From Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education & Student Experience 

Earlier this week, the UCU trade union announced a series of planned strike days in February and March as part of their long-running national dispute over pay, pensions and working conditions. If the strikes go ahead, it will be an unprecedented period of disruption for which I am very sorry – it is our sincere hope that a national agreement can be reached beforehand. In the meantime, we are working on contingency plans in a number of areas to limit the impact on your studies if the strikes do indeed go ahead.

We know from the action before Christmas that the impact of strike days is likely to be very different in different areas of the University. We will therefore send further information next week to reflect this, including where you will be able to find out more about what this means for you. There is more information on the background to the strikes on our industrial action student info pages.

Planned strike days

Strike days are due to take place at all universities across the country on the following days:

• Wednesday 1 February
• Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February
• Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 February inclusive
• Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23 February inclusive
• Monday 27 Feb to Thursday 2 March inclusive
• Thursday 16 to Friday 17 March
• Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 March inclusive

What we will do throughout

Strike negotiations take place nationally which means we cannot solve the dispute here at Kent. However, we continue to urge all parties to keep talking so they can find a way forward that balances staff being fairly rewarded for their hard work while recognising the financial pressures the country faces.

When I wrote last year, I set out our principles around industrial action which will remain throughout:

• We will do all we can to mitigate any impact on your studies
• We will never devalue your degree or coursework
• We will refund you for any direct expenses you incur as a result of strikes
• Any staff salaries saved as a result of strike days will be reinvested in your student experience 
• We will be open and transparent throughout

I will write again next week with more information on this, including the practical steps we are taking to ensure your studies continue throughout this.

Finding out more

I know how frustrating this will be and how many questions many of you will have. I want you all to have the opportunity to ask any questions around this directly so will be setting up a series of both online and in-person events in February where we can talk this through together. In the meantime, there is more information on the Industrial Action webpages including how and where you can chat to someone if you have any concerns about this.

Thank you for your patience with this very challenging situation, and I will be in touch again shortly.

January is often a tough month, with expectations high for the year. The days are dark, the weather is cold and it can be hard to get motivated. We’re here to help you crack those January blues and feel more energised and positive. That’s why we’ve reduced all our membership fees by 20% when you join between 16 January – 28 February 2023.

Already a Kent Sport member? Consider upgrading your membership to a package with even more benefits and save 20% when you do!

As a Premium Plus member, you have access to our whole fitness suite, a range of fitness classes, sports clubs, discounted fitness services and tennis tuition and UNIversal gym membership, which gives you access to over 60 other university gyms across the country! It can’t get much better right? Well, you might be surprised to hear it can! New for 2023 and part of the Premium Plus package, you can access a suite of FREE Les Mills virtual instructor classes every week!

What are you waiting for? Upgrade your membership at one of our sports receptions, or become a member today!

Kent Sport is launching a brand-new suite of virtual instructor classes (VIC), starting on 30 January 2023. Use your Premium Plus membership to access these new classes today or take advantage of our 20% off January membership offer today to join Kent Sport or upgrade your package.

It’s not what it seems. If you’re lacking space to work out, check out these Les Mills classes, which bring you virtual instruction in a physical setting, based in the fitness and dance studio at Kent Sport. Classes are scientifically designed to get results and improve physical agility and resilience. Hailed as one of the best fitness programmes, Les Mills offers a diverse range of virtual instructor classes for all abilities, in an exciting and cinematic environment.  Streaming throughout the day, VIC will run in conjunction with in-person classes, right here on-site.

Upcoming classes include:

• BODYPUMP™
• BODYCOMBAT™
• BODYBALANCE™
• BODYATTACK™
• CORE™
• RPM™
• SH’BAM™
• GRIT™
• THE TRIP™
• BARRE™
• SPRINT™

Read our blog to find out more about Les Mills and how you can start working out with VIC! Book all virtual and in-person instructor classes through your booking account as normal.

Not a Kent Sport member? You can still access classes with our range of membership options, including our Pay to Play option.

This week is going to be a busy one with Welcome Fairs, Environmentally Friendly Careers Week and much more! See a roundup of what’s on this week below.

Are you in your final year? The National Student Survey (NSS) opens today (Monday 23 January). Complete the NSS to have your say about your time at Kent. As a thank you, we’ll give you £10 credit on your KentOne card or a £10 voucher for the Deep End if you complete it by Sunday 5th February. Complete the NSS now.

Monday: The environment and your career, Covid Vaccine Pop-up and Wellbeing Cafe

What’s the environmental situation got to do with your career? Quite a lot actually… come along to this session about the context of environmental and socially sustainable careers to find out more.

NHS vaccination teams will be at the Old Bank, Canterbury campus TODAY 10:30-15:00 (Monday 23 January) to offer Covid-19 vaccinations.

All students are welcome to come along to the Wellbeing Café on Monday afternoons in term time, a space to connect with other students in a relaxed environment with a focus on promoting your wellbeing and mental health through activity.

Tuesday: The Big Fair and Managing Stress When You’re Busy

On Tuesday, make sure to head to Kent Union’s the Big Fair in the Sports Centre to discover sports clubs, societies or volunteering opportunities. It’s not too late to get involved!

Stress is something that affects everyone. This Study Plus online workshop focuses on how to manage stress wen you’re busy or have a heavy workload. Learn more about what stress is as well as practical tools to help manage it.

Wednesday: Medway Welcome Fair, Year In events and Welcome Global Hangout

Head to the Hub on Wednesday to discover your Union at the Medway Welcome Fair and meet sport clubs and societies. Plus, there’ll be plenty of freebies on offer.

All students are invited to welcome our new international students at the Welcome Week Global Hangout! Enjoy a wide range of activities, free food and music. Book your free ticket.

