Here’s a roundup of the top events this week. And huge congrats to our students who are graduating this week! #KentGrads

Monday: Medway Pool Tournament

Get to know new people by playing a game of pool in the Oasis Lounge at the Medway Pool Tournament. This event is hosted by your Medway Residential Life Assistants, come by yourself or bring a friend.

Wednesday: Warner Bros. Studio Tour, DHM events and free talk on Sleep

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Explore iconic sets and discover what it took to bring the Harry Potter films to life at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Kent Union at a discounted ticket price (travel included).

On Tuesday you can join some Disability History Month (DHM) events including plant pot painting inspired by sunflowers, often used as a visual clue for those with hidden disabilities. Plus a DHM workshop about accessibility and coming up with ideas for inclusion, and a chance to kickstart your career with Change 100 and learn how to ask for adjustments in the workplace.

The Medway Talks open lecture series continues with a free talk ‘Sleep and our Biological Clock’, by Professor Gurprit Lall, who is a neuroscientist based at Medway School of Pharmacy. Open to all, but registration is required. Sign up now.

Thursday: Cultural Food Festival and industrial action support drop-in

Thursday is a UCU strike day, so your teaching may be affected today. The College and Community Life Team will be offering drop-in support sessions for any students affected by the industrial action. You can head to Locke Building between 9:00-17:00 to chat to one of the Residential Life Assistants or College Life Officers. Find out how to prepare for a strike day.

On Thursday evening, come along to Rutherford Dining Hall for a Cultural Food Festival! Find out about other cultures as our student groups will be there throughout the night serving up their dishes for all to try.

Friday: Celebrate Consent, Bubble Football and industrial action support drop-in

Friday is a UCU strike day, so your teaching may be affected today. The College and Community Life Team will be offering drop-in support sessions for any students affected by the industrial action. You can head to Locke Building between 9:00-17:00 to chat to one of the Residential Life Assistants or College Life Officers. Find out how to prepare for a strike day.

Celebrate consent with craft, books and action at Nexus in Templeman Library. Drop by and have a look at the ‘Consent. Get it. Full Stop.’ book list, pick up a free bookmark, and take part in craft activities including badge making. You can also make your pledges for the #ConsentGetIt campaign.

At Medway, have a laugh playing Bubble Football. No football experience required!

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Opportunities

• Take the Cost of Living Survey – aims to understand how the cost of living crisis has impacted you and how we can best support you.
• Last chance to complete travel plan survey and potentially win up to £150 on your KentOne card or for a voucher at the Deep End. Survey closes tonight (23:59 Monday 21 November)
• Do you have an idea for a cultural event or celebration? Apply to the WorldFest Bitesize Fund for a financial award of up to £250 to run a multicultural event.
• ‘Twin your Toilet’ on campus for World Toilet Day! Make sure to report any faults with toilets to Estates Customer Services or the Home at Halls app.

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This week marks the start of Disability History Month (16 November – 16 December). Look out for talks and interactive events this month that celebrate progress in disability support.

It’s also Transgender awareness Week. Find out more about support for trans and non-gender conforming students.

Monday: Virtual Strike Forum

Kent Union is holding a Virtual Strike Forum 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. Hear both sides of the dispute with members of UCU and the University’s Senior Leadership offering their perspectives.

Tuesday: Journaling workshop and Games Afternoon

Wondering if journaling could be for you? Try out this online Study Plus Journaling for Time Management and Wellbeing workshop. You’ll explore a variety of techniques that you can take away and use immediately, designed to support self-care, creativity and life management skills.

At Medway you can head to the Deep End for a Games Afternoon on Tuesday. Meet new friends and discover new boardgames.

Wednesday: Tech and Tea (Canterbury), Interfaith Symposium Buffet and Strike Forum

Try out some assistive technology over a cup of tea and a biscuit in Keynes. Meet the Accessible Information Team and try out some assistive technology that could help you while studying at uni.

As part of Interfaith Week, join us for the Interfaith Symposium Buffet. Listen to a series of mini talks by representatives of various faith traditions on this year’s theme ‘Faith and Food’. There will be a vegan buffet provided to allow people to continue conversations about how different faiths celebrate food through feasting and fasting. Open to all students, whether religious or non-religious.

If you missed the previous Strike Forums, you can join in person on Wednesday afternoon and hear both sides of the dispute with members of UCU and the University’s Senior Leadership offering their perspectives.

Thursday: British Heart Foundation pop-up shop and Tea and Tech (Medway)

On Thursday we will have a British Heart Foundation pop-up shop in the Colyer Fergusson Foyer, on the right hand side of the Gulbenkian. Come along and grab a bargain, perhaps a new party dress for Christmas, or a new winter coat!

