Category Archives: Uncategorized

Working from home top tips

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Wellbeing 

  • Be kind to yourself. Remember that in the current situation so many people are having to adapt to a new way of working and it will take time to get into a routine. 

  • Your working day can be flexible as the usual working pattern cannot necessarily be kept due to caring responsibilities and other commitments.

  • If you have children or caring responsibilities, you may need to focus more on these caring responsibilities ahead of work tasks so give yourself time and space to get used to this. Make sure you have periods of time where you step away from ‘the office’ and have some dedicated family time.

  • Get up, get showered and dressed as if you were going into work!  Sounds simple, but the routine can help you get mentally prepared for work (or study).

  • If you work in a team, it is helpful to have a team catch up to find out how everyone is getting on with working from home.  If you work on your own, you could join a forum to keep in touch with others in a similar line of work. 

  • Make sure you still take your annual leave. Although you are now working from home, you still need a break from work.

  • There are loads of great online videos to help you keep fit and active.  @sportbrighton are running regular Move Monday video sessions.

  • Breathing exercises and techniques can help when you are feeling under pressure or stressed.  Going for a walk, run or bike ride can help give you much needed headspace. Gentle stretching, yoga and pilates are also great ways to slow down and relax.  You could also get back into reading or find a book you haven’t read in a while.  Bring out the board games!

  • Get creative!  Now is a great time to use your imagination: make, build, design, draw or write about something.

  • Stay in touch with family members, friends and neighbours by phone, video chat or email. 

Remote Working 

  • Prioritise tasks where possible.

  • Completing one task in a day is a job well done! You may feel like you have to work at the same level as you did in the office but you also have to take into consideration any caring responsibilities and rest breaks, along with adapting to new digital technologies.

  • Make sure you have regular breaks from your screen/s.  This could be from your laptop, mobile phone or other mobile devices.  A helpful technique is the Pomodoro technique:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique 

  • Make sure you switch off from work communications at a set time during your working week.  It’s so easy to have just one more last check of work emails – switch it off! 

    If you have a shelf or can safely stack books to create a standing desk for your laptop this can help with being seated for too long.

  • Get through those admin tasks you have been putting off!  Tidy up your files, folders, databases and you could even get those reports drafted and written up but remember to pace yourself. 

Video meetings 

  • Email round an agenda before the meeting.  

  • Make sure someone is assigned as the chairperson in order to stick to timings. 

  • Video meetings on apps like Microsoft Teams usually can be recorded for anyone who cannot make it.  Someone could take minutes to be emailed round afterwards.

  • Anyone who is not talking should turn off their mics and turning off videos can help with decreasing the load on the bandwidth and getting better quality.

  • If using an app like Microsoft Teams, you can use the Chat function to ask any questions while someone is speaking. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poems from our childhood

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As we get used to a new way of living, working and studying from home, this could also be a great time to reflect on or revisit books and poems we once read or had read to us as children. 

On 5 March it was World Poetry Day and we have asked colleagues to tell us their favourite childhood poem. Poetry is powerful. A poem can express a multitude of emotions, memories and evoke vivid imagery using creative language and narrative styles. We hope you enjoy reading afresh or revisiting these and other poems.  

Please Mrs Butler by Allan Ahlberg 
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zr93bdm

James Barron, Outreach Co-ordinator: “We had a teacher who used to really bring it to life with her voice…and I associated with it on another level when I started teaching!” 

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A Smuggler’s Song by Rudyard Kipling
Source: https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/a-smugglers-song/ 

Yaa Asare, Lecturer in Sociology: “We performed it at school, aged about 8 and some of us had to learn a verse and perform it.  Mine started: ‘If you do as you’ve been told, likely there’s a chance …’  I still remember it.  Our teacher explained the poem to us and I just loved the secrecy of not letting on to anyone about the smugglers and the way they were called ‘gentlemen’ even though they were doing something that was illegal but everyone profited from their daring.  The whole sound of the poem, and the rhythm like ponies trotting just captured my child’s imagination.” 

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Cat! by Eleanor Farjeon
Source :https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/cat-44/ 

Marina Trowell, Outreach Co-ordinator: “When I was in what was probably equivalent to Year 5, we were asked to get into small groups to perform a poem.  Our group were given this poem and we decided to each say alternate lines and we did it very expressively! To this day I still remember some of the lines. The sensory nature of the words along with the performance really sticks in my memory.” 

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A Baby Sardine by Spike Milligan
Source: http://www.rainydaypoems.com/poems-for-kids/funny-poems-for-kids/a-baby-sardine-by-spike-milligan 

Jennie Cole, Careers Leader, Hailsham Community College: “This is one of my favourites as I was given a Spike Milligan poetry book by my grandad. This is one of the first I learnt…I remember reciting it to family members and ‘showing off’ at Primary school in circle time!” 

