Ensuring Ukrainian refugees are made welcome
Sittingbourne and Sheppey helping Ukraine does the vital work of supporting Ukrainian refugees settle into the local area by providing a hub and safe spaces for them to talk, decompress and feel part of their new community.
For this work, Sittingbourne and Sheppey helping Ukraine has been nominated for a Kent Mental Wellbeing Award.
Every refugee is treated like family at Sittingbourne and Sheppey helping Ukraine, fostering an environment of acceptance and inclusion. Hugs are offered and available whenever needed, giving the refugees a sense of safety and calm in their lives. The charity has also encouraged refugees to have control over their own space by organising their own events and displaying their own culture to the community, building an atmosphere of tolerance and love. Prior to the setting up of the charity, there was nothing for Ukrainian refugees in the area, with neither the local or county council offering any kind of support.
Sittingbourne and Sheppey helping Ukraine specifically focus on the mental wellbeing of the refugees who come into contact with the charity, with regular yoga classes and trauma art therapy classes held in the community. Obviously there are many complications and traumas that refugees fleeing their country of origin have to deal with, which is why the classes are held. Sittingbourne and Sheppey helping Ukraine regularly work with other charities to open new spaces and help refugees find their feet by engaging in volunteering opportunities within the local area, encouraging mindfulness and engagement with support services such as medical professionals when required.
The Kent Mental Wellbeing awards is an annual event designed to showcase the people, organisations and initiatives that help us cope with life. The event’s three themes are: kindness and compassion; wellbeing; mental health.
Whether it is in 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 mental health and well-being 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.
The event is sponsored by Kent County Council, Kent Community Foundation, ADM Computing, GrainLNG – National Grid, Medway Council, Optyma Security, Ble Global, Wave Community Bank, Cactus Graphics and CommunityAid.
Submit nominations at www.kentmentalwellbeingawards.org.uk For awards news follow @KentMWAwards on Facebook and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