Try out some assistive technology over a cup of tea and a biscuit in Medway Building.  Meet the Accessible Information Team and try out some assistive technology that could help you while studying at uni.

Friday: Inspiration Paralympian Talk and Global Hangout

Millie Knight is a four times Paralympic medallist, three times Paralympian and two times world champion. To add to this impressive list of achievements, Millie is also National and Commonwealth Karate Champion! Visually impaired from a young age, Millie will be providing an inspirational talk at Kent on her journey to success. Taking place in Darwin (and streamed online). Book your place now.

Enjoy a wide range of activities and food, meet fellow like-minded students and learn about various international holidays at the Global Hangout on Friday. Open to all students, taking place in Colyer-Fergusson Foyer.

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Opportunities

• Take the Cost of Living Survey – aims to understand how the cost of living crisis has impacted you and how we can best support you.
• Register your interest to live on campus next year. Take the hassle out of house hunting and worrying about deposits or rising bill payments by choosing to live on campus.
• Enter the Canterbury Safer Streets logo competition
• £3 meal deal in Rutherford Dining Hall
• How do you travel to, from and around campus? Complete the Travel Plan Survey for chance to win upto £150 on your KentOne card, or a voucher for the Deep End at Medway.
• Do you have an idea for a cultural event or celebration? Apply to the WorldFest Bitesize Fund for a financial award of up to £250 to run a multicultural event.
• Ten Kent students will win £1,000 for simply registering online with the Santander Scholarship programme by 20 November. Register for free now

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

Monday: Happy Halloween!

There’s some fun Halloween events on Monday including Halloween themed Zumba, Spookyoke at K-Bar, and a Halloween Escape Room at The Hub!

Tuesday: Addiction open lecture and help with CVs and cover letters

Join the open lecture about Addiction from Keith Humphreys, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at Stanford University, California. The lecture is on the topic of ‘Addiction: What it is, how it happens, and how people recover’ and will be in the Moot Chamber of the Wigoder building. Free and open to all, book your place.

Need some help with your CV or cover letter? The Careers and Employability Service are running an interactive session covering the essentials of writing an effective CV and cover letter. The event is taking place in Darwin and will also be livestreamed.

Wednesday: Leading Routes workshop and Sustainability interactive session

Leading Routes aims to empower the next generation of Black academics. Join this session on accessing postgraduate research, open to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Lunch and refreshments will be provided for attendees.

Find out what Kent is doing about the Climate Crisis and your role in sustainability advocacy. You will begin to explore and develop the skills for sustainability – Global Citizenship, Cultural Awareness and Leadership.

Thursday: Waterfront Leisure tours and International Wellbeing Group

Based in Medway? Waterfront Leisure on Pier Road has recently re-opened its doors after an extended period of closure. They are keen to partner with the Universities at Medway, with an Open Day on Thursday 3 November where they will give tours for Waterfront Leisure and discuss discounted membership options.

On Thursday afternoon we have our International Wellbeing Group, an online weekly peer support group for international students at Kent with games, chats and support.

Saturday: Wild Wellbeing crafting and Bonfire Night celebrations

Enjoy some time in nature on Saturday and join East Kent Mind and the Kent Community Oasis Garden team for a craft session making leaf lanterns.

Remember remember the 5^th of November… There are multiple fireworks displays taking place on Saturday evening across Canterbury and Medway, including at Great Lines Heritage Park in Gillingham (free), and Tyler Hill in Canterbury.

Or if you’re not a fan of fireworks, head to KLT4 in Keynes for a Bonfire Film Night instead.

See more student events.

Opportunities

• Share your experiences with disability and become involved in a campaign to raise awareness this Disability History Month (16 Nov- 16 Dec)
• Apply for the Postgraduate Community Experience Awards – funding to help improve the postgraduate experience at Kent
• Book your place at the Postgraduate Open Event, Wednesday 16 November
• Enter the ‘Images of Calm’ photo competition

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This week is the final week of Black History Month. Don’t forget to check out the Black Pioneers Exhibition in Keynes atrium and the Drill Hall Library before the end of the month! Plus other events to help your wellbeing and get you in the mood for Halloween.

Monday: Volunteering opportunities

Find out about the variety of ways you can volunteer – both virtually and in person – at this online session. Volunteering is a great way to gain experience and develop your employability skills. This session will go through the different types of opportunities which are available and how you can make the most of them.

Tuesday: Eat the Garden, Black Owned Business Market and Managing Stress and Anxiety

Make soup using garden produce, meet new people and Eat the Garden at the Kent Community Oasis Garden. The KentCOG Coordinator will take on a guided tour of the garden, harvesting autumn produce to make soup with. Spend some time outside, learn more about good food and how it makes us feel.

