Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards: Celebrating the Region’s Wellbeing Champions
The people, organisations and initiatives delivering projects to improve mental health and wellbeing in the region 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.
Dr David Palmer with the Innovation Award certificate for our Bexley Barbershop Project
Click above to download the Best Practice Booklet
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 bay 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.
The Kent Champions of 2025 are:
Kent Community Fundraisers – Andy Purvis and Tim Cox of the Oar Mighty Mates 2C
Kent Innovation Champion – Bexley Barbershop Project, Mind in Bexley
Kent Communication Champion – Finn Tumber
Kent Business Wellbeing Champion – Thanet Earth
Kent Wellbeing Service Delivery Champion – Creative Minds Project, West Kent Mind
Kent Wellbeing Staff Champion – Cleopatra’s Legacy CIC
Kent Wellbeing School Staff Champion – Milestone Academy in Dartford
Kent Sports Champion – Inclusive Sport Kent CIC
Kent Counsellor of the Year – The Peace Project
Kent Community Champion – Sue Petty
Kent Wellbeing Space of the Year – The Gardens of Hope
Kent Education Champion – Bodsham Primary School
Kent Pastoral Care Champion – City of Rochester School
Kent Disability Champion – 3D Care CIC
Kent Volunteer of the Year – Alice Scutchey from the Baton of Hope charity
Kent Veteran of the Year – Nikki Ward of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
Kent Public Sector Wellbeing Champion – Nat Farley from KMPT
Kent Kindness Champion – Capel Cares
Kent Wellbeing Partnership Project – Post Fire Recovery & Wellbeing Support Project led by Town & Country Housing
Kent Mental Health Leader of the Year – Justin Bateman of North Kent Mind
Kent Suicide Prevention Project – Stak.Life
For social media coverage of the awards follow @KentMWAwards on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
If you would like to nominate a person or organisation for the 2026 Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards, you can: here
For more information about the winners – please look at our Best Practice booklet which includes stories about all our inspirational winners – it can be downloaded: here
