Services available

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

• Kent Fire Service
• Kent Police
• NHS 111
• Police non-emergencies: 101
• Police emergencies: 999

The Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) reception is open until 17:00 on Thursday 19 December. It will then be closed from Friday 20 December and re-open Thursday 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 14 December and will reopen on Saturday 11 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).

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 Students' Union website.

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

The Campus Pantry is offering Winter Food Parcels for students who will be remaining on campus over the winter break and may be in need of supplemental food and assistance, please fill out the following form to request a parcel before Sunday 15 December 2024: https://forms.gle/rJuAn58YfCRpxLJv9

Nexus, you campus help point located in Templeman Library, will be opening on the following dates and times:

• 12:00-18:00 on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December.
• 9:00-18:00, 16-19 December.
• Closed between 20 December and 1 January.
• 9:00-18:00, 2 January to 10 January (closed at weekends)
• Normal opening hours from Monday 13 January.

The Financial Aid office and Income Office will be closed from 16:00 on Thursday 19 December until Thursday 2 January.

New applications for KESL (Emergency loans) will close the evening of Friday 13 December. Please ensure all evidence, T&Cs and ETF forms have been submitted by Monday 16 December at 17:00. Applications will re-open 2 January. 

Although Kent Students' 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.  

See opening hours and support for Templeman Library 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 19 December to Wednesday 1 January inclusive. Please be aware it is possible books/items may be recalled to the library from Thursday 2 January onwards.  

Gym and sports facilities

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

• Monday 16 December 7:00 to 19:00 for the Sports Centre and 9:00 to 20:00 for the Pavilion and Indoor Tennis Courts
• Tuesday 17 December 7:00 to 19:00 for the Sports Centre and 9:00 to 21:00 for the Pavilion and Indoor Tennis Courts
• Wednesday 18 December 7:00 to 19:00 for the Sports Centre and 9:00 to 21:00 for the Pavilion and Indoor Tennis Courts
• Thursday 19 December 7:00 to 18:00 for the Sports Centre and 9:00 to 18:00 for the Pavilion and Indoor Tennis Courts  

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 be closed from Friday 20 December and reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025. 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 Thursday 19 December. The clinic will close on Friday 20 December, and reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025. 

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 2024 and 2 January 2025. 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.  

Oasis Lounge, Medway 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 and pool table (free of charge).

You will need your KentOne card to access the Medway Building over the winter break.

The Student Hub/The Deep End

The Hub reception is closed from 17:00 on Wednesday 18 December, and reopens on Thursday 3 January 2025. The Deep End bar and restaurant will also be closed from 13 December until 13 January 2025. See The Hub festive opening times.