Mental health support at work
It is recognised that people need a healthy level of both mental and physical health to underpin a positive sense of overall wellbeing. It is also known that there are many factors in our lives which can affect our mental health and wellbeing. Our experience at work can be a major influence. Additionally, if we are experiencing problems with our mental health which are not intrinsically related to our work, the support available in our workplaces can be a big positive or negative factor.

41% of people reported experiencing mental health symptoms caused or worsened by work in the past year
A joint report by Business in the Community & BUPA in 2021 produced statistics related to mental ill health and work. It stated that 41% of people reported experiencing mental health symptoms caused or worsened by work in the past year. Also, 51% of those surveyed reported that the poor mental health they felt related to work was due to pressure. However, the good news was that 76% of people said that their colleagues were supportive of their mental health needs and 69% of managers were the same.

Support available at Kent 
We have a great deal of support in place for colleagues who feel affected by symptoms of poor mental health and for those who are diagnosed with mental health problems. There is a

• Thriving @ Work group which has worked on implementing the recommendations of the Stephenson-Farmer government review; its work has built on counselling and support provisions implemented by University and Occupational Health (OH), like the Employee Assistance Programme and funded psychotherapy.
• The Thriving @ Work group work has underpinned training available through Talent & Organisational Development (T&OD) in various areas of mental health support and understanding; the training is available for individuals and managers.
• When it carried out its needs assessment, the Thriving @ Work group could see problems with communicating available support for staff, so the the Mental Health Support One Stop Shop webpages were created. The information on all support available for staff is accessible there plus advice on how to access it.

Training on mental health subjects can be viewed and accessed on the T&OD webpages. Courses scheduled are:

• ‘Understanding Depression’ on 02/03/22
• ‘Understanding Stress & Anxiety’ on 23/03
• ‘Introduction to Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing’ on 11/05
• ‘Mental Health Training for Line Managers’ on 25/05

Mental Health Allies
Another important development was setting a Mental Health Allies network. This is someone who seeks out opportunities to learn more about mental health, advocates for people with mental health problems and looks for ways to support them while modelling behaviour which supports positive mental health. T&OD is offering training to staff who want to fulfil the role of a Mental Health Ally at the University. The first cohort of trainees went through the course last year. Contact T&OD to find out when the next course will be running.

OH Rehabilitation Programme
Finally, it is worth a reminder that staff who need time away from work due to mental health problems can be supported back to work gradually and safely by an OH rehabilitation programme. Management need to be essentially involved in this; they have to initiate OH involvement by completing a Management Referral. This process ensures that the individual being referred has sight of any paperwork before it is sent to OH; signatures of both parties are required for this purpose.

It’s really important that all staff know how much there is available to support their mental health needs. When you read this article, please make others aware by passing it on.

Resources:

University of Kent Staff Mental Health One Stop Shop

University of Kent Employee Assistance Programme, (USERNAME: uokent |PASSWORD: university. The Freephone number for the service is 0808 168 2143)

University of Kent Staff Health and Wellbeing webpages

University of Kent Staff Occupational Health webpages

University of Kent Training & Organisational Development webpages

‘Mental Health at Work: building back responsibly’: joint report by Business in the Community & BUPA

Annual Cathedral Concert returns with Haydn and Mendelssohn Saturday 12 March

The annual Colyer-Fergusson Concert by the Music department returns to Canterbury Cathedral from the first time since 2019, and features two electrifying works – the drama of Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Mendelssohn’s vibrant First Symphony – on Saturday 12 March at 7.30pm.

The University Chorus and Symphony Orchestra will be joined by stellar soloists, and in particular two University alumni, for Haydn’s choral masterpiece, and the Nave will also resound to the vigour of Mendelssohn’s youthful symphony. The concert, conducted by Head of Music Performance, Dan Harding, brings together students, staff, alumni and members of the local community, with the Orchestra led by second-year Biosciences postgraduate student, violinist Kammy Pike.

Tickets and details are here.

Join us for one of the highlights of the University’s performing year!

