Category: Residence Life (Page 3 of 3)

Black Students Talk

22nd June 2020 / King's Residences / 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 / King's Residences / 0 Comments

KCL CF Wins National Award!

21st May 2020 / King's Residences / 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!

How to Stay Connected

5th May 2020 / King's Residences / 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 / King's Residences / 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

Eat Positive in Lockdown

21st April 2020 / King's Residences / 2 Comments

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.