Public and Community Engagement - University of Kent
Source: https://www.kent.ac.uk/engagement
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:31
Public and Community Engagement - University of Kent
Jump to content
Public and Community Engagement
Engage with us
Discover how together we can drive positive change in Kent
We are open for visitors
We recognise that the recent meningitis outbreak in Canterbury may be a cause for concern amongst visitors to our campus.
This has been a regional public health matter with the response led by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Following their guidance,
our campus remains open
. We have been reassured by the authorities that the peak of the outbreak has now passed and, whilst we are continuing to encourage our community to
remain vigilant of symptoms
, we are welcoming visitors to events and activities on campus as normal.
We extend our thanks to the incredible public health teams who acted quickly to contact and support those most at risk. Those seeking further updates can access the
latest UKHSA information
and
NHS advice
online.
A University for Kent: Our vision
Our civic mission lies at the heart of who we are as a university and why we are here: to serve our communities. We are proud of our place within our communities and recognise our key role in making a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing, sustainability, and prosperity and success of the region.
Our approach
Working with our regional partners and communities we will co-create our approach to civic engagement and use our distinctive strengths to make a positive difference across Kent and ensure we support the needs and priorities of our region.
Using every part of the University we will open our Canterbury and Medway campuses to extend access to our facilities, talents and resources. We will take our work beyond our boundaries, to the region’s businesses and high streets, schools and colleges, theatres and festivals, coastal and rural communities, and beyond.
How to engage with us
Public
From a range of public events to our Law and Sports clinics, we're here for the local community
Public Events
Research and innovation
We work with local businesses, industry and charities, sharing our expertise and cutting-edge facilities.
Business and Partnerships
Schools
We work with local schools, delivering workshops, giving advice and expertise and sharing our fantastic facilities
Schools and Colleges
Employers
Discover how to boost your workforce with skilled students and graduates, and help shape our curriculum to match industry needs.
Employers
Help us shape our activity
We want to continue to work with our regional partners and communities to co-create our approach to civic engagement. As a university we have distinct and unique strengths – our academic and research excellence; fantastic facilities – from classroom space and theatres to sports facilities and kitchens - and our staff and students who can offer their time, skills and enthusiasm through volunteering hours.
While we are using these in a number of ways, we want to check in with our community and make sure these are used to make a positive difference and support the needs and priorities of our region.
If you have any questions or thoughts about our wider civic mission, please get in touch.
Get in touch
Delivering our civic ambition
From volunteering in the community to sharing our expertise and facilities with local businesses.
Supporting our region through volunteering
Our staff are encouraged to use their volunteering hours to help in the local community, giving their expertise and time to support the region.
Staff volunteering at Elham Valley
Innovation for local business
Using expertise to tackle business challenges, local company HR Go worked with Kent to bring AI to their way of working
Read more
Creating a digital hub in the heart of Medway
Due to open in Summer 2026, Docking Station will harness the transformative power of creative technology to open up new possibilities and futures for young people and the communities of Kent and Medway.
Read more
Bringing education to the high street
We are proud to work with Discovery Planet to bring cutting-edge research to the high street in Ramsgate through free exciting, engaging and educational workshops.
Discovery Planet X Kent
Kent Community Oasis Garden
A multi-use space for students, staff and the local community, run in partnership with East Kent Mind
Kent COG
Opportunities for young people
From our ART31 project to our annual bOing! International Family Festival, the Gulbenkian celebrates work by, with, and for children and young people.
Opportunities for young people
Supporting local sporting talent
Our honorary sports memberships help realise the ambitions of local sports stars - like tennis player Reuben who recently won the French Open.
Watch Reuben's story
Support our civic activity
Together we can help change lives - starting with supporting our local community.
Our fundraising teams work across a number of projects designed to give back to our region, communities and young people - from helping asylum seekers into higher education to creating a digital hub in the heart of Medway to support learning, community work and business growth.
Find out how you can support these projects through our giving programme and help change lives.
Giving at Kent
Alumni Engagement
Our Flagship Initiatives
Our two flagships initiatives are designed to champion the University's commitment to civic engagement across our region.
The Right to Food
As the world's first Right to Food University, we're making it our mission to tackle food insecurity
A University of Sanctuary
We're working to be a safe place for refugees, asylum seekers, and others who are forced to migrate
Opening our facilities to the public
We have a range of services and facilities that are open to the wider community - come and discover more on our fantastic campuses in Canterbury and Medway.
Fantastic sports facilities
From holiday camps and family days to a public sports clinic, discover sports at Kent.
Award-winning law clinic
A partnership between students, academics, solicitors and barristers who provide free legal advice.
Innovative Parkinson's treatment
Discover the UK’s first for non-drug therapy for Parkinson’s disease on our Canterbury campus.
The Gulbenkian
Our Arts Centre offers innovative, engaging and high quality activity for the wider community.
What we've been up to
Taking archives beyond campus
Special collections and archives have been finding new ways to engage the public with our historic pantomine materials.