Join the University of Kent Players and get involved with a brand new production for 2022

Save the date!
Death in the Diner | An interactive murder mystery event
20 – 21 May 2022 | Mungo’s

Knickerbocker Gloria’s is the gaudiest American themed diner in town, known for their milkshakes, roller skates and cheap chips. There was nothing unusual about the hustle and bustle of the evening crowd until a piercing scream of “murder” rippled through the diner. The body found stabbed, bloody and covered in sprinkles, Gloria’s murderer can’t have gotten far… But can your team deduce what led to the Death in the Diner?

In this interactive murder mystery event, your team will interview the murder’s suspects, examine the evidence, and try to avoid the sneaky red herrings. Put your sleuthing skills to the test and work together to catch the killer.

Get involved!
The University of Kent players is looking for new members to work towards the production! There are plenty of ways to get involved from acting to front of house and tech support. We also have an exciting improvisation workshop from Kent alumni the Pantaloons which you can sign up for today!

Meet up with fellow actors and theatre enthusiasts, and make new friends from across the university and enrich your life at Kent. You don’t need any previous experience to get involved, just be welcoming, friendly and supportive of your peers!

Death in the Diner Auditions
We have a range of roles available for this show and we would love to have you involved! You do not need any previous experience and rehearsals will provide you with the tools to act and improvise as one of our devious suspects. We will be holding auditions for this production on the following dates:

Wednesday 16 March | 17:30 – 19:30 | Keynes senior common room (KSCR)
Tuesday 22 March | 12:30 – 14:00 | Eliot College common room

For more information please get in touch with us on the email below.

Pantaloons improvisation workshop – Saturday 2 April | 10:00 – 13:00
Come along for a half day workshop with professional improv group the Pantaloons. Learn new, fun techniques in a series of improvisation games and activities. This session is open to all members and non-members for a small fee.

To sign up or to get more information please email players@kent.ac.uk

How to get involved
If you would like to get involved or have an interest in acting, directing, technical directing or anything theatrical get in touch with us on players@kent.ac.uk

We also have a new Players Microsoft Teams channel for updates, chat and social gatherings.

You can also follow us on social media for regular updates and events!

Instagram: @unikentplayers
Facebook: @unikentplayers
Twitter: @unikentplayers

We are deeply saddened and concerned by the invasion of Ukraine and our thoughts are with any of our students and staff who have been affected by the escalating conflict. 

Over the past week we have identified several staff and students from Ukraine and Russia and have taken immediate steps to support these individuals. Additionally, we have been supporting students based in both countries to ensure we can get them to a safe place as quickly as possible. Teams are also tracing any further staff or students who have travelled to the regions to make sure they can access the help they need.

We understand this is a worrying time and we are here to help. Here are a range of support services available for both staff and students, including:

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Kent Student Support and Wellbeing
• Student LGBTQ+ Support Pages
• The LGBTQ+ Staff Network
• BAME Staff Network
• BAME Student Network
• Student Support and Wellbeing’s blog about being mindful of your mental health during world events.
• Wellbeing Drop-in Sessions for students
• Managing uncertainty and anxiety caused by world events
• Helping children cope with world conflict
• Publicity Calendar special – Ukraine conflict – Our Employee Assistance Programme are hosting two webinars. The first one on the 10 March is to help you manage uncertainty and anxiety caused by world events. The second on the 15 March is to help children cope with world conflict. 

We will provide further updates once we are clear on any developments that impact our students, staff, or university.

The Creative Access Showcase as part of Creative Careers week will be taking place on Monday 7 March from 17.00-18.00.

This virtual high visibility event will include a panel of creative professionals and alumni from Creative Access, who’ll share their creative journeys, what their current roles entail, top tips and guidance. The event is designed to appeal to all students, not only candidates from Black, Asian and diverse ethnic groups, disabled people or those from lower-socioeconomic backgrounds.

The event will be made up of speaker introductions, panel discussion followed by Q&A.  

Find out more about the creative professionals involved:

April Brown – Programme Manager, Creative Access

April specialises in developing and managing inclusive, multi-disciplinary programmes for emerging creatives. She holds an MA in Arts & Cultural Management from King’s College London and has worked with a range of organisations including Somerset House, Tate, LIFT and Theatre Royal Stratford East.  She is committed to supporting diverse talent to flourish.  

