The search is on for the region’s wellbeing champions

Nominations are now being accepted for an annual awards event that focuses on wellbeing and the people, organisations and initiatives that support our mental health.

This support can be crucial to help us cope with life, particularly as the cost-of-living-crisis continues to put pressure on communities.

The Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards accepts nominations linked to three themes – kindness and compassion, wellbeing, and mental health.

Mind in Bexley’s Simon Dolby and KMFM’s Nicola Everett will host the awards event.

Whether it is in your school, business, community or family, so many of us have been lucky to have people and organisations with ideas, tips and tactics to help us cope – it is time to celebrate those wellbeing champions in our community and share this best practice.

The awards will be staged in October by the mental health charity Mind in Bexley and East Kent in collaboration with a range of wellbeing and mental health organisations.

Nominations can be linked to a simple act of kindness that lifted the spirits, a business that has improved staff wellbeing, through to a targeted initiative delivered by a charity or statutory organisation to support a mental health issue.

This year new categories have been added for veterans, seniors, partnership projects and suicide prevention. Popular categories the judging panel are expecting to attract a lot of interest from include wellbeing initiatives delivered in schools, workplace wellbeing, physical activity projects, charity fundraising and communication campaigns.

Wellbeing Space of the Year will again give organisations the freedom to nominate indoor calm zones, gardening groups, forest schools and eco projects.

The event is supported by GrainLNG, Kent County Council, Kent Community Foundation, ADM Computing, Medway Council, Cactus Graphics, Blessing Enakimio, Ashford International Hotel, CommunityAd, Optyma Security, Wave Community Bank and MHA accountants.

Nominations are accepted from the Kent, Medway, Bexley and Bromley areas and can be submitted until noon on 1 September 2024. Click here to nominate – www.kentmentalwellbeingawards.org.uk

Follow the initiative on Facebook and Twitter @KentMWAwards to keep up to date with news about the event.