Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards 2026

This year's Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards includes the themes of kindness and compassion, wellbeing and mental health - so schools should consider submitting nominations focusing on anti-bullying initiatives; buddying schemes and inclusiveness - as well as those more directly supporting pupil or staff mental wellbeing.

The judges are particularly keen to have nominations for the Wellbeing Space of the Year - linked to either outdoor or indoor reflective or calming areas such as nature areas or mini allotment spaces.

Just as important for this event are pastoral care teams and the wellbeing support delivered by internal staff or external providers. A number of schools are now also setting up student peer support services with older students able to have wellbeing conversations with those in need and signposting on to staff depending on need - the awards team would like to celebrate this work as well.

How students and staff volunteer to deliver extra curricular activities on campus or for other groups out in the community is also a focus for this year.

The awards celebrate the people, initiatives and organisations making a positive contribution towards the wellbeing of the school community.

Staged by the mental health charity East Kent Mind and supported by a range of organisations including Kent County Council and Medway Council, the event will highlight the good ideas used daily in the county's schools to assist with wellbeing in its broadest sense.

Of particular interest to the judges this year are examples of schools involved in:

• Buddying initiatives
• Kindness campaigns
• Anti-bullying campaigns aimed at promoting inclusiveness
• Family wellbeing workshops
• Pastoral care support
• Wellbeing hubs or teams focused on wellbeing and mental health
• Acts of kindness on campus or in the community
• Nature areas or outdoor classroom experiences that assist pupils with learning in the natural environment
• Nature areas that allow students to relax, reflect and de-stress
• Outdoor gardens and allotments giving pupils hands-on experience of growing plants
• Forest schools
• Sensory gardens.

Schools should also consider detailing how the staff or volunteers have helped projects to succeed as the judges also like to make awards to people making a difference with wellbeing - not just the initiatives themselves.

Submitting a nomination is easy, simply visit the Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards website

We recommend you create your nominations on a Word document and cut and paste the narrative onto the nomination form.

If you have any questions visit the East Kent Mind website. The awards information is located under the Get Involved tab, or email simondolby@eastkentmind.org.uk or call Simon on 07989 164752.