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‘Star light, star bright, 
First star I see tonight, 
I wish I may, I wish I might, 
Have this wish I wish tonight.’ 

Stephanie Newton, Learning Hub/Work Experience & Post 16 Coordinator, Causeway School:  
“The author is anonymous, but always stuck in my mind as a little girl, as being magical, as the sky at night when full of stars always seem to inspire hope of dreams coming true…  Plus, my Dad worked away at sea, in the merchant navy, as Navigation Officer, so the stars have always been important to me”. 

We finish with a poem about reading and taking your time to savour the moment.  

From Brown Girl Dreaming — Poetry As Memoir by Jacqueline Woodson  https://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/books-ive-written/poetry: 

 

 

Field of Sport Event

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The Field of Sport event which is part of the widening participation Compact Plus Programme took place on 14 June 2017 at the Hillbrow site.  119 students from nine schools (Ifield Community College, Patcham High School, Hailsham Community College, Ark Academy Brent, Ark Globe Academy, St Leonards Academy, Rye College, Seaford Head School, Thomas Bennett Community College) took part and heard from sports professionals to gain an insight into a range of sports careers and attend a range of activities.  Dr Gary Brickley gave a key-note speech on sporting challenges and opportunities; a coach, scientist and athlete perspective.  The activity sessions were run by Student Ambassadors and consisted of Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Science, Sports Coaching and Sports Business Management.

Fiona Smith, Principal Lecturer said, “It’s been a really positive day; students fully embraced the opportunity to be a university student for the day, experiencing what lectures will be like and beginning to appreciate the difference between the various degree courses on offer.”

From the school students’ feedback it is clear that the event has raised awareness about careers in sport and given first-hand experience of what it is like to be on a university campus, to take part in sports-related university course taster sessions and been very helpful to speak to current university Student Ambassadors.

Student quotes:

“I have learnt that there are many different careers in sport and it has influenced me to come to university and study sport, so maybeI could pursue a career within sport.”

“….I feel well informed about sports career choices.”

“I have learnt about other people’s experiences in sport and going to university and enjoying sport in university.”

 

Disability support at University

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Did you know that more than 10% of our students have told us about a disability?  This can include a specific learning difficulty (eg dyslexia, dyspraxia), a long term medical condition or mental health condition. You can access support at the University of Brighton by talking to the Disability and Dyslexia Team.  A Learning Support Co-ordinator who works in the Disability and Dyslexia Team can put a Learning Support Plan in place for your studies, this can include things like extensions for assignments, extra time in exams and other support.

You will need to:

  • Provide evidence from a medical professional or an Educational Psychologist’s report (post-16) for specific learning difficulties and then contact the Disability and Dyslexia Team.
  • Book an appointment with a Learning Support Co-ordinator in the Disability and Dyslexia Team after enrolling at university.

How can I contact a Learning Support Co-ordinator in the Disability and Dyslexia Team?

The Disability and Dyslexia Team is part of Student Services
Each campus has Learning Support Co-ordinators and you can contact them via Student Services.  These are the main numbers for Student Services at each university campus.

Eastbourne                  01273 643845
Grand Parade              01273 643584
Falmer                         01273 643584
Moulsecoomb             01273 642895

Email: disabilityadmin@brighton.ac.uk

Can I speak to someone in the Disability and Dyslexia Team before I start at university?

All students that disclose a disability on their UCAS application will be contacted by one of the team over the summer.  You can get in touch with the Disability and Dyslexia Team before starting at university to discuss your support needs.  This is particularly important if you have mobility, hearing or visual impairments or other complex support needs.
Please email disabilityadmin@brighton.ac.uk or call the relevant Student Services number above.

What is Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA)?

If you have medical evidence for a condition or a post-16 Educational Psychologist’s report for a specific learning difficulty then you can also apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA).  This is a government grant that can provide IT equipment and one to one support to help you with your studies.  This can be discussed at a one to one meeting with a Learning Support Co-ordinator and if you are eligible they can help you fill in the DSA application form.

How do I apply for DSA?

You can apply for DSA before starting at university by going to the www.gov.uk website and downloading the DSA form: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms. Once you have applied for DSA, you will be asked to attend a Needs Assessment appointment at a local Access Centre, you will be sent a letter about how you can book this appointment. Please note that this Needs Assessment appointment is separate to a meeting at the university with a Learning Support Co-ordinator.  It is helpful for the Learning Support Co-ordinator to know if you have already applied for DSA prior to starting at university.

Further Support and Advice

The university website has lots of information about support and advice www.brighton.ac.uk/current-students

After you have received a studentcentral login, you can log an enquiry via the Help and Advice tab in studentcentral.brighton.ac.uk or you can email studentservices@brighton.ac.uk