Author Archives: Miriam Sandiford

Life after uni week

Events roundup: 16-22 May

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

Summer Term: Gulbenkian Summer Festival

Throughout the Summer Term, you can get involved in the Gulbenkian Summer Festival at the Canterbury campus. Enjoy live music, outdoor cinema and a pop-up food stall with a different theme each week. Take some time away from your studies to wind down, spend time with friends, and have fun.

All week: Life After Uni Week

This week is Life After Uni Week at Kent, a week of online talks and workshops to help you prepare for graduation and beyond.

Monday: Get prepared for the world of work

Life After Uni Week kicks off with a range of events on Monday, from a session on CVs, cover letters and application forms to making yourself impossible to ignore in the jobs market.

Plus find out why you might want a job in the creative industries, the fastest growing sector in the UK. and jobs in the creative industries. These sessions are taking place online and are open to all students.

Wednesday: Time to de-stress

Take some time to relax with this Exam Calm breathing online session 13.00-13.30 with Kent counsellor and mindfulness teacher Lorraine.

Or if you want something more physically active, join this community bike ride on campus with other students and College Life Officer Tom (who also happens to be a professional Mountain Bike Coach!)

Medway students can also destress with a free 15 minute relaxation massage between 11.00-15.00 at the Drill Hall Library.

Thursday: Revision techniques, goal setting and outdoor cinema

Brush up on your exam techniques with this 15 minute online bitesize session from our Student Learning Advisory Service.

Whether you love goal setting or have given up on it, consider joining this Study Plus Goal Setting and Goal Achieving interactive workshop, 14.00-15.30. Learn more about the benefits of goal setting and common pitfalls.

As part of Gulbenkian’s Summer Festival you can watch American Horror ‘Get Out’ on the big screen in the open air. Take a seat on the hay bales at 21.00 on the Gulbenkian Lawn.

Friday: Stress management workshops

Looking for ways to manage stress better? Why not try a Journaling Tools workshop to help manage time, efficiency and wellbeing, 11.00-12.30 online.

Or if you’re got a lot on at the moment, try this Stress workshop: how to manage it well when you are busy or have a heavy workload, 14.00-15.30 online.

Saturday: Lawn games and Post Office Horizon System event

Take a break from studies and join your College Residential Life Assistants for some light-hearted fun with lawn games in Darwin Rose Garden, 12.00-16.00 on Saturday afternoon.

Learn more about one of the largest miscarriages of justice with this Post Office Horizon System event at the Gulbenkian. The event will be joined by ex-sub-postmasters and mistresses who were wrongfully convicted for theft and false accounting, legal and IT experts, and investigative journalists. Join us 13.30-17.30 to hear stories, panel discussions and a Q&A session.

Browse all student events.

Students at bushcraft event

Building resilience through communities at Kent

Connecting with others with similar interests and outlooks on life can help us manage the difficulties that everyday life can throw at us.

Despite the warming weather, Spring can also mean stress over exams, deadlines, and applications for summer employment or graduate employment, making it sometimes feel overwhelming and draining on our psychological coping resources.

Here are some suggestions on activities and initiatives that can help you find ‘your tribe’ and enjoy the wellbeing benefits of surrounding yourself with support from like-minded others.

College and community life at Kent

The College and Community Life (CCL) Team is dedicated to assisting you in connecting to other students within and across the eight university colleges. For example, you could join a Mindfulness Walk exploring Darwin, Rutherford and Eliot Colleges or  play lawn games at Darwin Rose Gardens with other students.

The CCL team regularly organises events open to all students, providing exciting opportunities to make new friends and connections. Past events have ranged from Harry Potter quizzes to bush craft workshops, so you are bound to find events that connect you with others who share your interests. To find out more about events happening on our campuses, you can follow CCL on social media or check out the CCL events calendar for more information on other social opportunities like the regular Dolche Vita breakfast club or Rutherford Lunch Club.