If you’re looking for ways to manage stress and anxiety, this practical workshop will give you research-based strategies and will focus on how mindfulness practice can give you tools to build your resilience in the face of study, work and life challenges.

Come along to the Black Owned Business Market in Venue on Tuesday afternoon. Support your fellow students who will be showcasing their businesses and selling products.

Wednesday: Medway Talks open lecture series begins

On Wednesday evening Medway Talks, the open lecture series run by University of Kent, Greenwich, and Canterbury Christ Church, kicks off with a talk by Professor Alex Stevens from University of Kent: ‘Drugs: what are the problems and how can we solve them?’ The talks are open to students, staff and the local community. They are free of charge but registration is required. There will also be refreshments available on arrival.

Thursday: Climate Café and spooky events

If you find yourself feeling anxiety around the Climate Crisis, consider going along to the Climate Café. It’s a safe space to share fears about the climate crisis without judgement or advice, and a place to connect with others.

On Thursday there are lots of events happening to help you get in a spooky mood, including Pumpkin Carving at the Venue, a Rutherford College Tim Burton Movie Night and Creepy Crawlies Encounter at The Hub, Medway.

Weekend: Halloween events

On Saturday join your Medway Residential Life Assistants, Holly and Cole, for the Medway Spooky Quiz in the Oasis Lounge.

Do you like scary films? On Sunday, come along to Eliot Lecture Theatre 2 for an Eliot Scary Movie Night. Open to all students.

See more events for students

Opportunities

• Do you know an inspirational student or student group?
• Leading Routes – empowering the next generation of Black academics. Sign up for Leading Routes workshops at Canterbury campus for both UG and PG students
• Food for Thought survey about our catering outlets at Canterbury campus. Leave feedback and be entered into monthly prize draw to win a £20 catering voucher to spend on campus
• Interested in pursuing a PhD with CHASE or SeNSS? Learn more and sign up for workshops
• Sign up for Exploring Intersectionality support group for Women of Colour
• Student expectations survey for first year students – chance to win £300 Amazon voucher. Closes Monday 24 October at 17.00.

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EmpFest continues this week with plenty of events including the South East Virtual Careers Fair on Wednesday. You can also get involved with more Black History Month events this week.

Monday: Wellbeing Café and EmpFest events

Following on from World Mental Health Day’s event last week, the Wellbeing Café is back on Monday. It’s a space to connect with other students in a relaxed environment with a focus on promoting your wellbeing and mental health through activity.

Plus lots more EmpFest events including sessions on Commercial Awareness and How to get started on LinkedIn at Medway, and Business Start-Up Journey workshop and Resilience when looking for employment at Canterbury.

Tuesday: Q&A with Radio 1 DJ and prep for the Careers Fair

As part of Black History Month, join this Q&A with Radio 1 DJ Fee Mack. Fee Mak is a Radio and TV Presenter based in London. She is the host of the BBC 1Xtra Breakfast show on Sundays, 19.00-11.00 and an alumna of Kent.

Find out how to prepare for the virtual Careers Fair including practical basics, how to do your research and what to talk about with employers.

Wednesday: South East Virtual Careers Fair and Being Black at Kent      

Don’t miss the South East Virtual Careers Fair, open to all students. Meet with a wide range of employers to find out about graduate and undergraduate opportunities. We recommend you build your profile and review the attending employers in advance, so you can get the most from the event.

Join the Business Start-Up Journey 2022/23 Canterbury Launch and get inspired hearing from entrepreneur Emay Enemokwu as he shares his story of founding global streetwear brand JEHU-CAL, while he was a student at Kent.

You’re invited to the Courageous Conversations: Being Black at Kent event, where you’ll hear from a panel of Kent academics and students who will be discussing what it means to be Black at Kent. This event is in collaboration with UKCNS and ACS and supported by the University, Kent Union and the Student Success Project.

Thursday: International Student Experience Fair and Rutherford Game Night

All International and European students are welcome to join us for the 2022 International Student Experience Fair in Darwin board room. Enjoy an afternoon of cake and refreshments and find out more about the support services and opportunities available to international students.

Rutherford Residential Life Assistants will be hosting a Mafia Game and Pizza Night on Thursday.

Friday: Drag Bingo at Mungo’s and Movie Night at The Deep End

Head to Mungo’s on Friday evening for a glitzy bingo night with drag performances, four fun-filled games of bingo, and outrageous campery!

Get in the spooky mood on Friday with a Movie Night at The Deep End. A light-hearted Halloween movie followed a horror-themed movie, both with popcorn!.

Opportunities

• Ten Kent students will win £1,000 for simply registering online with the Santander Scholarship programme by 20 November. Register for free now.
• Get involved in the Black Student Voices project.
• What makes you smile? Medway photo competition extended until 21 October. Enter for chance to win Amazon vouchers.