Rami Kadri, Digital Marketing Manager – MUSIC   

Rami is a Digital Marketing Manager with over eight years’ experience in the music industry and runs her own digital marketing agency – Two Tabs Social. She has led on a number of ground breaking social campaigns including two of the biggest and most successful artist campaigns across the Sony Music group for Little Mix. More recently she has worked with artists such as Ms Banks, Pa Salieu, Potter Payper, Loski and Ivorian Doll as well as companies including Warner Music, 0207 Def Jam, LiveNation and Since93. Rami studied Criminology and Social Policy at the University of Kent.  

Lydia Hamilton-Morl, Programme & Digital Editor, ITV News – TELEVISION 

  Lydia has spent eight years working in television news, travelling around the British Isles with ITV, after studying Journalism at the University of Kent. She currently produces ITV Border’s flagship six o’clock news programme, Lookaround, leading a team of journalists to create bold and distinctive TV news programmes and online content. She strives towards creating an inclusive workplace and providing her audience with diversity in storytelling.  

Alisha Artry, Neighbourhood Theatre Producer at Young Vic – THEATRE   

Alisha is a Creative Producer from South London and advocate for change through the arts. She has been working in Theatre since graduating from the University of Kent with a Drama and Film degree. She has worked in Participation at the Lyric Hammersmith, Frantic Assembly and is currently the Neighbourhood Theatre Producer in the Taking Part department at the Young Vic. Alisha is the Co-Founder of the producing company Sculptress working with talent to cultivate new and exciting stories to share with audiences.

To take part follow this  Zoom webinar link 

Webinar ID: 860 1511 6629

Passcode: 973854  

You are invited to attend the (online) Kent Global Showcase – 16 March 2022 

Dr Anthony Manning, Director and Dean for Global and Lifelong Learning explains more here: 

Register to attend 

Professor Richard Reece will outline the next steps for consultation on the approach to Global Engagement at Kent
This year, the Kent Global Showcase event will be held from 14:30-16:00 (UK time) on the 16 March. Colleagues from across university will provide an overview of some of the current global engagement initiatives in focus and examples of good practice from our divisions. At the event Professor Richard Reece will outline the next steps for consultation on the approach to Global Engagement at Kent. 

During the event we will also hold the next session of our Solidarity with Ukraine group. This will provide an update on the available support organised by the University for both our staff and students. 

Spotlight Sessions
During the session there will be a spotlight session delivered by Kent’s Catherine Morris, Environmental Advisor, on the important intersection between sustainability and internationalisation. Emma Marku, Internationalisation Officer and Laura Charleton, Senior Lecturer in LSSJ, will also focus on virtual mobility, exchanges and Summer/Winter schools.  

Attending the Showcase will offer you an excellent opportunity to gain updates from Kent colleagues relating to Partnerships, Recruitment and Alumni engagement.  

As always, there will be lots of opportunities to ask questions and identify avenues for support during the event.  

Register to attend

From Philip Pothen | Director of Engagement

Among the groups most affected by the pandemic have been our schoolchildren. The impacts of home schooling and stop-start lockdowns, the effects of mask-wearing, social distancing, bubbles and other measures in the classroom and the lack of continuity and predictability in their learning have disrupted their lives and their educational development.

As we finally but tentatively emerge from Covid, our thoughts turn to how we can begin to make up for the missed learning, the lost fun, creativity and opportunities that schoolchildren and young people have missed out on over the last two years.

One of the most ambitious and exciting initiatives to address this challenge is Kent County Council’s Reconnect programme. It represents a significant commitment to our county’s schoolchildren and young people and, as a university with a similar commitment to the learning, progression and skills of everyone in our region, I believe this initiative fully deserves our support.

It was this commitment that drove our wish to apply to host and deliver an event which would help address some of these challenges. The recent news that we are being funded to deliver a Youth Summit is fantastic for the university but great for the programme and our young people too as I think we have a great deal to offer.

In summary, the Kent Youth Summit will be a vibrant multiplatform event co-designed with Kent County Council and with young people themselves for young people living in our county. Over five days at the end of June our Summit will address many of the negative impacts of the pandemic, reconnecting young people to a world of learning, engagement and creativity and providing a platform for them to express themselves on subjects of importance to them.

Typically, learning activities will be designed to take place in the weeks leading up to the event, with engagement building up to and culminating in a week-long, on-campus Youth Summit, involving keynote speakers, debates, competitions, exhibition spaces and much more. These activities – some delivered by our academics and some by students – will be linked to real-world themes underpinned by high-quality teaching and world-leading research expertise.

We’ll also amplify these activities across the county through the work of KMTV, through our own communications channels and through regional media so that as we emerge from the pandemic we can ensure we recognise, reward, and celebrate young people’s efforts and achievements, and ensure that their voices are heard.

It’s great to receive good news – but the hard work starts now! Watch out for regular updates on the Summit as we bring plans together and do get in touch if you think your work could be a part of it.

Dr Bashir Abu-Manneh | Head of School of English

On 24 February, the School of English (in association with the iCCi and the British Council) hosted Abdulrazak Gurnah, our own Nobel Laureate in Literature, for an “In Conversation” dialogue with Amy Sackville and me. The Gulbenkian Theatre was packed and the event was livestreamed.

With characteristic charm, generosity, and straight talking, Gurnah elaborated on key aspects of his worldview and fiction. We discussed the problems of departure and arrival, his sense of what belonging means, how justice informs his work, his critical intervention in English literary studies, his teaching and its relation to his fiction writing, and telling stories that need to be told. Gurnah talked about why stories about neglected lives and forgotten people matter, about the human effort to survive in the face of adversity and hostility, and about the importance of travel, journeying, and understanding the cosmopolitan histories of pre-colonial East Africa. He also foregrounded the particular dimensions of forced displacement and the human responsibility to provide refuge for those escaping war, state violence, and terror.

“Writing made my life feel useful and fulfilling”, he affirmed. As his work captured loss, tragedy, and past injury, it facilitated a process of retrieval and restitution. His work, he said, thus lingers on necessity and tries to get at truth: “It always feels very important to me as a writer to say that I am speaking as truthfully as I can”. So he challenges the exclusions and ideologies of power and insists on universal human needs. If human cultures can be “ugly, monstrous things” and an unexamined sense of belonging risks self-delusions, remaining cautious and open to the experience of others can save us from narcissistic self-regard.

After such rich ruminations on literature and writing, I left the event thinking that Gurnah’s singular literary achievement feels truly historic for Kent. His impact on our School of English and on our critical and creative practices felt deep and enduring. For me, Gurnah epitomises the best of Kent: a confident educational institution committed to neglected voices and democratising narratives and publicly engaged in the pursuit of global justice. What better civic mission for our University?

If you missed this event you can view our livestream here.

Living with Covid

Following the recent Government announcements on ‘Living with Covid’, all legal Covid-19 restrictions in England have now ended. However, this doesn’t mean that Covid has gone away – we continue to encourage all staff to keep the health and safety of each other in mind, particularly those who are vulnerable or who have close friends or relatives who are shielding.

That means:

• Staying at home if you have Covid-19 symptoms until you have had two negative lateral flow tests 24 hours apart – you can work from home during this period if you feel able to
• Wearing a face mask in crowded indoor spaces as we have been
• Getting tested regularly if you can when you are coming onto campus

Where can I get test kits?

Test kits can be ordered online and can also be sourced from a number of community locations such as pharmacies and libraries. Unfortunately, as part of the recent Government updates we are no longer able to distribute test kits ourselves due to changes to the licences for universities.

“Responding to the impact of Covid-19 has taken an enormous effort across the University and everyone has really pulled together to help us through the worst of it. The recent Government changes move us into a different phase, with fewer restrictions in place across the country. However, lots of people will understandably have concerns around this, particularly vulnerable staff or students – it’s up to all of us to keep on thinking of others and doing the things we can to keep each other safe.” 
Martin Atkinson, Director of HR & Organisational Development