Find out more
Jump to content
Public and Community Engagement
Engage with us
Discover how together we can drive positive change in Kent
We are open for visitors
We recognise that the recent meningitis outbreak in Canterbury may be a cause for concern amongst visitors to our campus.
This has been a regional public health matter with the response led by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Following their guidance,
our campus remains open
. We have been reassured by the authorities that the peak of the outbreak has now passed and, whilst we are continuing to encourage our community to
remain vigilant of symptoms
, we are welcoming visitors to events and activities on campus as normal.
We extend our thanks to the incredible public health teams who acted quickly to contact and support those most at risk. Those seeking further updates can access the
latest UKHSA information
and
NHS advice
online.
A University for Kent: Our vision
Our civic mission lies at the heart of who we are as a university and why we are here: to serve our communities. We are proud of our place within our communities and recognise our key role in making a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing, sustainability, and prosperity and success of the region.
Our approach
Working with our regional partners and communities we will co-create our approach to civic engagement and use our distinctive strengths to make a positive difference across Kent and ensure we support the needs and priorities of our region.
Using every part of the University we will open our Canterbury and Medway campuses to extend access to our facilities, talents and resources. We will take our work beyond our boundaries, to the region’s businesses and high streets, schools and colleges, theatres and festivals, coastal and rural communities, and beyond.
How to engage with us
Public
From a range of public events to our Law and Sports clinics, we're here for the local community
Public Events
Research and innovation
We work with local businesses, industry and charities, sharing our expertise and cutting-edge facilities.
Business and Partnerships
Schools
We work with local schools, delivering workshops, giving advice and expertise and sharing our fantastic facilities
Schools and Colleges
Employers
Discover how to boost your workforce with skilled students and graduates, and help shape our curriculum to match industry needs.
Employers
Help us shape our activity
We want to continue to work with our regional partners and communities to co-create our approach to civic engagement. As a university we have distinct and unique strengths – our academic and research excellence; fantastic facilities – from classroom space and theatres to sports facilities and kitchens - and our staff and students who can offer their time, skills and enthusiasm through volunteering hours.
While we are using these in a number of ways, we want to check in with our community and make sure these are used to make a positive difference and support the needs and priorities of our region.
If you have any questions or thoughts about our wider civic mission, please get in touch.
Get in touch
Delivering our civic ambition
From volunteering in the community to sharing our expertise and facilities with local businesses.
Supporting our region through volunteering
Our staff are encouraged to use their volunteering hours to help in the local community, giving their expertise and time to support the region.
Staff volunteering at Elham Valley
Innovation for local business
Using expertise to tackle business challenges, local company HR Go worked with Kent to bring AI to their way of working
Read more
Creating a digital hub in the heart of Medway
Due to open in Summer 2026, Docking Station will harness the transformative power of creative technology to open up new possibilities and futures for young people and the communities of Kent and Medway.
Read more
Bringing education to the high street
We are proud to work with Discovery Planet to bring cutting-edge research to the high street in Ramsgate through free exciting, engaging and educational workshops.
Discovery Planet X Kent
Kent Community Oasis Garden
A multi-use space for students, staff and the local community, run in partnership with East Kent Mind
Kent COG
Opportunities for young people
From our ART31 project to our annual bOing! International Family Festival, the Gulbenkian celebrates work by, with, and for children and young people.
Opportunities for young people
Supporting local sporting talent
Our honorary sports memberships help realise the ambitions of local sports stars - like tennis player Reuben who recently won the French Open.
Watch Reuben's story
Support our civic activity
Together we can help change lives - starting with supporting our local community.
Our fundraising teams work across a number of projects designed to give back to our region, communities and young people - from helping asylum seekers into higher education to creating a digital hub in the heart of Medway to support learning, community work and business growth.
Find out how you can support these projects through our giving programme and help change lives.
Giving at Kent
Alumni Engagement
Our Flagship Initiatives
Our two flagships initiatives are designed to champion the University's commitment to civic engagement across our region.
The Right to Food
As the world's first Right to Food University, we're making it our mission to tackle food insecurity
A University of Sanctuary
We're working to be a safe place for refugees, asylum seekers, and others who are forced to migrate
Opening our facilities to the public
We have a range of services and facilities that are open to the wider community - come and discover more on our fantastic campuses in Canterbury and Medway.
Fantastic sports facilities
From holiday camps and family days to a public sports clinic, discover sports at Kent.
Award-winning law clinic
A partnership between students, academics, solicitors and barristers who provide free legal advice.
Innovative Parkinson's treatment
Discover the UK’s first for non-drug therapy for Parkinson’s disease on our Canterbury campus.
The Gulbenkian
Our Arts Centre offers innovative, engaging and high quality activity for the wider community.
What we've been up to
Taking archives beyond campus
Special collections and archives have been finding new ways to engage the public with our historic pantomine materials.
Find out more