Lord Mayor of Canterbury meets Sienna, age 4, at the Whitefriars Summer Beach

Summer fun for civic leader

Whitefriars in Canterbury opened its Summer Beach today and made a pledge to raise more than £2,500 for East Kent Mind.

Shoppers visiting the sandy haven in the middle of the retail area are asked to make a £2 donation to support the Lord Mayor of Canterbury’s Charity of the Year – East Kent Mind.

The district’s civic leader, Cllr Keji Moses, formally cut the ribbon to open the beach area – and then took time out of her hectic schedule to make sandcastles and enjoy an ice cream with four-year-old Sienna who was the first to venture on to the sand.

Whitefriars Centre Manager, Mark Stuart said: “We are so pleased to have opened the beach – it will be open for eight weeks over the summer. We are partnering with East Kent Mind this year and will have a mindfulness bench adjacent to the beach as well. The beach is free admission but are taking voluntary donations to support East Kent Mind.”

Simon Dolby, Development Lead at East Kent Mind, said: “East Kent Mind is thrilled to be a part of the Summer Beach at Whitefriars. This will help to raise our profile and encourage more positive conversations around mental health – and also encourage other businesses to follow Whitefriars lead and also raise funds for our work locally.”

To talk to East Kent Mind about staging a fundraiser or using its training services to support your organisation, contact simondolby@eastkentmind.org.uk