Hope Through a Lens

Saturday 10th October is World Mental Health Day. Obviously that one day isn’t the only time we should consider our mental health; however it is an opportunity to bring the subject into focus, to frame it, to zoom in on it.

Why the clunky camera metaphors? We are having a photo competition!

Many of you will know we have held photo competitions for staff the last couple of years and we always had such an amazing response, with beautiful images being shared (the heading photo above was last year’s winner, by Sarah Christie). In our socially distanced lives with colleagues scattered across the county and beyond we thought that sharing photos is something we can still do.

Difficulties with our mental health can be devastating and this year has brought challenges to us all. However we want this competition to be an opportunity to think about our recovery and the possibility of bright futures. So the theme for this years competition is Hope.

To enter you simply need to be a current CCCU staff member or student (let us know which you are, when you enter). Your photo can be taken on a proper fancy camera or simply your smartphone. Enter by uploading your picture to Twitter making sure you tag @CCCU_SD (if you are a member of staff) or @CCCUStudent (if you are a student) with the hashtag #CCCUAllOfUs. Student Insta fans can upload and tag @canterburyccuni #CCCUAllOfUs or staff can submit via email to staff.wellbeing@canterbury.ac.uk.

The competition is open from today until midnight on Sunday 18th October. Winners will be announced on Friday 23rd October, with a prize of a £50 University Bookshop voucher going to the winner of each category (staff and students).

Make sure you read the full terms and conditions before you enter.

Can’t wait to see all your entries!

Juliet Flynn and Lucie Duncan