Category Archives: Student Guide

#UniKentWellbeing

Summer wellbeing activities at Kent

There’s lots going on at Kent this summer to help support your wellbeing. Check out our #UniKentWellbeing summer courses and workshops below, and have a look at the Student Support and Wellbeing events calendar to find out which of your regular groups are ongoing throughout the vacation.

😁 Self-confidence – online course Thursdays 15 June to 13 July, 14:00 – 15:30.

Join one of our counsellors in a small group setting to learn how to confront your inner critic and control your relationship with your thoughts.

✍️ Writing for wellbeing workshops – Tuesdays 27 June and 18 July, 14:00 – 15:00

A simple and rewarding way to connect with ourselves and play with creative writing as a means of self-expression. No writing experience needed!

🌱 Positive mental health workshops – Wednesday 21 June 14:30-16:00 and Sunday 9 July 11:00-12:30

What constitutes good mental health? We will discuss five ingredients that are foundations for evaluating progress in taking care of your mental wellbeing

🤝 Self-compassion group – Tuesdays 25 July to 15 August, 14:00 – 14:30

Learn techniques for showing yourself and others compassion, as well as how to cope with feeling overwhelmed, distressed and self-harming behaviours.

🔀 Managing change – online workshop – Monday 7 August, 10:00 – 11:00

Explore how to cope with common feelings surrounding change such as fear and disappointment and how to effectively manage change in a healthy way.

👣 Walk and talk – every Tuesday, 14:00-15:00

Let’s go for a walk where we can talk and explore. Led by mental health advisers, these sessions will run throughout the summer break.

Need more help or support for your wellbeing?

We’re still here for you during the summer vacation. Check out the Student Support and Wellbeing webpages to find out how to get in touch with us, and about accessing 24/7 support from our partner organisations wherever you are, whenever you need it. You can also find us on Instagram @UniKentSSW

Students and staff at Pride Canterbury with banners and flags

Events roundup: 5-11 June

This week, PG Summer continues with lots of events for postgrad students, including Postgraduate Careers Week events. And Happy Pride Month!

Monday 5 June: PG careers events (Medway)

There’s a wide range of events for Postgraduate Careers Week. On Monday you can attend an online session around academic adjacent careers in high education. Plus, there’s a CV Masterclass at Medway campus (and streamed online).

Tuesday 6 June: Considering a Master’s drop in and Zumba (Medway)

Considering a Master’s at Kent? Come along to a drop-in session outside Templeman Library to ask any questions about our courses and funding options.

On Tuesdays, as part of Medway Move, you can join a free Zumba class at The Hub!

Wednesday 7 June: GRC Annual Postgraduate Conference, Migration and Movement Creative Workshop and mindful colouring (Medway)

The Graduate and Researcher College’s Annual Postgraduate Conference brings together the postgraduate and postdoctoral community to recognise the excellence of research at Kent. There will be research talks, panel sessions, competitions and an exclusive postgraduate summer buffet to enjoy. Undergrads can also attend the conference as audience members.

‘Creative Expressions of Migration and Movement with Maryam Sandjari Hashemi’ in Nexus. London based Iranian artist Maryam will deliver this creative workshop, sharing her artwork and her journey as a migrant artist. Participants are invited to bring an object and its story to the group, and will be actively creating artwork using drawing, collage or other techniques.

Join the Medway Residential Life Assistants for some mindful colouring in the Oasis Lounge. De-stress with friends or come on your own.

Thursday 8 June: Coco the therapy dog and open-air cinema ‘Rocketman’

Coco the therapy dog is back in Nexus, Templeman Library on Thursday. Come along for a pet or a cuddle! There will also be mindful colouring on offer.

The Gulbenkian Open Air Film Festival’s final film this year is ‘Rocketman’, the musical fantasy about Elton John’s breakthrough years. This event is free to attend and non-ticketed, so you can just turn up on the day.

Weekend 10-11 June: Pride Canterbury

Pride Canterbury is this weekend! At Kent, we stand for Pride and will be marking the month in a number of ways, including sponsoring Pride Canterbury, with more than 100 of our staff and students set to join the parade this year! If you’d like to join the University of Kent section of the Pride March, you’ll need a free wristband which can be picked up from the Gulbenkian on Thursday and Friday 12:00-14:00 (first come first served). The parade is followed by live entertainment with food and drink in Dane John Gardens.