Kent Community Oasis Garden (KentCOG) 

The KentCOG provides you with a platform to de-stress and volunteer with other students immersed in beautiful nature, right next to the Canterbury campus. By taking care of the beautiful garden and engaging in regular sustainability activities, you can participate in various de-stressing activities with other students interested in sustainability and gardening. In May, the garden will host exciting events such as a house plant swap and a walk where you can identify different species of bumblebees with other students, check out the KentCOG calendar for more details.

Sports teams 

If sports get you going, you may wish to consider giving one of the University’s numerous sports clubs a go. These teams are only open for Kent students and allow you to team up with other students, develop new skills in a friendly environment, and broaden your network across multiple disciplines. The University also holds specific competitive sports teams, which allows you to team up to represent your university with others. So, whether you are a more experienced team sport player or have always wanted to give a team sport a go, take the opportunity while you’re at uni to get some exercise, meet new people and have fun!

Kent Sport

The ALL Active Programme is open to all students and offers a variety of weekly activity sessions. First years and students living on campus can access the sessions for FREE as part of their Kent Sport inclusive membership, otherwise the sessions are £2 per session with a Kent Sport pay to play membership (no set up fee required).

Prefer to walk, run or cycle around our picturesque Canterbury Campus at your leisure? Check out these marked out 1 mile, 2km, 3km campus routes, or grab a map from outside the Sports Centre and next to the Law School building opposite the Library lawn. If you’re on or near the Medway campus, check out Medway council’s Get active pages, including led health walks and cycle rides.

Give it A Go is a programme of FREE active and create sessions being delivered in partnership with Kent Sport and Kent Union throughout the summer term, providing a variety of activities for students to try out, meet new people and develop your skills – these could be craft sessions, sports, trips off campus and much more! At Medway? There is a  Give It A Go Programme at The Hub Medway too!

Student groups

The numerous student groups of Kent can be a great way to find your community and expand your network. The groups are formed by the students, brought together by similar interests, hobbies, or calling towards a particular cause. In fact, there are over 250 student clubs to choose from, with more added each year. In addition, many societies continue to organise events and socials even at the end of the academic year, so it is not too late to take part and join the fun!

Mental health support

We have several peer support groups where you can connect with like minded students who may have shared experiences, check out our Student Support and Wellbeing calendar for what’s on online and on campus.

If you’d like to know more about how we can support you with mental health, disabilities and long term health conditions, specific learning difficulties and autism, take a look at the Student Support and Wellbeing webpage. If you feel you need urgent mental health support please take a look at the Emergency Support page. Have you used Student Support services this academic year? If you want to comment on your experience or give suggestions for the development of support at Kent, please take a quick online survey to share your feedback and ideas.

Written by Antti Lattula, third year student, on 01.05.22

Check out further articles on Support and Wellbeing, College Life and Community Life

Corridor of servers

Digital by Default: Post Office Horizon System free event, 21 May

This event brings together ex-sub-postmasters and mistresses who were wrongfully convicted for theft and false accounting, legal and IT experts, and investigative journalists to think through some important issues raised by one of the largest miscarriages of justice.

Join us on Saturday 21 May, 1.30-17.30 at the Gulbenkian Theatre.

The event is centred on the lived experiences of people directly impacted. It provides an opportunity and space to reflect on what happened and what lessons can be gleaned. There will be a mix of stories, presentations and panel discussions, and a Q&A session with the audience.

We are pleased to be joined by Mrs Seema Misra (SPM), Mrs Nichola Arch (SPM), Mr Parmod Kalia (SPM), Mr Patrick Green QC and Ms Kathleen Donnelly (Henderson Chambers), Professor Lydia Hayes (Head of Kent Law School), Professor Richard Moorhead (University of Exeter), Professor Bernard Richmond QC (Kent Law School), Ms Flora Page (UCL), Professor Harold Thimbleby (Swansea University), Dr Ida Petretta (Kent Law School), Mr Ian Reeves (Head of the Centre of Journalism), Mr Karl Flinders (Computer Weekly), Ms Katie Glass (Telegraph), and Mr David Chaplin and Ms Helen Lacey to discuss N Wallis, The Great Post Office Scandal (Bath Publishing 2021).