Have you considered adding a ‘Year In’ to your degree? Increase your employability and gain new skills by doing a year in a different subject. Sign up for this online Year In information session on Tuesday afternoon to hear about all the Year In options including a Year in a Language, Management and Journalism. This event will be followed by a series of more in-depth sessions giving greater detail about what is involved in specific Year In programmes. You should attend this overall info session in order to then attend other subject specific sessions you’re interested in.

Thursday: Careers in Sustainable Health Care and Tobogganing (Medway)

As part of Environmentally Friendly Careers Week, join this online event to learn about Careers in Sustainable Health Care. Speakers from a variety of areas of the NHS talk about sustainability and the NHS Green Strategy.

Give Tobogganing a go at a local snow sports centre in Medway! Tickets cost £3.

Postgraduate students are invited to this Welcome Back Coffee and Networking Morning for Postgraduates. Have a coffee and pastry and chat with the Graduate Researcher College (GRC) team and other PG students.

Friday: Holocaust Memorial Day

Friday is Holocaust Memorial Day. On 27 January at 16:00, you are invited remember pause and reflect by placing a battery-operated tea light in your window to honour Holocaust victims and show you stand against prejudice and hatred today. These candles are available free from Mandela Reception from Monday 23 January (open Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00) and from the Helpdesk in Drill Hall Library at Medway.

See more student events.

Opportunities

• Your new and improved ‘Progress Profile’ is ready to view. See your attendance and marks in an easy to evaluate format.
• Returning student accommodation applications are now open for September 2023. Find out the benefits of campus accommodation including how you can choose to live with your friends.
• Become more employable – add a Year In to your degree
• Last chance to get a Student Art Pass for a fiver. Gives you free entry to hundreds of museums and galleries across the UK, and 50% off major exhibitions. Only available until 31 January.

We’ve now been notified that UCU members will be on strike on Wednesday 1 February – this is part of a coordinated day of action by lots of other trade unions to protest changes to strike laws in the UK.

Not all lecturers are UCU members and not all members take strike action. We’ll be in touch ahead of the 1st with more information about what we’re doing to minimise the impact of any disruption at Kent and in the meantime urge all sides to keep talking in the interests of settling the current national dispute.

We are here to support you throughout industrial action and will provide regular updates.

Read more on the background to the strikes and what we are doing at Kent on the industrial action website.

With the days still short and a bit dank and grey, it’s easy to feel a bit gloomy in January, but there are things we can do shift our mindset. Psychology PhD student Kelly Dawson shares her advice for boosting your mental health this winter, together with information and opportunities from Student Support and Wellbeing staff at Kent.

Gratitude

Find five things you are grateful for today

Find five things that you are grateful for. These don’t have to be big mind-blowing things (though they can be of course). It could be the feel of your slippers as you slide your feet into them in the morning or the warmth of your coffee cup in your hand or the feel of your dog’s cold wet nose as they nudge you for a stroke. These were three things that happened to me within 15 minutes of being awake this morning. When you really focus on gratitude, that blue feeling just slips away.

Share the good (and not so good) bits of your week at the Wellbeing Café

The Wellbeing Café takes place every week (starts for this term on Monday 23 January 2023) and is a space to connect with other students in a relaxed environment with a focus on promoting your wellbeing and mental health through activity. Last term’s activities included a Positive Planner journaling session, a great tool for remembering to notice what you are grateful for. Find out more about the Wellbeing Café on the Student Support and Wellbeing Events calendar.

Mindfulness

Be present in this moment

We spend lots of our time reminiscing about the past or planning the future. But spending some time being fully immersed in the moment is really beneficial. Look around you, what can you see and hear? Are there any particular smells? What are your hands touching, how does that feel? Is it rough or smooth? Your senses are a great way to bring yourself right to the present moment. Spend a few minutes five times throughout the day focussing on your sensory experience.

Free mindfulness classes with a qualified instructor

Come along to the popular mindfulness meditation sessions – a great way to improve your wellbeing alongside other Kent students. They take place on Wednesdays at 13:00 online and 17:00 in-person. Find out more about Mindfulness at Kent.

Endorphins

Get out in nature, exercise, or take a cold shower

Get up early and go for a walk (or a run/cycle if that’s your thing), preferably in nature.  If you don’t enjoy nature, that’s no problem, don’t do something you don’t like. Try any form of exercise, from swimming to dancing in your kitchen! If exercise isn’t for you, then try turning your morning shower as cold as you can comfortably stand for a few seconds. Anything that gets your blood pumping will help your body release endorphins!

Come along to the community garden in Park Wood

Get outdoors in the allotment! The Kent Community Oasis Garden (KentCOG) is a project run by a collection of students, staff and community members working to create a sustainability hub centred around growing food. Go along to one of their open gardening sessions on Wednesday and Friday (10:00-14:00). Find out more about KentCOG.

Self-care

Set aside some of your day to do something that makes you feel good

Self-care is super important all of the time, but on cold dark days definitely do something for yourself that makes you feel good. Don’t just think about it, actually set aside part of your day in your calendar to make this happen – it can be reading a good book, taking a nap or meeting a friend.

Find something relaxing to read in Templeman Library

The new ‘Love to Read’ area in the Templeman Library Cafe has a collection of novels, best-selling books, self-help titles and e-books. You can borrow them as usual with your ID card, or sit in the cosy area and take a break from studying. Find out more about the Love to Read collection.

Need wellbeing support?

Have a look at the Student Support and Wellbeing webpages to find out about support services including a free, confidential counselling service and 24/7 online and phone support partners.

Written by Kelly Dawson (PhD researcher in Cognitive Neuropsychology), and Joshua Stevens (Student Services), 12.01.23