Category: Services

Climbing wall open day

Sport Imperial will be running a Climbing Wall Open Day at Ethos on Saturday 29 October from 10.00-15.00, which is suitable for all levels of climbers, including beginners. A number of activities, such as traversing sessions, will take place throughout the day and qualified instructors will be on hand to offer advice on technique. All participants will be entered into a prize draw to win a free voucher for ten wall climbs.

Staff wishing to register should contact Victor Rodrigues by email, or or extension 48962

More information can be found here on the website.

Avoid installing Trusteer Rapport software on College computers

ICT are advising staff to avoid installing or upgrading Trusteer Rapport software on College computers running Windows XP following reports that it leads to technical problems. The software is recommended by a number of high street banks to provide secure access to online banking. The guidance from ICT may mean that staff should not use online banking from their College computer; staff should contact their bank for advice.

Update on Exhibition Road project and road closures

On Tuesday 30 August, work will commence to install 19 lighting masts on Exhibition Road. The masts are over 20 metres high and require specialist equipment to install them.

Between the hours of 19.00 and 06.00, Exhibition Road will be closed between Cromwell Road and Prince Consort Road. Traffic will be diverted via Queen’s Gate and Prince Consort Road. Local access will be maintained from Kensington Road and Prince Consort Road where Balfour Beatty staff will man barriers to allow residents and others with properties in Exhibition Road access at all times. Pedestrian routes will not be affected by the works. The installation work is expected to take two weeks.

If you would like more information about the Exhibition Road project or to register for regular updates, please visit the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s website.

Any immediate concerns or special access requirements should be directed to the engineer for the project, Peter Weeden, on 020 7591 2583.

Road closures around South Kensington Campus in August.

Staff are advised that two pre-Olympic test events in August will affect roads around the South Kensington Campus.

A triathlon event will be held on 6 and 7 August in Hyde Park, which requires all of Hyde Park Corner to be closed from 05.00 to 12.00 on Saturday 6 August, and from 05.00 to 16.00 on Sunday 7 August.  TfL’s announcement can be found here (scroll down past the map).

The London-Surrey Cycle Road Race will be held on 13 and 14 August 2011, affecting roads in the Knightsbridge area. More information, including a detailed map of the road closures and restricted access roads, can be found here.

Ethos gym closed from 1 July until early August

The Ethos gym will be closed from 1 July for a full refurbishment, reopening in early August. The refurbishment will provide gym users with new workout zones, incorporating state of the art Matrix equipment and a new layout.

A temporary fitness gym will be available to Ethos members in the Sports Hall from 2 July while the refurbishment work takes place. During this time, the Climbing wall will be closed, however studio classes will go ahead as scheduled, with several additional options on offer, including outdoor running, Viper classes and Kettle Bell sessions.

Further information is available here

Disability Champions

Support for staff with disabilities is available from the College’s newly-appointed Disability Champions.

Staff with disabilities who would welcome advice on how to ensure the College’s working environment provides for their needs are advised to contact the Equalities Unit in the first instance.

The Equalities Unit will organise a confidential referral to one of the Disability Champions. Monitoring interest will allow the Equalities Unit to build on the scheme as required.

Harassment Support Contacts

Confidential support is available for staff affected by bullying or harassment in the workplace from Imperial’s Harassment Support Contact Scheme, which has recently been relaunched. The Scheme, which was first established in 2003, is composed of a network of staff who have volunteered to take on the role of Harassment Support Contact.  The Contacts have undertaken comprehensive training and will work with staff to:

–      Explore the options available to them through formal and informal College procedures, specifically in respect of harassment and bullying;

–      Consider ideas and strategies to effect good working relationships, especially where there is the potential that a relationship will break down;

–      Provide additional support as required, such as mentoring or coaching

Harassment Support Contacts can be approached directly using the details here

Alternatively, staff should contact the Equalities Unit who can organise a confidential referral

Learning and Development Centre Stress Awareness Days

Dates: 30 June 2011 (South Kensington) & 04th July (Hammersmith Campus)

Times: 09.30 – 16.30

Find out more here

“The recent Staff Survey indicated that during the last twelve months a significant number of staff have experienced pressure they consider to be unreasonable. We recognise that many people are working at capacity and doing more with less is becoming increasingly difficult. Whilst long term resolutions are being considered, the Stress Awareness Day, organised by the Learning and Development Centre, provides an early opportunity for individuals to explore ways of dealing with pressurised situations and minimising the personal impact.”

Sir Keith O’Nions Rector

The Learning and Development Centre is running two Stress Awareness Days on Thursday 30 June (South Kensington) and Monday 04 July (Hammersmith) for Imperial College Staff (and Imperial NHS trust). The activities on offer are 30 to 45 minutes long, and hopefully this will enable most of us to take a break from the office, and make the most of this day. More information can be found at the web link above.