Opportunities

 

Windrush boat

Windrush exhibition: call for student contributions

Calling all painters, photographers, writers and artists! 

Are you a hobby artist? Do you love to paint and draw? Are you a photographer or a digital artist? 

Are you proud of your Windrush heritage? 

Did you grow up listening to stories from your parents, grandparents or great grandparents about what life in Britain was like for the sons and daughters of the Windrush? 

Do you want the opportunity to share those memories? 

Get involved in the Windrush exhibition

In honour of the 75th Anniversary of the Windrush Landing, and in preparation for Black History Month 2023, the #Black365 group is asking for students and staff who grew up listening to stories about the Windrush to contribute a piece of art, poetry, writing or video about their thoughts, views and memories of their families relationship with the Windrush, and with post-Windrush Britain. 

It could be an emotion or oral history expressed in paint, a linocut of the view of Tilbury Docks, a digital collage of photo’s, a recipe brought over by your grandparents the lyrics of a lullaby sung to you by your grandparents, a piece of music played at your parent’s wedding, a video of the stories your grandparents told you, absolutely anything that you think helps to embody the significance of the Windrush generation and the ongoing experiences of being Black in Britain throughout the 1950s, 60s 70s and beyond.  

All submissions will form part of an exhibition that will be hosted in Keynes College and online throughout October 2023. Any staff member or student (including those due to graduate in summer 2023) are welcome to contribute to the exhibition.  

Submission requirements

The only requirements are the following 

  • Each piece must be able to be wall hung or be able to be uploaded to a virtual exhibition space 
  • Each piece must reflect either your personal, family, or Black community experience of being part of the Windrush generation 
  • Each piece must be completed by and with us, ready for installation, on Monday 11 September 
  • The artist/contributor should have some personal connection to the Windrush or post-Windrush Britain 

If you have an existing work of art that you feel meets the brief then please feel free to submit that as your piece of art. The University will reimburse up to £20 per person for cost of materials.  

Interested? Get in touch

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Becky Lamyman on R.S.Lamyman@kent.ac.uk for the submission form ASAP or by the 10 June 2023. 

For more information, or if you have any queries, please get in contact with Becky.

PG Summer

PG Summer begins – what’s on

PG Summer runs from June to August and is a series of events for our postgraduate students to make friends, enjoy the sun and learn new skills over the summer at Kent.

PG Summer launches with the GRC Annual Postgraduate Conference on Wednesday 7 June in Sibson. The conference provides a platform for postgraduate researchers across various disciplines to showcase their research, share ideas and network with fellow researchers.

Each month of PG Summer has a different theme. June will focus on your career, July will be all about having fun and August will look at supporting your wellbeing. Between 5-9 June, the Careers and Employability Service and running a wide range of events for their Postgraduate Week, a week of careers workshops to support you in your next steps after your Master’s or PhD.

Events at PG Summer are aimed at postgraduate students, but all students are welcome to join any of the social events. So if you’re an undergrad staying on campus over summer, you’re still very welcome to come along and meet new friends!

Find out what’s on for PG Summer.

Members of the Kent Community Oasis Garden

Five reasons to love the Kent Community Oasis Garden

I was introduced to the Kent Community Oasis Garden (KentCOG) in my second year, coming along to the open sessions on Wed and Fri 10:00-14:00 when possible, fitting it around my studies. The project is such a warm, welcoming space. The volunteers and staff are lovely.

During a typical volunteering session, I might water the plants, plant more seeds, create a woodchip path, put in a fence, harvest crops that are ready, or paint flowerbeds. The work is varied and is very flexible based around your ability, needs, and mood.

There is always something to do and it is wonderful to be able to get stuck into an activity and properly switch off your mind. I always look forward to seeing the other volunteers. There are a wide variety of ages, knowledge and skills, and talking to people who come to the garden is always fascinating and lots of fun.

Bella’s top five reasons to love KentCOG:

  • Mental health: get outdoors and feel a sense of accomplishment at what you’ve achieved.
  • Physical health: planting, pruning and digging doesn’t feel like exercise, but it is!
  • Spending time offline: you can’t use your phone when you’re wearing gardening gloves!
  • Get closer to nature: the sound of birdsong, and fresh air of the outdoors.
  • Eat local food: volunteers can take home some of the veg that’s grown at the garden.