The event is generously supported by Kent Law School, the Division for the Study of Law, Society & Social Justice (LSSJ), and the FutureHuman fund.

Please note that the event will be recorded.

The event is free but ticketed. Register your place now.

 

 

 

Kent Giving Week, 9-13 May

Events roundup: 9-15 May

Welcome to the Summer Term. We wish you the best of luck with your exams – you’ve got this!

All week: Kent Giving Week

Take a break from revision and join Kent’s first ever fundraising week. Events include a 5k run/walk, Rock Choir Concert, stress buster massages and more!

Monday:  5K Your Way

Whether you’re based at Canterbury or Medway, you can get involved in the Kent Giving Week 5K Your Way. You can walk, run or dance your way around the route and help raise money for our new Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy.

Tuesday: Exam support and find out about proposed changes to the academic year at Kent

Get into exam mode with this bitesize online session to learn exam techniques with the Student Learning Advisory Service, 12.00-12.15. Look out for more of these sessions throughout the exam season.

Pick up some free fruit and snacks from Templeman Library Welcome Hall 13.00-15.00, plus some great advice on library resources to help with your revision.

Join Professor Richard Reece, DVC Education and Student Experience at a student webinar, 16.00-17.00, to find out more about the proposed changes to the academic year at Kent.

Wednesday: House Plant Hospital and mindfulness sessions

House plants looking a little sad? Bring them along for House Plant Hospital so the team can diagnose them and give you some advice on how to restore them to their former glory.

If you need a breather from exams, try out this Exam Calm online mindful breathing session, 13.00-13.30. The short, guided meditation will be followed by a discussion about how mindfulness can help us cope better during the exam season.

Or if you prefer to be outside, you can join the outdoor mindfulness session, 17.00-18.00 for a guided meditation at the Kent Community Oasis Garden.

Saturday: Cambridge Day Trip and Bee Walk

Join the Chaplaincy Team for a Cambridge Day Trip! Meet new people and spend time exploring ancient lanes, colleges and university buildings. This trip costs £18 with a coach leaving Canterbury campus at 8.30 on Saturday.

Get out in nature and learn how to identify and record different Bumble Bee species at this Bee Talk and Walk, starting at the Kent Community Oasis Garden, 10.00-12.00.

Survey: Help shape Kent’s anti-racism strategy
Complete the Race Equality Charter Student Survey by 17 June for the chance to win one of three £50 gift vouchers.

Browse all student events.

 

Bluebells at Canterbury campus

Enhancing your mental health during the Summer Term

The start of the Summer Term coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week. We appreciate the Summer Term can be stressful as you manage your exams and other deadlines and commitments. 

Here are some ideas for boosting your mental health this term: 

  1. Connect with others – reach out to friends and family. Plan when you can next meet up, so you have something to look forward to. You can also check out the Student Support and Wellbeing events calendar for ways to meet new people such as the Walking Buddy and Just Coffee initiatives.   
  2. Get out in nature – spending time in nature can have huge benefits for our mental health. If you’re at Medway, the Rochester Lawn has benches, a covered area and a trail gym for you to explore. Based at Canterbury? Check out the new Canterbury Wellbeing Map and discover more places to relax and unwind. We’re super lucky to have the Kent Community Oasis Garden at our Canterbury campus (located at the end of Park Wood). Join students, staff and members of the community on Wednesdays and Fridays 10.00-14.00 for a relaxed gardening session.   
  3. Exercise regularly– exercise is a great way to let go of frustrations and improve your mood as well as increase your fitness. Kent Sport’s ALL Active programme is back this term with plenty of non-competitive, turn-up-and-play sessions. No experience or equipment needed. You could also join a community bike ride with other Kent students. 
  4. Get enough sleep – sleep is vital to allow both your body and mind to recharge. If you struggle with your sleep, check out this free online Togetherall course: How to Improve Your Sleep. 
  5. Eat well and stay hydrated – we all know that eating well and drinking plenty of water is good for us, but we often forget just much it can affect our mood. Check out the Blurt foundation’s blogpost about foods that boost mood and energy.  

