ResiLife Online – August Events

1st July 2020 / Alix Owen / 0 Comments / Sticky

Black Students Talk

22nd June 2020 / Alix Owen / 1 Comment

Post contributed by Nkasi Stoll, 1st year PhD student, Department of Psychological Medicine

Black Students Talk is a new virtual weekly peer wellbeing support group run by us, for us.

Topic: Black Students Talk (BST)

When: Every Thursday, 3pm-5pm

Link: https://zoom.us/j/98862363294?pwd=anJRZzBLTkxjQXhpYmNvVFVnREtnUT09

Meeting ID: 988 6236 3294

Password: BPT20

What is Black Students Talk (BST)?

BST is a peer support group that provides safe, supportive and therapeutic spaces for black* students to meet, share, learn, and manage our mental health & wellbeing at university.

BST online sessions are held weekly via Zoom. Each weekly session from 3PM-5PM and lasts 2 hours.

Why does BST exist?

As university students we experience complex academic, psychological, social, emotional and financial pressures. Black* students face specific pressures that often affect our mental health and therefore, our university experience and outcome.

BST x KCL was set up by Nkasi Stoll (Postgraduate student at King’s College London, IoPPN) and Yannick Yalipende (Postgraduate student at University of Bristol).

Nkasi and Yannick worked with the IoPPN Diversity and Inclusion team to set up this group due to their own experiences with depression and anxiety whilst studying at university.

What do Black Students Talk (BST) sessions offer?

one-to-one/group discussions using culturally relevant/specific psychoeducation
help accessing appropriate mental health services within the university and wider community
a ‘home away from home’ to connect with other black* students
visiting speakers from black mental health organisations
BPT resources designed and delivered by trained facilitators

Who is Black Students Talk (BST) for?

University students at King’s College London who identify as “black*” (African, Caribbean, Mixed heritage).

How do I attend the Black Students Talk (BST) sessions?

BST sessions are being held virtually. No need to sign up in advance. On Thursday at 3pm click the zoom link and enter the meeting ID and password (provided at the top of this email) to join the group. Email us on: hello@blackpeopletalk.co.uk. Find us on Twitter: @yyalipende & @NkasiStoll

How to Win at Baking

22nd May 2020 / Alix Owen / 0 Comments

KCL CF Wins National Award!

21st May 2020 / Alix Owen / 0 Comments

Contributed by Maddie Jammeh, Residence Manager at Great Dover Street Apartments

The prestigious CUBO RA Awards is open to all Universities in the UK and Ireland. The award seeks to recognise the important contribution the Community Facilitators or Residence Assistants make to students’ wellbeing, and this year our very own Jessica O’Logbon is a winner!

Jessica is a medical student studying at King’s. Last year she was amongst some students from King’s who visited No.10 Downing Street and Parliament to help promote how BAME students can apply for medicine and diversify the profession.

I nominated Jessica for this award because I was able to observe her over the past two years working with new teams who had no knowledge or little experience in the Community Facilitator role. She is very passionate in her work and worked very effectively with the ResiLife team to support students at Great Dover Street Apartments and other societies she pioneers within King’s.

Jessica is dedicated to student experience and enjoys her role as a Community Facilitator. She has demonstrated this through her continuous engagement and commitment with the residents and others.

Thank you, and well done!

What is Life Like in Kings Residences?

15th May 2020 / Alix Owen / 0 Comments

Post contributed by Julie, War Studies

Hi, my name is Julie from France. I am 18 years old, and I just finished my first year at King’s. I am studying War Studies, and all of my classes are at Strand campus.

When I arrived in London, I was still 17 years old. It was impressive to be in a huge international city, mainly because I come from a town in the South of France, which is not that big. I remember, it was like a dream, to be by myself not knowing anyone and having to get used to this new chapter of my life. This dream was real, and before I even realised, my life changed completely for the best. This first year was a fantastic year that I will never forget.

I stayed at one of the King’s residences taking care of under-18s. I was placed in an en suite, sharing the kitchen and the ‘living room’ with ten other under-18 students. In my opinion, the fact that everybody was around the same age made it easier to be well included and safe as minors. We all turned 18 at some point, but it did not change anything.