Like the sound of this? Gardening sessions take place on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:00-14:00. Find out more on the KentCOG webpage, or follow them on Instagram.

Written by Isabella Sabin-Dawson (Final Year student) and Joshua Stevens (Student Services staff), 23.05.23

Group smiling at Summer Ball

Events roundup: 30 May – 4 June

We hope you had a good bank holiday weekend!

June marks the start of PG Summer  – activities and events for postgrad students. June’s theme is your career!

Find out what’s on this week:

Tuesday 30 May: How to find opportunities abroad and Kent Union Activities Awards

Interested in working abroad as part of your degree, summer break or after graduation? Join this online session about how to find opportunities abroad.

Kent Union’s Activities Awards are on Tuesday evening, celebrating the very best societies, fundraisers and volunteers of the year.

Wednesday 31 May: Kent Community Oasis Garden, PGR wellbeing session and academic skills (Medway)

Consider volunteering at Kent Community Oasis Garden, located near Park Wood. Everyone is welcome at the Kent Community Oasis Garden, whether you’re an expert gardener, a complete beginner, or just coming along for a chat.

Are you a postgrad research student or considering becoming one in the future? Join this online session with nationally recognised expert on university mental health and wellbeing Gareth Hughes. Gareth is author of the Wellbeing Thesis, an online resource for postgraduate research students.

Need some help with your studies? Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) are holding academic skills drop-in sessions at the Drill Hall Library.

Thursday 1 June: Campus litter pick and ‘Shaun of the Dead’ open-air film showing

Join the Conservation Society for a litter pick on campus. It’s an opportunity to get outdoors, earn Employability Points and a make a difference to our campus.

This week’s open-air cinema showing is zombie comedy ‘Shaun of the Dead’! The film will be showing outside the Gulbenkian, with food and drink available to purchase.

Friday 2 June: Bubble football and photography walk

Give bubble football a go with the Eliot Residential Life Assistants and Kent Sport. Bubble football will be followed by a mini pizza party. This event is free but places are limited, so book on now.

Learn how to utilise your phone camera on our photography walk with the Photography Society. Explore the best places to take photos on campus and learn new photography skills.

Saturday 3 June: Summer Ball

Kent Union’s ultimate end of year party is back! The Summer Ball means Canterbury campus transforms into a one night only festival with live music, free fairground rides and themed areas! Don’t forget to buy your ticket.

Reminders

 

Moving out: Waste and recycling advice

As the end of the academic year approaches you will be preparing to leave your accommodation, which usually means a good sort out of all the stuff you’ve gathered over the last year too!

We want to be as environmentally conscious as possible so we’ve made sure there are lots of ways you can donate or recycle items easily – and we ask that you try and keep your disposals into the general waste as low as possible.

The Waste and Recycling Team have collected some useful info below for you on the best solution to recycle/dispose of common items. But if in doubt please contact estatesfmcoordinator@kent.ac.uk for advice, or look on our waste and recycling website.

If you do have to throw something away, did you know one item misplaced into a recycling bin makes all the contents of that bin unviable for recycling?

Please take care and avoid contaminating recycling bins with general waste. Remember Black bags should only be used for general waste, clear recycling sacks should be used for all your recycling and spare sacks are available at college receptions.

  • Duvets and pillows: The best option for your duvets and pillows is to take them home with you for cleaning and re-use. Alternatively, donate to Campus Pantry (see below) or a local charity – try Catching Lives in Canterbury (homeless charity) or another local charity.  We don’t have a recycling facility for these items so if you are unable to re-use yourself or donate to a charity they should be placed in the general waste bins in your nearest bin compound).
  • Electrical items: If you have any small electrical item to dispose of, place these in one of the four yellow WEEE bins on campus (See map for locations), avoid the general/waste bins.  Items in good working order can be put into one of the British Heart Foundation containers on campus.
  • Clothes, shoes, linen, DVDs and books:  Place in one of the eight British Heart Foundation containers on campus (see map for locations).  Free bags are available from college receptions and the Estate Customer Services Reception.  The donation containers will be emptied regularly during the departures period.
  • New/unused food, cooking utensils or new/unopened personal hygiene products: Can all be donated to the Campus Pantry where they’ll be available for other students who need them. All food must be non perishable and in-date and example personal hygiene products include toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, sanitary products etc. See more information including where drop off points are available. 

