The Dean Speaks
23 February 2023
Marking the first anniversary of the War in Ukraine
It is with great sadness that we mark the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. This has been a year of deep grief and anxiety for our Ukrainian students, staff and alumni as they face the loss of beloved family and friends, as well as of the loss of treasured homes and communities.
It is good to have seen the King’s community come together in the face of this ongoing tragedy, finding a number of different ways to offer help. This includes King’s Sanctuary Team who have helped to support displaced students and academics, working in partnership to develop the University Sponsorship Model with Citizens UK, Ukrainian Sponsorship Pathway UK (USPUK), Open University, Newcastle University and the University of Leicester. The University Sponsorship Model has enabled higher education institutions to implement the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme and helped students and academics to find safety in the UK and continue their studies and research. More than 50 individuals impacted by the war in Ukraine have been sponsored by members of the King’s community so far. This includes students who continue to study their degrees at Ukrainian universities online, academic fellows and recipients of King’s Sanctuary Scholarships.
Please know that there is support available for all those affected by the horror of this war, and of the many other international conflicts across the world. We are committed to supporting our students and staff during these difficult times and in the face of the more recent natural disasters and the impact this has on students' studies.
The Chaplains are ready to provide a confidential listening ear to staff and students of any faith or none - they are welcome to drop into any of our Chaplaincy spaces or contact a Chaplain via chaplaincy@kcl.ac.uk. More formal counselling can also be accessed through the King’s Counselling & Mental Health Support Service which offers free and confidential in-person and online support as well as King’s Counselling Online service. Students may also like to connect with their peers through KCLSU. Our independent and confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is available to staff and can be contacted by phone or email.
I also want to acknowledge the expertise of our academics and researchers which plays such a vital role in enhancing the understanding of the war and its many consequences.
A world where wars of aggression continue to devastate the lives of individuals and nations is not the world we want for ourselves or for coming generations. Let us at King’s commit ourselves to working for the justice and peace that is key to living into our commitment to make the world a better place.