In that kitchen I met some amazing people who are now friends that I love a lot. Living with people is something unique, which creates links that will stay for a very long time. Since the beginning, we shared a lot of things, while respecting each other and our belongings. I think it is crucial to talk to your flatmates and establish some friendly rules to follow. Even if everyone gets along, it avoids potential conflicts. It allows everyone to live in a friendly environment, and that is why I have amazing memories in that kitchen. Every time one of us was celebrating his/her 18th birthday, we bought a cake and eating it all together. We were also organising movie nights or just little friendly parties.

If you just arrived, King’s activities, especially at the beginning of the year, are a fantastic way to meet a lot of friendly and kind people who can become your friends. Even after, throughout the year, in each residence, there are themed nights and activities to do. It is an excellent way to meet new people and free your mind from stress and anxiety.

Another thing that I appreciate being in one of King’s residences is having access to the BeActive program, which is free for students living in King’s accommodation. It is a friendly social part of King’s Sport organising events classes such as basketball, football, yoga, dance, pilates. The aim is really to enjoy and meet new friends there, no skills are required for anything. I even had the chance to be an Activator supervising the activities, and it was useful. I learned a lot of new skills and values!

If I had to tell you something before starting your first year it would be that: you don’t have to worry or stress about anything. This year was the best year of my life, being able to study what I like while living with amazing people. With some organisation, even if you have to study a lot, you can do so many things. You can be part of one of King’s societies, do exercise, do activities with other student and visit London, which is a fantastic city, especially in winter or at night it is magical!

I hope you will enjoy your experience at King’s.

Julie.

How I started a business from my room in King’s Residences

13th May 2020 / Alix Owen / 1 Comment

Contributed by Konstantinos, 3rd year medical student

My name is Kostas, I am a medical student at King’s. 2018 was the year I started my own business called Student Essentials.

Don’t get too excited it doesn’t involve machine learning or artificial intelligence. It is a super simple business, yet it offers great convenience to our customers. We deliver all the essentials (like duvets, pillows, towels, kitchen items) to students when they arrive at their accommodation. It saves them time and money.

Looking back 2 years ago, I started from just having this idea and now my business is a recommended supplier of Bedroom and Kitchen Packs for King’s College London. I vaguely remember the period when I had just a couple of orders to having hundreds of orders going through our website. The reason for this is because it went by really fast, just a matter of a few days/weeks. I was the happiest person in the world when I received the first batch of samples from my suppliers. I had all different types of pillowcases, colours, pillow fillings etc on my hands to choose from. The only downside was my storage capacity, as I lived in en-suite single bedroom at great dover street apartments so all my friends started questioning how I was going to do this.

But that didn’t stop me from pursuing my goals. I knew this business had great potential and that students would benefit from this service. A few weeks later when I started getting hundreds of orders, it became apparent my bedroom could no longer be the place I store the orders. So I ended up renting a room at a big storage company and that changed everything. Things became much easier to handle now I had all the space I needed! Getting all this stock out in time for the student arrival was one of the biggest challenges. Luckily, I had the support from my two best friends that helped in delivering hundreds of bedroom packs to the students!

Although it is just me behind the business, I wouldn’t have been able to be where I am now without the incredible support from my family, friends and King’s College London. Kings’ strategic vision for 2029 is to foster the entrepreneurial spirit and that means I am (and even you if you want to become an entrepreneur) in the right place at the right time. Something that stood out to me, which you do not see often, is how willing the staff at King’s College London are to foster entrepreneurial ideas. I have had managers from residences spend hours with me discussing how best to launch my business, which is invaluable.

King’s Residences is a great place to start your entrepreneurial journey and I am thankful of the support King’s College London provided me with.

How to Stay Connected

5th May 2020 / Alix Owen / 0 Comments

Connecting with friends and family

Not being able to see friends and family can be hard at times like this, but now the Government has set these new rules in place we are going to have to be creative with how we connect with them online.

We’ve been doing our research and have come up with some different ways to see your friends/family as well as making it a bit more fun and interactive…

Google Hangouts/ Zoom
You may have seen others using tools like these to video call their friends and family. The beauty of this is that you can have multiple people on there at a time, so forget having to pass the phone round to family members, have a big group video call instead!

