Finding ways to help community thrive
ThriveTogether addresses the unique health challenges of the BAME community, including historical trauma, cultural stigma and other socio-economic factors.
It achieves this through innovative programs, community engagement and targeted interventions designed to uplift and empower individuals in the community to prioritise their health and wellbeing. For such outstanding work, ThriveTogether has been nominated for a Kent Mental Wellbeing Award.
ThriveTogether adopts a unique approach that goes beyond raising awareness of the issues faced by the BAME community. The initiative helps to foster a sense of resilience and develop support networks through their programs and interventions, including culturally sensitive health education, the creation of spaces for open dialogue between individuals and the promotion of health equity in the BAME community. ThriveTogether also have collaborative partnerships with local organisations, healthcare professionals and community and religious leaders which amplify its impact and reach.
Recently, ThriveTogether has demonstrated its commitment to meeting community needs and driving positive change by hosting virtual health fairs in Tonbridge which use the latest technology to create an immersive platform for educational workshops and the sharing of educational resources.
They have also offered culturally tailored health education for the BAME community in Kent, covering topics such as the wide determinants of health, preventative care and mental health, setting new standards for community health promotion.
But the initiative has had to deal with some challenging circumstances in the past. For example, limited engagement with the initiative by the BAME community and a reluctance for members to prioritise their own health has made it more difficult for ThriveTogether to succeed.
By collaborating more with local organisations and community leaders, however, the initiative has been able to increase overall engagement and participation. The initiative also encounters funding constraints which limit its ability to provide for the community, but plans to overcome this through strategic partnerships, fundraising efforts and grant applications.
So far, ThriveTogether’s initiatives have led to increased awareness and access to vital health resources as well as heightened awareness of preventative checks and care measures. They also have established support networks within the community, which foster empowerment, resilience and unity.
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.