Services available

Here's a summary of what's available on our Canterbury and Medway campuses over the winter break.

Campus Security

Campus Security are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Find them in the Security and Transport Centre (Canterbury) or Medway Building (Medway). 

Or you can always get in touch with them by calling 01227 82 3300 (non-emergency) or 01227 82 3333 (emergency) or via the SafeZone app.

Safety/emergency contacts off campus

Student Support and Wellbeing

The Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) reception is open until 17:00 on Tuesday 19 December. It will then be closed from Wednesday 20 December and re-open Tuesday 2 January.  

During this closure, there are lots of contacts available to support you wherever you are during vacation:

Partner organisations – free services for Kent students

  • Phone and text support from Spectrum Life: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, need emergency wellbeing help or just need someone to talk to, our external partners Spectrum Life can offer you online, text, and telephone support from qualified counsellors and therapists. Spectrum Life is available 24/7:

o   Telephone 0800 0318227 and press option 1, or Text/WhatApp 'Hi' to +44 (0)7418 360780

o   Search for the Spectrum Life app from your app store and follow the log in instructions (organisation code: ud3Z2brH).

  • Online peer support from Togetherall: For 24/7 online peer support, courses and discussion groups supervised by trained professionals, all Kent students can access Togetherall free.

On campus services

  • If you are on campus and need support please call Security on 01227 82 3300.
  • University Nursing Services will be closed from Saturday 16 December and will reopen on Saturday 13 January.

External organisations – free services available to all

  • For expert information tailored to students from Student Minds, check out the Student Space website which provides advice, as well as telephone, email, webchat and text support.
  • If you're having a difficult time and want to talk to someone, you can call the Samaritans free on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org
  • If you would prefer to receive support via text message, Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope, simply text 85258.

More information, advice and resources will be posted throughout the vacation on the Student Support and Wellbeing Instagram (@UniKentSSW).

Places to eat

Check the catering webpages to find out which outlets are open on campus over the winter break. 

Follow @unikentfood on Instagram for stay updated.

For Woody's and Library Cafe opening times, please see the Kent Union website.

Campus shops

Check out the Kent Union website for the opening times of the Co-op campus shops (Plaza and Park Wood).

Finance

The Financial Aid office will be closed from 12:00 on Tuesday 19 December until Tuesday 2 January.

New applications for KESL (Emergency loans) will close the evening of Wednesday 13 December. Please ensure all evidence, T&Cs and ETF forms have been submitted by Thursday 14 December at 17:00. Applications will re-open 2  January. The Income Office will be close for the afternoon on 15 December and then will be closed from 20 December until 2 January. 

Although Kent Union and the Campus Pantry will be closed for the Winter Break until the New Year, there will be some pre-made food parcels for students who need short term food relief due to financial difficulties or other circumstances. These will be available from Monday 18 December until Wednesday 20 December from 9:00-17:00.  

Library

See opening hours and support for Templeman and Drill Hall Library over the winter break. See Library Cafe opening times.

You don’t need to renew or return any books, including document deliveries, from Thursday 21 December to Monday 1 January inclusive. Please be aware it is possible books/items may be recalled to the library from Tuesday 2 January onwards.  

Kent Sport

Gym and sports facilities

Kent Sport facilities will remain open until Tuesday 19 December, with reduced hours on:  

  • Monday 18 December: 7:00 to 19:00 for the Sports Centre, 9:00 to 19:00 for The Pavilion. 
  • Tuesday 19 December: 7:00 to 21:00 for the Sports Centre, 9:00 to 21:00 for The Pavilion. 

All Kent Sport facilities will close on Wednesday 20 December and reopen on Tuesday 2 January 2024.  See Kent Sport opening hours

You can also follow Kent Sport on social media @UniKentSports for the latest updates.   

Kent Sports Clinic

Kent Sports Clinic services within the Sports Centre, including physiotherapy and massage, will be available until Tuesday 20 December. The clinic will close on Wednesday 21 December, and reopen on Tuesday 3 January 2023. 

Student-led services within the Chipperfield building will be available until Thursday 15 December. The clinic will close on Friday 16 December, and will reopen on Monday 23 January. 

The Accommodation Office

If you're staying on campus over the winter break, check out the Accommodation Office winter break service update for key information such how to get access if you are locked out, and how to report any defects. 

The Accommodation Office will be closed between 20 December and 2 January. For urgent assistance outside of these times, please contact Campus Security.

See reception opening hours.

Ordering from Amazon? We have three Amazon lockers on campus that you can order to and access day or night. They are located by Keynes College T block, Darwin Houses and Woody's in Park Wood.  

Medway campus

Oasis Lounge, Rochester Building

The lounge will be open every day, 9:00 to 17:00, except for 25-27 December, and 1 January.

This includes the kitchen, pool table (free of charge) and PC room.

The Student Hub/The Deep End

The Deep End (the building, not cafe) is open from 9:00-17:00 between 16-20 December. It will be closed from 21-22 December.

From 23 December, the building will be open from 10:00 until 21:00 every day including the bank holiday for students to gather. Tea and coffee will be available. Normal opening hours will resume from 3 January 2024. 

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