Quiz night from home
Considering we are all self-isolating at home all day, there may not be much to catch up about, so why not get creative and create a quiz. There are hundreds of quizzes online you could use or you could make your own, make it personal to whoever you are quizzing. Take turns to be the quizmaster and make it a weekly thing!

Netflix party
If you miss chilling with your housemates watching movies, or planned to watch a new series together but had to move back home to self-isolate, then wait no longer – Netflix Party has arrived. Netflix Party synchronizes video playback and adds a group chat alongside – it’s like you’ve never been apart!

Skribbl.io
If you fancy something different to a quiz or want to mix it up a bit, try yourselves at Skribbl.io. It’s almost like an only Pictionary but online, test your online drawings skills and compete against your friends, the perfect game if you need a laugh.

Jackbox
You may have already played this when you were all together, but it’s still just as easy to play it over video call. Follow this simple video to set up Jackbox via Zoom and it’ll have you playing for hours, if you need something to help get you through the days this is definitely worth a go.

There are lots of different ways to communicate online, it’s time to get creative.

5 Easy Ways to Keep Fit Indoors

29th April 2020 / Alix Owen / 0 Comments

Workouts in your room

As we are all self-isolating, we all have a lot of time on our hands, if you want the time to pass a lot quicker, then planning activities you can do each day will have you flying through the days.

We’ve put together some simple workouts you can do from your own room.

Burn fat in bed

If you struggle to get up in the morning, then a workout from your own bed sounds too good to be true right? Wrong, this is actually a thing! Be sure to check out this 5-minute fat-burning workout, a perfect activity to wake yourself up in the mornings.

http://https://youtu.be/j-sOWLKGmKs

Keep in shape at your desk

Most uni rooms come fitted with a desk and little floor space, so workouts you can do at your desk gives you no excuse. This 10-minute workout is the perfect exercise to do when you need a break from revision or whilst you’re waiting for your dinner to cook.

http://https://youtu.be/0Dp2rL397jA

Workout whilst watching TV

Your favourite tv shows started but summers just around the corner and you still haven’t started working out yet. Try working out whilst watching your favourite shows! This one is particularly good to do if you want to have fun and tone up.

http://https://youtu.be/S6OIKsZammI

Increase the intensity

If you go to the gym a lot and want a high-intensity workout, or have been doing some other exercise videos in your room but want to test yourself, follow this Joe Wicks HIIT workout. With no equipment needed this simple yet effective workout will definitely get your pulses racing.

http://https://youtu.be/TwOuh73cGGQ

Stretch it out

Although this may seem like a warm down, stretching is actually really good for you and it’s something most of us forget to do. Whether it’s on its own, after a workout, or before bed, this is a great activity to add to your daily routine.

http://https://youtu.be/GGJzZx4H2K4

5 of the BEST things about living with King’s Residences

28th April 2020 / Alix Owen / 0 Comments

Feeling nervous about starting university and moving away from home? Trust me, you’re not alone. Before I started my first year at King’s College London, I was exactly the same. But living in King’s Residences meant I had one of the BEST experiences I could possibly have as a student living in London.

Living with King’s provided me with lots of unique opportunities to get involved in events and activities that I’d never thought of getting involved in before. It pushed me way out of my comfort zone, but in the best possible way! No matter which residence you live in, you can expect to meet a diverse group of people, learn some really useful skills, and most importantly, have fun!

Sounds good? That (and so much more) is exactly what YOU will be a part of in King’s Residences. Here are the things you can look forward to:

Having a home away from home

Moving away from home is a big step for everyone, whether that’s a new city or country, but in King’s Residences, you have the opportunity to make your room feel just like it does at home. Except now, you have some slightly different neighbours! For those of you who like your home comforts, there are lots of small ways that you can personalise your space – and it doesn’t have to be too expensive either. How creative will you be?

Becoming part of a community

For me, the social aspect of living in King’s Residences is the best part. You get to live with a bunch of people who are all starting their KCL journey at the same time as you, which makes it that little bit easier to make friends. There are plenty of opportunities to meet new people whether you’re at a ResiLife event or just passing someone in the corridor. The most important thing to do is get involved. I found it a bit daunting at first but there is always SO much going on from yoga sessions to boat tours on the Thames!

