Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards 2026: Celebrating the people making a difference to mental health
The inspiring individuals, organisations and community projects making a positive difference to mental health and wellbeing across the region have been celebrated at the 2026 Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards.
A total of 45 winners from across Bexley, Bromley, Kent and Medway were recognised at the ceremony, held Ashford International Hotel on Friday 23rd October, with 16 people receiving the prestigious title of Kent Champion.
Organised by Mind in Bexley and East Kent, the annual awards celebrate outstanding contributions to mental health, wellbeing, kindness and compassion, recognising people and organisations whose dedication is helping to create happier, healthier and more supportive communities.
This year’s ceremony welcomed VIP speaker Samantha Baines, an award-winning actress, broadcaster, author and passionate advocate for disability rights and inclusion. Samantha, who is deaf, is an ambassador for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) and has used her platform to raise awareness of deafness, accessibility and the importance of equal opportunities.
The 2026 awards attracted more than 370 nominations from across the region, highlighting the remarkable range of work being undertaken to support people’s mental health and wellbeing.
An independent judging panel spent eight hours reviewing and discussing the nominations before selecting this year’s winners.
The awards recognise achievements across a wide range of areas, including mental health support, suicide prevention, education, workplace wellbeing, volunteering, community initiatives and acts of kindness.The awards recognise achievements across a wide range of areas, including mental health support, suicide prevention, education, workplace wellbeing, volunteering, community initiatives and acts of kindness.The awards recognise achievements across a wide range of areas, including mental health support, suicide prevention, education, workplace wellbeing, volunteering, community initiatives and acts of kindness.
From individuals offering friendship and support to innovative projects transforming lives, the awards demonstrate how people from all walks of life can make a meaningful difference to the wellbeing of others.
There was a win on the evening for our Mindful Mums Co-ordinator Emma Seaton (pictured above). Emma received her award in recognition of her dedication and commitment to driving forward the Mindful Mums service in Bexley, helping to make a real difference to the lives of local mums and their families.
The panel recognised Emma’s passion, hard work and determination to develop the service, ensuring that more women can access vital mental health and wellbeing support during pregnancy and early motherhood.
We are incredibly proud of Emma and a huge congratulations from everyone at Mind in Bexley.
Simon Dolby, Development Lead at Mind in Bexley and East Kent and co-host of the awards, said: “Every year, these awards remind us just how much fantastic work is happening in our communities, often carried out by people who never seek recognition for what they do.
“Behind every nomination is a story of someone making a difference, whether through a simple act of kindness, supporting a person through a difficult time or developing an initiative that improves the lives of many.
“The standard of nominations this year was incredibly high, and it is a privilege to celebrate the individuals and organisations whose compassion, commitment and creativity are helping to improve mental wellbeing across our region.”
Dr David Palmer, CEO of Mind in Bexley and East Kent, praised the contribution of local people and organisations in addressing mental health challenges.
“Good mental health and wellbeing are essential to strong, healthy communities, and the need for compassionate, accessible support remains as important as ever.
“What makes these awards so special is the incredible diversity of people and projects being recognised. They demonstrate that improving mental wellbeing is not just the responsibility of health services, but something we can all contribute to through our workplaces, schools, neighbourhoods and everyday interactions.
“Each of our winners represents the very best of community spirit. Their work helps to break down barriers, reduce isolation and create opportunities for people to feel supported, valued and connected. We are delighted to recognise their achievements and share their inspiring stories.”
The Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards organising committee would like to thank the sponsors and partners whose generous support helped make this year’s celebration possible. The sponsors were: GrainLNG, BVSC, Kent Coast Volunteering, ADM Computing, Kent County Council, Medway Council, Thanet Earth, Optyma Security, Cactus Graphics, Medway Voluntary Action, CommunityAd, Tassels and Town & Country Housing.
The Kent Champions of 2026 are:
Kent Community Fundraiser – Matt Evans – Mid Kent Mind
Kent Innovation Champion – Mummy’s Linkup – Little Gift Bags Project
Kent Business Wellbeing Champion – Sophie Dodds
Kent Wellbeing Service Delivery Champion – SATEDA
Kent Wellbeing Staff Champion – Anchor Foster Care
Kent Wellbeing School Champion – Joshua Born – City of Rochester School
Kent Sporting Champion – Bromley FC Community Trust’s Parkinson’s Walking Football
Kent Counsellor of the Year – My Shining Star Children’s Cancer Charity
Kent Community Champion – Natasha Steer – Creatabot
Kent Wellbeing Space of the Year – Abbey Physic Community Garden
Kent Volunteer of the Year – Mary Wade
Kent Public Sector Wellbeing Champion – Sarah Wackett – NHS
Kent Kindness Champion – Ace Brown – Stagecoach
Kent Wellbeing Partnership Project – Eden Robertson and Anton Krakowski – Probation Service/Seetec
Kent’s Mental Health Leader – Jemma Burgess
Kent Suicide Prevention Project – Emerge Advocacy
To discover more about this year’s winners and their inspiring achievements, download the Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards 2026 Best Practice booklet, featuring stories of the individuals, organisations and projects recognised at the ceremony.
Download the Best Practice booklet here: Booklet
For social media coverage of the awards, follow @KentMWAwards on Facebook and Instagram.
Nominations are now open for the 2027 Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards. If you know an individual, organisation or community project making a positive difference to mental health and wellbeing, you can submit a nomination at: Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards
