Discover how together we can drive positive change in Kent
Our civic mission lies at the heart of who we are as a university and why we are here: to serve our communities. We are proud of our place within our communities and recognise our key role in making a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing, sustainability, and prosperity and success of the region.
Working with our regional partners and communities we will co-create our approach to civic engagement and use our distinctive strengths to make a positive difference across Kent and ensure we support the needs and priorities of our region.
Using every part of the University we will open our Canterbury and Medway campuses to extend access to our facilities, talents and resources. We will take our work beyond our boundaries, to the region’s businesses and high streets, schools and colleges, theatres and festivals, coastal and rural communities, and beyond.
We want to continue to work with our regional partners and communities to co-create our approach to civic engagement. As a university we have distinct and unique strengths – our academic and research excellence; fantastic facilities – from classroom space and theatres to sports facilities and kitchens - and our staff and students who can offer their time, skills and enthusiasm through volunteering hours.
While we are using these in a number of ways, we want to check in with our community and make sure these are used to make a positive difference and support the needs and priorities of our region.
If you have any questions or thoughts about our wider civic mission, please get in touch.
From volunteering in the community to sharing our expertise and facilities with local businesses.
Our staff are encouraged to use their volunteering hours to help in the local community, giving their expertise and time to support the region.
Using expertise to tackle business challenges, local company HR Go worked with Kent to bring AI to their way of working
Due to open in Summer 2026, Docking Station will harness the transformative power of creative technology to open up new possibilities and futures for young people and the communities of Kent and Medway.
We are proud to work with Discovery Planet to bring cutting-edge research to the high street in Ramsgate through free exciting, engaging and educational workshops.
A multi-use space for students, staff and the local community, run in partnership with East Kent Mind
From our ART31 project to our annual bOing! International Family Festival, the Gulbenkian celebrates work by, with, and for children and young people.
Our honorary sports memberships help realise the ambitions of local sports stars - like tennis player Reuben who recently won the French Open.
Together we can help change lives - starting with supporting our local community.
Our fundraising teams work across a number of projects designed to give back to our region, communities and young people - from helping asylum seekers into higher education to creating a digital hub in the heart of Medway to support learning, community work and business growth.
Find out how you can support these projects through our giving programme and help change lives.
Our two flagships initiatives are designed to champion the University's commitment to civic engagement across our region.
We have a range of services and facilities that are open to the wider community - come and discover more on our fantastic campuses in Canterbury and Medway.
From holiday camps and family days to a public sports clinic, discover sports at Kent.
A partnership between students, academics, solicitors and barristers who provide free legal advice.
Discover the UK’s first for non-drug therapy for Parkinson’s disease on our Canterbury campus.
Our Arts Centre offers innovative, engaging and high quality activity for the wider community.
Special collections and archives have been finding new ways to engage the public with our historic pantomine materials.
