian screening.