People examining nominations on laptop screens and from printed copies

The judging panel of the Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards during their marathon eight hour session

Judges announce winners’ list after marathon session

The winners of the Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards have been named for 2026. More than 370 nominations were submitted with every district in Kent, Medway, Bexley and Bromley represented. 

Representatives of the winning submissions have been informed of their success and will be invited to a glittering awards ceremony this autumn. At this stage they do not know the full nature of their win as that will be revealed on the night, along with an announcement of which nominees have been named as the county’s champions in their field.

Two people looking at score sheet

Simon Dolby and Karen Brinkman count the judges votes

The judging panel spent eight very tough hours examining and debating the nominations before naming the organisations, initiatives and individuals to be celebrated next month.

The sponsors and judges of the annual awards include: 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.

As well as the 45 winners, listed below, a further 50 nominees will be named as Highly Commended later this month.

Winners’ list

Ashford

  • Pastoral Care Team at High Halden Primary School
  • Lisa Haddon, Stuart Williams, and Thalia Standen of G4S, Ashford

Bexley and Bromley

  • Sidcup Community Larder
  • Emma Seaton, Mind in Bexley
  • Bromley FC Community Trust – Parkinson’s Walking Football Initiative

Canterbury

  • Keep Talking Services
  • Ethnic Minorities in Canterbury
  • Benedict Sloane, Canterbury Umbrella
  • Godfrey King, Blean Village Champion
  • Sophie Dodds, Joy of You CIC
  • Ace Brown, Stagecoach
  • Herne Bay High School Wellbeing Team
  • Shed Quarters, Age UK Herne Bay and Whitstable
  • Sarah Wackett, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Dartford and Gravesham

  • Jemma Burgess, Hope on Prescription
  • Emerge Advocacy
  • North Kent Mind – Adult Support Services
  • Mummys Linkup – Little Gift Bags Project 
  • T.Js Public House

Dover

  • Kerry Banks – Breast Cancer Now
  • The Missing Project
  • East Kent Spurs Supporters Club

Folkestone

  • Home Straight Team (Hoarding Support), Folkestone & Hythe District Council and Town & Country Housing
  • Eden Robertson of Probation Service and Anton Krakowski of Seetec

Maidstone

  • Cast a Thought CIC 
  • Matt Evans – Mid Kent Mind
  • Steve Grantham – Beginners2Runners Maidstone

Medway

  • My Shining Star Children’s Cancer Charity
  • Joshua Born – City of Rochester School 
  • Anchor Foster Care 
  • Scallywags
  • FASD Awareness
  • Natasha Steer of Creatabot

Swale

  • Age UK Sheppey
  • Abbey Physic Community Garden
  • SATEDA
  • Jordan Dighton – NexYouth CIC

Thanet

  • Tony Gander, Kent Fire and Rescue
  • Mary Wade, Maurice House
  • STAK Life
  • Wilderness to Wonderland
  • QEQM Therapies Wellbeing Team

West Kent

  • The Counselling Centre
  • Creative Connections – West Kent Mind and Town & Country Housing