Mental Health Team at Student Support and Wellbeing

The Mental Health Team consists of Mental Health Advisers, Counsellors and Student Mentors.Mental Health Advisersare specialist practitioners who can offer mental health advice and support. They can provide short term focused interventions to promote wellbeing and support students to develop coping strategies and help put in place an ILP or ‘inclusive learning plan’ if required. We also have a free confidentialCounselling servicefor all Kent students, offering a safe space to those experiencing problems such as anxiety, depressed feelings, and emotional difficulties that may or may not be connected to student life. 

Togetherall – 24/7 support

Togetherall offers 24/7 online mental health support by peers, with free courses, message boards, self-assessments and articles on many topics. It’s overseen by qualified therapists and free for Kent students. 

Mental Health Partner organisation: Spectrum Life – out of office hours support

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need emergency in the moment crisis support outside of Student Support and Wellbeing working hours, our external partners Spectrum Life can offer you online, text and telephone support from qualified counsellors and mental health professionals.   

Student Support and Wellbeing Services Survey

Have you used Student Support and Wellbeing Services at Kent this academic year? If you’d like to give your feedback and be in with a chance of winning £50, complete this online survey.

Learn more about mental health support at Kent

Paid role: Curriculum Auditors for Sustainability Team

Our Sustainability Team are seeking student auditors to assess the extent of sustainability knowledge and skills in our undergraduate curriculum. The project will take place from the end of May through to the summer. Full training will be provided.

What is the pay?

The pay for this role is £10.29/hour.

What are the hours?

  • 3 hours training (paid) – Wednesday 25 May 14.00-17.00. Attendance and participation in the full 3 hours of training is mandatory. We will be unable to provide catch-up sessions or recordings of the training.
  • Training will take place on Zoom
  • There will then be a minimum of 6 hours per student of additional work to be completed remotely at a time to suit you. Depending on the number of students who attend the training there may be up to 20 additional hours available.

What will the role involve?

  • Students will be mapping the Sustainable Develop Goals (SDGs) and some other key sustainability elements against modules from course and modules at the University of Kent
  • We will be using the online course and modules list that gives an overview of each Module
  • Students will read the overview of the module, and then fill in our online form with your scores mapping them to the SDGs and ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) framework
  • Once students have completed the mapping, we will collate the answers to get a picture of the University’s inclusion of the SDGs.

Application closing date is 8 May 2022.

Find out more and apply.

 

Destination success bootcamp

Destination Success Bootcamp – free 3 day programme

Our Careers and Employability Service are running an exciting 3-day programme – ‘Destination Success Bootcamp’. This is a 3-day intensive training programme with the purpose of helping you map out your journey to success and build confidence in your abilities. This programme is suitable to those across all years, including recent graduates.

This programme will be delivered face to face on the Canterbury Campus (Tuesday 24 May – Thursday 26 May). Each day will start at 10.00 allowing time for those traveling from Medway. You need to attend every day in order to gain a plan on the programme.

The programme will focus on:

Understanding you – This module aids self-reflection so you can better understand how you work, this will include completing a personality profile, exploring your personal values, your strengths and development areas, imposter syndrome and the power of positivity, finishing with looking at what you want to get out of life.

Navigating you – This module with focus on how to nurture and build good relationships, focusing on team dynamics, exploring learning styles and rules of teamwork, having challenging conversations and how to communicate in the workplace.

Universal Life Hacks – This final module will give you a toolbox of ideas to hit the ground running, including decision making, planning, prioritising and delegating, mapping your skills and looking at whether you would employ yourself.

See the website for more information, including the joining instructions and to how to book your place.

If you have any queries, please email studyplus@kent.ac.uk

People walking in woodlands

Summer Term Ecotherapy sessions

Launching this term, join the Circle of Trees Group for seasonal sessions that aim to support good health and wellbeing by connecting you with nature. These sessions are run by East Kent Mind as part of the Kent Community Oasis Garden Partnership.

