NEWS
KENT SCHOLARSHIPS TO BOOST DIVERSITY IN AI & COMPUTING
WEAR IT BLUE FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH !
Local mental health charity West Kent Mind are once again asking people across the community to Wear It Blue for better mental health this Mental Health Awareness Week , 15 - 21 May 2023 .
Last year the response was incredible ; with schools , football teams , WIs , local councils , theatres , libraries , businesses large and small , individuals , and families joining West Kent Mind in wearing it blue for better mental health , raising awareness and valuable funds to support the charity ’ s work in the community .
This year , the team are hoping that even more people across West Kent will take part . Louise Griffiths , marketing manager said : “ We are appealing to everyone in our community to help us turn West Kent into a sea of blue for Mental Health Awareness Week ! We want everyone to feel comfortable talking about mental health and seeking support when they need it , and by wearing blue , our West Kent Mind colour , you will help us raise awareness and help to create a supportive community . Any donation you can make to our Wear It Blue campaign will make a real difference , helping us to reach and support more local people experiencing mental ill health .
“ Dig out your favourite blue T shirt , pull on your blue jeans , slip on some natty blue socks and join us in wearing it blue for better mental health !”
How to get involved :
• Pick a day during Mental Health Awareness Week and show your support by wearing something blue !
• Donate to West Kent Mind to support vital services for local people : visit the Just Giving campaign page : www . justgiving . com / campaign / WKMWearItBlue .
• Start a conversation , talk and listen – small conversations have the power to make a big difference .
• Share your pics with West Kent Mind ! Tag @ westkentmind in your photos and use the hashtag # wearitblueforWKM .
The West Kent Mind staff team will be in Sevenoaks , Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge stations on Tuesday 16 May to share information about the support and services available and to collect donations .
The University of Kent has been awarded funding by the Office for Students ( OfS ) in partnership with the Department for Innovation , Science and Technology ( DSIT ) to deliver 16 AI and data science scholarships to boost diversity within the technology industry .
The UK currently has a shortage of digital skills which is estimated to cost the UK economy as much as £ 63 billion a year in potential GDP , and , according to the government ’ s latest Digital Strategy , over 90 per cent of all jobs advertised in the UK now require digital skills .
The scholarships programme aims to encourage more women , black students , disabled students and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds into the technology industry , and to support the government ’ s priority to invest in AI to encourage innovation in every sector and region .
The 16 scholarships for 2023-24 will be offered to students accepted on the University ’ s MSc Computer Science ( Artificial Intelligence ) conversion course .
A MIRACLE FOR MILLIE : 26 MILE DEAL WHEELCHAIR PUSH CALLS FOR SPONSORS
Leaving sufferers with debilitating and severe pain , Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome ( CRPS ), often dubbed the ‘ suicide disease ’ due to many sufferers wanting to end their lives to be pain free , has had a horrifying impact on local girl , Millie , whose condition started at just 17 years of age .
With Millie now suffering from muscle spasms , tremors and weakness in her limbs , including losing her ability to walk and no longer being able to stand , her supporters , including mum Nat who has been tirelessly caring for her daughter for the past 5 1 / 2 years , are now embarking on a massive fundraising drive ; including a 26 mile wheelchair push on 29 May to raise vital funds to send Millie to the Spero Clinic in the US for specialised treatment .
Organiser Zac Hassan said , “ We are asking not only individuals to come along and support by walking with us , but also companies to complete a mile for Millie . Sponsorship for one person to sit in one wheelchair and one to push is £ 500 plus any additional sponsorship as a company you might wish to raise .”
To donate to Miracle for Millie , find out more about her story or get involved in The Big Push along Deal Seafront visit : www . gofundme . com / f / a-miracle-for-millie-the-suicide-disease .
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