NEWSLETTER APRIL 2020
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING Feeling concerned or overwhelmed? Struggling with your own mental health and wellbeing? Here are some steps you can take if you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed: Stick to the facts Fake news can fuel anxiety. Only read information from reliable sources such as gov.uk or download the NHS App for advice on keeping well. Stay connected Whilst we may be unable to see our friends and family at this time, it is important to stay in communication. Apps such as Houseparty and Zoom offer free and fun ways to stay connected. Reaching out to a loved one is beneficial for both you and them. Look after your wellbeing Ensure you are getting exercise and fresh air (following the government’s guidance). If it’s possible, try activities in your home to get you moving. Look on YouTube for free online classes and Tom Rosen (from our King’s Cross centre gym) will be sharing health and fitness information through our WestKing Instagram page and is available for Q&A sessions. Plan your time With so much uncertainty around, keeping to a routine can create a sense of structure and normality. Happiful has some tips on working well from home and building enjoyable activities into your new routine. Coping with isolation You may find you need extra support so think about who you can turn to. It could be a friend, a teacher or a helpline. Daylio is an app that enables you to keep a diary to monitor your daily mood and activities. The app helps you create goals and build new habits, improving your mindset.
Samaritans are available to contact 24/7 if you are feeling in distress and need support. WestKing has a counselling service available to all learners. If you feel you may benefit from telephone counselling sessions please self refer and a mental health officer will respond to your referral as soon as possible. Other helplines and services • Mind website provide advice on looking after your mental health and wellbeing • Citizens Advice can offer support if you have any work or financial worries • Shelter offer advice on housing during Coronavirus Mindfulness It can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice much. Paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you – can improve your mental wellbeing. Mindfulness can help us enjoy life more and understand ourselves better. You can take steps to develop it in your own life. You can check your mood using this simple mood self-assessment quiz. • You can watch this short mindful breathing exercise video on YouTube from Every Mind Matters • Smiling Mind offer free, online mindfulness courses for reducing stress anxiety and depression, as well as mobile phone application downloads Spending more time online at home? Do you know what to look out for to keep yourself and your friends safe when learning remotely? Visit ThinkUKnow to find useful tips and advice on how to keep safe online. If you have any questions, feel free to call the Safeguarding team on 020 7832 5331 to speak to someone.
CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY
Our Careers & Employability team are still here to help you! For general information and advice, please visit our website careersWKC.com, where you’ll find lots of information on: • • • • •
Apprenticeships Employment CV Building and Workskills Researching Careers Higher Education/University - including Student Finance (UCAS.com, unifrog.org)
For specific advice and guidance, please email careers@westking.ac.uk. A member of the team will be at hand to help resolve any questions or queries you may have. It is still possible to gain work experience, here are some ideas: Virtual Work Experience You can experience what it would be like to work for a company, see behind the scenes and gain an industry insight all from the comfort of your own home. With Barclays Life Skills you can take part in exciting projects, solve problems and complete real-life tasks. White and Case LLP are offering you an opportunity to gain virtual first-hand insight into life as a White & Case lawyer. Volunteer Volunteering is a fantastic way to gain experience while contributing to society. You could volunteer in your local community, joining others across the country who are pulling together in these unprecedented times. You could start by helping an elderly or vulnerable neighbour (with permission from an adult) or by seeking age-appropriate voluntary work on websites including VInspired and Do-it. Gain Career Insights You could use LinkedIn or personal networks to locate someone who works in a role or industry of interest, and arrange a telephone meeting with them. You could use the meeting to find out more about what they do, how they got into it, and how they view their role or industry. Grow subject knowledge You can read around subjects of interest to expand your knowledge base. Oxford’s Very Short Introductions series might offer a useful
starting point. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) like those offered by The University of York and Harvard University can also be a good place to start. Remember to log any activities you do on your Navigate portal. If you have any questions around using the Navigate portal – e-mail Toreanna.Sumner@westking.ac.uk
ENRICHMENT Young Power Conference Some students attended the Young Power Conference, which aims to encourage young people to break down stereotypes, explore issues of power, prejudice and privilege, and identify paths for taking action in our communities. It featured some amazing speakers, powerful spoken word artists, and transformative workshops, alongside inspirational performances from our learners. To register your interest in attending next year, or to find out more, please email learnerexpkx@westking.ac.uk International Women’s Day To mark IWD, learners at the Victoria Centre looked at the barriers women face in ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ - the invisible barrier that prevents women from rising to senior positions. We held discussions, created displays and researched ‘tips and tricks’ to help women reach their individual potential. At the King’s Cross centre, learners participated in the ‘Which Woman Inspires You?’ display, paying tribute to the ways in which female role models have inspired and empowered them within their personal lives. For further insight into IWD and the challenges women’s rights still face in the world today, have a look at the official IWD website alongside Amnesty International’s fantastic dedicated page.
ESOL Writing Competition ESOL learners took part in a writing competition, with prizes proudly awarded to: • Kukul Sinan Arslan for Level 1 (Soho) • Karolina Francuz for Level 2 (Soho) • Mihaela Patras for Level 1 (Soho) • Leyla Najafova for Entry 3/Level 1 Skills for Work (Soho) • Hudson Martins Lorini for Entry 3 (Regent’s Park) • Celia Hadj Ahmed for Entry 2 (Regent’s Park) They all displayed phenomenal creative writing skills within their short stories about London.
Jack Petchey Achievement Awards WestKing continues to run the Jack Petchey Achievement Award scheme. More information (including full criteria) can be found here. Nominees must be aged 11-25 and study at WestKing. Nominations are welcomed online here. Weekly Live ‘Change My Mind’ Debates We will be discussing a wide range of social issues live through Microsoft Teams. These will take place each Friday 2pm – 3pm. All learners are welcome, simply e-mail Peter.Joseph@westking.ac.uk or Tianna.Nicholls@westking.ac.uk to be added to the group or for more information.
LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE
Overdue Items As our Learning Resource Centres/Libraries are closed at present, all items taken out will be renewed for the date 3 weeks after we reopen, with all overdue charges automatically waived. Please do not worry about calling in or posting items to us. Accessing eBooks From Home A well-known way of keeping the mind entertained, engaged and active, is the humble book! With the Learning Resource Centre closed, we’re pleased to let you know you’re still able to access a wonderful assortment of books from the comfort of your own home, via our eBooks system. Accessing eBooks • Go to https://vle.westking.ac.uk • You’ll be diverted a CCCG webpage. Login using your college login (your student number @fecolleges.london alongside the password you use to access emails/college PCs) • Click the ‘Learning Resources Centres’ tab • There will be a link to ‘e-resources’ at the bottom of the page; click on this and then select the area wish to access • Login once more as requested* and you’re all good to go - enjoy! If you need help or are having difficulty logging in, please email Mohamed. abdulkarim@fecolleges.london who’ll be on hand to assist. For e-journals, please login with Username: westking.ac.uk (all lower case) Password: resourceswkc (all lower case) Access to Financial Times Access to Issues Online
A FAREWELL TO OUR PRINCIPAL
Our Principal Kim Caplin has recently retired after 10 years with us and twenty-eight years in the further education sector. Everyone here wishes her all the very best in her retirement and her exciting new ventures, including fundraising for @MyelomaUK! To read the full story and find out more about what Kim will be doing next, follow the link to our website here.
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