Benefits of Ecotherapy

Ecotherapy improves mental wellbeing and helps people to become more physically active. It gives people the skills to get back into work, training and education, and it helps people who are lonely or socially isolated to broaden their networks. These are all important factors that can prevent people developing a mental health problem to start with.

Summer Term Sessions

  • Session 1 – Thursday 12 May – 12.00-14.00 – Finding comfort in Nature at times of pressure
  • Session 2 – Thursday 19 May – 12.00-14.00 – Overcoming obstacles
  • Session 3 – Thursday 26 May – 12.00-14.00 – Honouring strengths and feelings
  • Session 4 – Monday 30 May – 14.00-16.00 – Finding power from within
  • Session 5 – Thursday 9 June 12.00-14.00 – ‘Old me, New me’
  • Session 6 – Monday 13 June – 12.00-14.00 – Shining our light

You are encouraged to sign up to all 6 to get the full benefits of the course but please do get in touch with us if you can only attend a few.

What does a session look like?

Each session will include a sensory awareness practice, a team-building nature based ice-breaker (30 mins) and a main task encapsulating the month’s energy (1 hour). All things we create will involve simple materials found in nature.  The Group concludes with sharing and tea and biscuits!

How to book

You can book onto the sessions and ask any questions you may have by emailing kentcog@kent.ac.uk where the KentCOG Coordinator Debi will be able to sign you up and answer any queries. You can also visit the Ecotherapy KentCOG website to learn more.

Email kentcog@kent.ac.uk to book your place

Residential Life Programme, college and community

Residential Life Assistant (plus accommodation discount)

Do you want to make an amazing student experience for students on-campus at Kent? Join the Residential Life Programme, gain invaluable work experience and get a huge discount on your on-campus accommodation for the 2022/23 academic year! Our Residential Life Assistants (RLAs) are at the heart of our College Communities.

You will build relationships both on and off campus, to develop the sense of belonging and community, whilst working together to create exciting events for your peers. This is an great opportunity to get flexible work experience alongside your studies, whilst actively contributing to a fantastic student experience at Kent.

Please read the Job Description, this provides a more in-depth description of the position available and requirements for applicants. To apply for the position, please provide us with a written statement, no longer than 500 words, expressing why you’d like to be considered for an RLA post and how your experience makes you the best candidate for the role. If you are successful, you will be invited to a short interview with the College and Community Life Team.

Please note, you will need to commit 12 hours a week and be in attendance at a training week on campus, to be arranged after the successful candidates have been selected.

Please send your application to hccl@kent.ac.uk  by Friday 6 May 2022.

We look forward to receiving your application, and hearing about how you would like to make living on campus a fun and memorable time for all!

Leadership elections, Kent Union

Nominations open: Kent Union VP Postgrad full-time officer

Kent Union have elected four of the full-time officers for the upcoming academic year and are looking for the fifth member of the team. They are running a by-election and asking students to vote for your representation once again.The Postgraduate Experience role is responsible for providing the postgraduate perspective on issues which impact their student experience. This role will be the lead officer on issues that may include postgraduate funding, training and support; academic issues such as supervision and GTA (Graduate Teaching Assistants) concerns; employment issues; welfare concerns such as finance and housing; and community development including events and activities out of term time alongside the Postgraduate Network.Election dates are as follows:

  • 25 April 12.00: Nominations open
  • 3 May 12.00: Nominations close
  • 12 May 7.00: Voting opens
  • 12 May 22.00: Voting closes
  • 13 May: Winner announcement

A full job description can be found in the resources section on the Kent Union elections webpage. If you, or someone you know, is interested in running for the role, you can recommend a friend (or yourself, we won’t judge!)Important dates for the successful candidate:

  • Wednesday 18 May: Officer team induction day on Canterbury campus
  • Sunday 26 June – Saturday 2nd July: Residential training in Faversham, Kent.

If you have any questions please email elections@kent.ac.uk and a member of the elections team will get back to you as soon as possible.Good luck!