As the year draws to a close and we look forward to the holidays and the new year, the Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness reminds us that kindness is not just for our friends and family—it’s for everyone. This season, take a moment to connect with strangers, experience the benefits of human connection, and explore our research on kindness. Join our growing kindness community and help us make empathy a shared value.
The University of Sussex proudly hosts UK’s first dedicated academic research centre focused on kindness, embedding it as a core institutional value. This year, we expanded our work and partnerships to investigate how kindness impacts individuals and communities.
Some highlights in the last quarter of 2025
- World Kindness Day (Nov 10–14): From supporting The Hummingbird Project to writing letters for Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign, our Student Engagement team filled the campus with inspiring acts of kindness
- The Business of Kindness Symposium: Prof. Robin Banerjee welcomed Janet Leighton (Director of Happiness) from Timpson to discuss how kindness drives business success.
Key Insights:
- Kindness is a strategic advantage that fosters trust and collaboration.
- Barriers to kindness in the workplace include burnout, time pressures, and lack of leadership support.
- Attendees commended Timpson’s inspiring examples of embedding kindness in business.
[Watch the recording → The Business of Kindness Symposium]
- Talk to a Stranger Week: Volunteers encouraged conversations at our “Happy to Chat” bench—breaking barriers and building community.
Looking Ahead
- Seed-funding opportunities in Kindness research:
- Sussex Knowledge Exchange Fellowships:
Applications open for 2025–26, supporting projects that create real-world impact.
Deadline: 12th January 2026.
- AHRC Impact Acceleration Account call: The programme enables researchers across the University (conducting research in
the Arts and Humanities remit) to help bring about societal, economic, environmental and other impacts beyond academia.
Deadline: 23rd January 2026.
Interested in kindness-focused collaborations using any of the above internal schemes? Contact Nana Yankah to discuss how to support you.
- The Entrepreneurial Academic Workshop: Join us with the Sussex Innovation Centre on 3 February 2026 to explore market opportunities for research in kindness. Register here
- Random Acts of Kindness Week (15-20 Feb,2026): Coming soon—watch this space!
- Share your kindness stories on our Digital Kindness Wall and explore this 2026 Kindness in the Workplace Calendar for inspiration.
- Contact us and explore our work :
- Email: kindness@sussex.ac.uk
- Website: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/kindness
- Follow us on LinkedIn andX for updates.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Stay kind. Stay connected.