A map is also available which shows your nearest bins and recycling locations.

Student working behind a bar

Paid roles: summer catering jobs

Are you looking to earn some money this summer?

Kent’s Catering Team are currently seeking warm, positive people with bags of energy to help out over the busy summer season.

Ideal candidates must be reliable, punctual, and possess excellent communication skills. They should have a friendly and approachable personality, with the ability to work well in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.

If you’re looking to start a career in hospitality, or just want to learn new skills while you study, this could be the perfect job for you!

Responsibilities will include:

  • Greeting customers and taking orders
  • Serving food and drinks in a timely and efficient manner
  • Ensuring a clean and organised dining/kitchen area
  • Handling payments

Candidates must be available to work flexible hours (possibly including evenings and weekends), throughout the summer season. Prior experience is not necessary, but it is desirable.

How to apply

If you’re interested in applying for this role (Food & Beverage Assistant), please send your CV, along with a potential start date, to catering@kent.ac.uk

Flexible casual contract with a total hourly rate equal to £7.83 – £10.89p/h (depending on age),

Application deadline: Friday 16 June 2023

Student putting book on shelf in library

Returning your library books

As we move closer to the end of the academic year, we’d like to encourage you to return your library books to the Templeman Library.

Please take any opportunity when you’re visiting campus to return books you no longer need, especially if you’re a final year student and are leaving Kent this year, or are going to be away from campus over the summer. Books you have borrowed can still be reserved by other people during the vacation.

Your options for returning books

  • If you’re on the Canterbury campus, use the book returns drop off point in the Welcome Hall or the external book drop on Library Road.
  • If you live in the Medway area, you can return Templeman Library books to the Drill Hall Library at the Universities of Medway campus.
  • Posting books: depending on weight and volume, you could consider breaking up a large parcel into smaller ones. Courier services might be cheaper than Royal Mail and pick up the parcel from you. Whatever method you use, please make sure you get a receipt.

Our postal address is:  

Book Returns, 
Templeman Library, 
University of Kent, 
Canterbury, Kent, 
CT2 7NU

If you’re unable to return your books by any of these methods, please get in touch with the Library and we’ll work out a solution with you.

Contact the Library Team

Please contact us if you need any help or advice around returning books or any other library or IT query. Our staff are here to help you: 

Three students smiling and doing mindful colouring

Events roundup: 22-28 May

Find out what’s on this week:

Monday 22 May: Graduation action plan workshop

Are you graduating this year? Come along to this Careers workshop to make your own career action plan.

Tuesday 23 May: Paint a tote bag, CV help and yoga (Medway)

Take a break from exams and paint a tote bag in the Venue! Tote bags will be provided, or you can bring your own.

On Tuesday, the Careers and Employability Service are running a session on the essentials of writing CVs and cover letters as well as a specific session for academic CVs for aspiring lecturers and researchers. Both these events will take place in Eliot and be streamed online.

As part of Medway Move, you can join a weekly yoga session to de-stress in the Hub on Tuesday lunchtimes.

Wednesday 24 May: Language taster sessions and study skills drop in (Medway)

Would you like to learn a new language? On Wednesday there are lots of Study Plus language taster sessions. Languages on offer include Japanese, Mandarin, Arabic, French and more!

The Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) are at the Drill Hall Library on Wednesday afternoon for a study skills drop-in session.

Thursday 25 May: Therapy dog, Politics live panel event and open-air cinema

‘Pause for Paws’ at Nexus in Templeman Library. Come and meet Coco the therapy dog for a pet or a cuddle. Plus, there’s also a book swap and mindful colouring on offer.

The School of Politics and International Relations is hosting a live panel event with some of its world-leading researchers to provoke discussion around protest, dissident voices, strikes, terrorism and political frustration. The event is taking place at the Gulbenkian Arts Centre and is free and open to all. Sign up now.

The Gulbenkian open-air cinema returns this week with 90s rom com ‘Pretty Woman’. The Gulbenkian Open Air Film Festival is free and non-ticketed so you can just turn up on the day.

Weekend (27-28 May): Chatham Maritime Food and Drink Festival

The Chatham Maritime Food and Drink Festival is taking place this weekend, offering food and drink from award-winning local producers. The highlight of the event is the Dragonboat Race on Sunday, and the Universities at Medway will have a boat in the race!

Opportunities