The people, organisations and initiatives delivering projects to improve mental health and wellbeing in Thanet were recognised at the 2025 Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards.
Fifty-two winners and 21 champions from across Bexley, Bromley, Kent and Medway were announced at the ceremony held at the Ashford International Hotel on Friday 24th October.
The event, staged by Mind in Bexley and East Kent, was hosted by their Development Lead Simon Dolby, and Nicola Everett from kmfm, and featured VIP speaker Dr Kush Kanodia, a champion of disability rights and race equality.
Keynote speeches were delivered by the Deputy Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Teresa Murray, and Alice Scutchey, from the Baton of Hope Organising Committee.
There were an amazing nine winners in Thanet:
Activity Group Award: Harry Higgs – Overrun Project
Founded by Harry Higgs in May 2024, The OverRun Project has quickly become more than a running club – it’s a movement uniting people across Thanet to improve their mental wellbeing through running.
What began with a handful of friends now attracts more than 25 runners each week alternating between the five locations of Margate, Westgate, Ramsgate, Minnis Bay and Broadstairs. Free and open to all abilities, the 5K runs encourage conversation, connection and support. Many members have improved their fitness, built friendships and even joined fundraising events for Mind – proving that running together truly boosts mental health.
Business Wellbeing Award: Thanet Earth
Thanet Earth places employee mental health and wellbeing at the heart of its culture. With wellbeing built into its People Strategy, the company has created forums, campaigns and support networks to ensure every voice is heard and valued. The business offers trained Mental Health First Aiders, monthly wellbeing topics, and initiatives such as SavOUR Salads which give employees food at no cost, free virtual GP access, and staff wellbeing rooms.
They have donated 6,750 food boxes to the local community and organise staff volunteering days. Through kindness, innovation and community giving, Thanet Earth continues to grow a workplace culture where people feel supported, connected and proud to belong.
Veterans Award: Nikki Ward of Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
Nikki Ward supports RAF veterans, widows and widowers through the Every Generation Group she runs in Birchington and Kent Reminiscence Group delivered in Maidstone for the RAF Benevolent Fund. Her kindness and commitment have transformed lives. She visits every beneficiary, offering a listening ear and ensuring those living with memory loss or hidden disabilities feel included and supported.
Her empathy, passion and commitment have helped many older veterans reconnect and rebuild social connections. By creating warm, engaging spaces filled with conversation, reminiscence and laughter, Nikki continues to make a lasting difference to the RAF family across Kent.
Kent Suicide Prevention Project: STAK.life CIC
Emma and Tristan Kluibenschadl founded STAK.life CIC in memory of their son Stefan, who died by suicide in 2022. Determined to turn tragedy into hope, they created Stefan’s Acts of Kindness – STAK – to help neurodivergent children and young people reach their full potential and thrive.
Their compassionate work includes creative programmes which provide eight sessions of support for those living with complex grief, and the Speak Their Name commemorative quilt, bringing families together to remember loved ones. Through empathy and courage, Emma and Tristan have transformed personal loss into a powerful legacy of kindness and connection across Kent.
Youth Project Award: Oasis Raise Young Peoples Team
The Oasis Raise Young Peoples Team are trauma-informed practitioners supporting children and young people affected by domestic abuse. Their kindness, empathy and skilled therapeutic work have been central to many families’ recovery.
Through innovative programmes, including Recovering Together, Fishing for Wellbeing and Validating Voices, the team helps rebuild relationships and promote social connection, hope and confidence. This is emotionally demanding work but the team remain compassionate and resilient, creating a supportive culture that inspires both colleagues and the families they serve.
Wellbeing Space Award: Windmill Community Gardens Margate
Windmill Community Gardens is a safe, inclusive and sustainable green space where wellbeing, kindness and recovery are at the heart of everything. Since 2004, the project has supported thousands to grow food, connect and enjoy nature. Activities include hosted forest bathing and Beyond the Page to share cultural vegetable growing experiences and recipes.
With 12 staff and 27 volunteers and trustees, the team delivers weekly tailored wellbeing sessions for families, asylum seekers and neurodivergent participants, helping people build skills, confidence and community. Through dedication and creativity, the team have ensured that this much-loved community garden continues to nurture wellbeing across Thanet.
Community Champion: Sonny Dungar
At just 18, Sonny Dungar has shown remarkable compassion and maturity. As part of a team organising a Violence Against Women and Girls conference, he used his creativity and insight to help design the event logo and raise awareness through workshops and a community fashion show.
Overcoming his own anxiety, Sonny delivered a powerful speech encouraging men to be part of the solution, not the problem. His sincerity and courage deeply moved the audience. Sonny’s commitment, empathy and leadership have made a lasting impact on his community, inspiring others to take a stand for change.
NHS Award: Health Records Team (Amanda & Aimee)
Amanda and Aimee from the Health Records Team transformed an unused outdoor corner at East Kent Hospitals into a vibrant wellbeing garden for staff. What began as an idea between colleagues grew into a project that brought the whole team together. They surveyed staff to understand what might support them, they encouraged local biodiversity in the garden, and the wellbeing garden is now a focal social space and a beacon of positivity.
Using reclaimed materials and donations from local businesses, they created a peaceful, sensory space filled with flowers, herbs, and wildlife – a place for rest, reflection and connection. Their dedication, creativity and kindness have not only improved the hospital environment but also lifted staff morale, inspiring others to prioritise wellbeing at work.
Seniors Award: William Parr – Kensei Taiko
William Parr leads Kensei Taiko, a Japanese martial arts drumming group that promotes wellbeing, physical fitness, and spiritual connection through rhythm and community. The group runs free workshops and performances sharing the uplifting energy of Taiko drumming at community and charity events across Thanet. Their work has supported a number of people suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts.
William’s sessions foster friendship, mindfulness and joy. His inclusive approach has helped people facing isolation, mental distress, and disability reconnect through the power of sound and movement.
Nominations increase
This year the number of nominations increased by over 15%. Each nominee was carefully evaluated by a diverse, independent panel of judges from across the region, ensuring that only the most deserving individuals and organisations were honoured.
The judging panel included representatives from Kent County Council, Kent Community Foundation, Southeastern, GrainLNG, ADM Computing, Medway Council, Cactus Graphics, Blé Global, CommunityAd, Willowbank, Paramount Foundation, Mantara, and Town and Country Housing.
A raffle on the evening raised over £1,000 for the Mental Health Bank, an innovation run by Revival Food and Mood in Whitstable, which aims to transform mental wellbeing in the community through the provision of complementary wellbeing therapies.
“People across the country are struggling with their mental health and it is really important to recognise the outstanding work being done to improve their wellbeing,” said co-host of the evening Simon Dolby. “The Awards are our way of identifying and celebrating those who have been instrumental in driving progress in mental health across the region.”
Dr. David Palmer, CEO of Mind in Bexley and East Kent, emphasised the growing importance of mental health support: “Now more than ever, mental health services are essential. Across our communities, people are feeling the strain, and the need for accessible, local support has never been greater.
“Amid the challenges of recent years, from the pandemic to the cost-of-living crisis, community and grassroots organisations have shown the power of compassion and connection. They remind us that real change happens locally, through people who care, listen and act.
“These awards celebrate those remarkable individuals, leaders and projects making a lasting difference. Their dedication and creativity inspire hope, strengthen communities, and remind us that together, we can build a future where mental health support is truly for everyone.”
The Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards organising committee would like to thank its sponsors for supporting the Awards, including headline partners Southeastern and Grain LNG