Not only that, but you will meet people from all over the world. Your neighbours could be from China, North America or just down the road; but one thing that is guaranteed is that you’re all together, about to explore one of the best cities in the world.

Having a strong support system

Getting settled into a completely new lifestyle isn’t easy, and you may come across problems from time to time. Not to worry though, because in King’s Residences you have a strong support circle to help you out. Reception Staff, Hall leaders, Welfare Leads and Community Facilitators (CFs) are always around residences (and are contactable) if you need their support. CF’s are the go-to people if you’re ever missing home or need a bit of advice. They have been in your position before and will understand exactly how you’re feeling.

It’s worth mentioning how safe and secure you are in your flats too. You’ll have 24/7 security, CCTV and aren’t able to access your flat without your student ID card. So, when you’re all cosy in your flat, there’s no way of anyone disturbing you or making you feel unsafe.

Being in a great location

Before I started at KCL, I didn’t know that King’s Residences were spread all over London, but wherever you end up living you’re never too far from something amazing and exciting. Trust me, in London, there is always something going on!

The public transport network in London is one of the best – it’s quick, cheap and really easy to navigate and that’s coming from a non-Londoner! You can get buses, trains (over and underground) and bikes all over the city. Some residences are even walking distances from Big Ben, Oxford Street and even Camden Market. If not, thanks to public transport, you can be on campus in no time or in Central London for a day of exploring if you’ve got some free time.

As you can see, there are lots of things to be excited about when it comes to living with King’s Residences. Your experience there will help you learn new things, meet lots of people and be comfortable amongst this big change that’s going on in your life. Lots of students

choose to stay in King’s Residences once their first year is done too because they just can’t face experiencing #fomo.

So, it’s time to follow in the footsteps of me, Alan Rickman, Tom Hiddleston, Gary Lineker and many more great alumni by staying in King’s Residences and having an amazing time at KCL.

Enjoy!

Eat Positive in Lockdown

21st April 2020 / Alix Owen / 1 Comment

Food to help you keep positive

When self-isolating oven food or a takeaway (if they are still delivering) may seem like the only thing that can make you feel better, but in fact, it will only make you feel worse.

Trust us.

At times like this, it is important to keep your stress levels down and try to maintain a positive mindset.

Not only is eating healthier proven to bust stress but it also makes for a healthy body and mind. Cooking can help to relax and take your mind off these uncertain times, and you never know, you could surprise yourself with your cooking skills!

1. Leafy greens

It’s tempting to go straight for a cheeseburger when you’re feeling low and you just want some comfort food, but instead, go green. Leafy greens like spinach contain folate, which produces a pleasure-inducing chemical, dopamine, which helps you keep calm.

2. Turkey
Perfect for boosting your mood, turkey contains an amino acid that releases the chemical serotonin, giving us a sense of calm and even tiredness. It’s leaner than chicken and usually cheaper too so a win-win situation!

3. Oatmeal
If carbs are something you just can’t live without, instead of reaching for a doughnut, try a more complex carb like oatmeal. It may sound boring but you can add in your favourite spices and fruit to make it much more interesting and tasty. Check out some of the best oatmeal recipes.

4. Salmon
It might not smell great but salmon is rich in omega-3 and you can eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s known to help keep your adrenaline from flaring when you’re feeling tense.

5. Dark chocolate
If you are a chocoholic, then this one’s for you. Dark chocolate can reduce your stress hormones and contains unique natural substances that create a sense of euphoria, similar to the feeling of being in love, so no wonder we love chocolate so much!

6. Blueberries
They may only be small but don’t be fooled – they pack a serious punch of antioxidants and Vitamin C to help with feelings of stress. You can always put them in a smoothie (with banana and yoghurt) to help you get your fix.

7. Milk
Milk is a great source of vitamin D, a nutrient that can boost happiness. It also contains protein lactium and potassium, which helps relax the body and muscles by lowering your blood pressure. Having a glass of milk before bed will definitely help you sleep like a baby.

8. Avocado
These are packed with Vitamin B, which gives you healthy nerve and brain cells to help stamp out feelings of anxiety. Perfect for times like this.

So just as your deadlines and exams start to creep up, it might be a good idea to stock up on these stress-fighting foods, remember, stay calm, you can do this.