☀️ ‘It probably saves some people from falling into deep depression’

In 2026 the Dispatch is supporting South Kent Mind, our charity of the year. In this week’s newsletter we hear from staff, volunteers and those benefiting from the charity’s work to help support people in our community who are struggling with their mental health…

It is estimated that each year around one in five people will experience a common mental health problem. The pressure this places on over-stretched NHS services means that, in many cases, people will only receive the help they need once they have reached crisis point, putting further strain on the healthcare system and perpetuating the problem.

Early intervention is key, and that is where organisations like South Kent Mind, the Dispatch charity of the year for 2026, can make such a vital difference. Last year SKM, which is entirely independent of the national Mind charity, provided direct support to more than 2,000 people in our part of Kent—a service it can only provide thanks to the generous support of local people.

“A number of the people we meet are not ill enough for clinical intervention, but nonetheless their mental health is having a huge impact on their daily lives,” said Joe Tolhurst, the charity’s head of income and engagement, who is based at SKM’s headquarters in the centre of Folkestone.

“We help people find practical ways to build confidence, resilience and connection before they reach crisis. Sometimes the first step towards better mental health isn’t therapy. It’s coming through the door, meeting people, having a laugh and feeling part of something again.”

That is a sentiment that Jane, a regular at SKM, agrees with wholeheartedly. Taking a break from the weekly Chatty Monday session, she told the Dispatch how she found her mental health starting to suffer after she retired, losing her regular routine in the process.

“I needed something to focus my life on,” she said when asked about what first brought her to SKM. “I was very cautious to start with, but I feel quite pleased that I’ve got somewhere to go and I have some kind of schedule in my life. When you first stop working it’s wonderful. And then suddenly you think, ‘what’s the point?’ But coming here is lovely, it’s terrific, and if there’s ever any help you need there’s always somebody available that you can chat to.”

Mr Tolhurst believes the charity can offer people mental health support with a difference. The vast majority of those it works with are not suffering from severe mental health conditions. They may simply be struggling with common issues like loneliness, anxiety or low confidence, but there is a recognition that it is far better to address those before they have the chance to develop into something more serious.

“Traditional services can feel intimidating or inaccessible,” he said. “Activities like line dancing, walking groups, cooking groups, crafts and gardening create opportunities for people to connect with others and improve their mental health in a natural way.”

Another regular we spoke to during the Chatty Monday get-together was Joseph, who is originally from Hong Kong. He is a carer for his mother-in-law, and was first introduced to the work of SKM when he was seeking support for her mental health struggles.

“I became her main carer and I thought we need to find something to help her to reduce the stress and loneliness,” he said, “because when you suffer with your mental health it’s very difficult to communicate with people even if they speak the same language. We registered for her to come, but because of the language problem they suggested that I should also register as a user because as a carer there are also a lot of stress issues.

“At the time I was starting my journey to become a carer, so I didn’t realise the significance. But I am so grateful that I have joined as a user because increasingly I found that the service that South Kent Mind provides not only helped my mother-in-law, who I thought was the primary target client, but it also supported me as a carer because as a carer we don’t usually get the support, or even the recognition that we need support. I am very lucky that they actually arranged some one-to-one counselling for me.”

“Despite not having the language, because everyone is so welcoming and accepting and warm she has built a very strong rapport with the volunteers, the well-being team and all the other users. In fact, when we don’t come here in some weeks when she has medical appointments that clash with her activities she actually asks me if we can not do that and come here instead.

“She loves the cooking sessions, every week we do the cooking together, and she really enjoys it because it gives her a purpose. The art classes are also an eye-opening experience, because before coming to South Kent Mind she was always very stressed, she was always in tears, simply because of her mental condition. Since coming here, and making some changes to her medications, she very seldom cries now because she has something to look forward to. I think if she had her way she would come here every day.”

Although affiliated with the wider Mind network, our local charity has been completely independent since it was founded in 1988 and it relies entirely on donations and the time given by volunteers like Marian, who teaches the weekly line-dancing class. She told the Dispatch it would be great for anyone else who has time to spare and a passion to share to consider giving their time at SKM.

“Nobody had ever volunteered to do dancing before,” she said. “Dancing’s always got me through a lot of things, so it’s nice to be able to share that and give an hour a week where you don’t have to think about anything else. But if you’ve got a problem, there’s always someone that you can share it with. I probably get more from it than I give a lot of the time—volunteering is very rewarding, it’s such a worthwhile thing to do.”

Mr Tolhurst said: “We are incredibly fortunate to have a community that gets behind us. Every pound raised stays local and helps us continue supporting people across south Kent.”

It is support that Jane believes can be transformational for so many who are facing struggles in their life. “It probably saves some people from falling into a deep depression,” she said, “because you can be so isolated and you feel that you are alone in the world. The answer is people sharing things, being able to talk things through. We’ve all got issues but if you can decompress and let that thing go, you think ‘well it wasn’t that bad after all’.”

The Dispatch will be taking part in a sponsored fire walk in October to help raise funds for South Kent Mind. To sponsor Rhys, with all money going to SKM, please visit our JustGiving page here. If you would like to take part in the event, which is happening at Sea Scrub Sauna on October 10, you can sign up here.

We have a limited-time offer running until the end of the month. Sign up for an annual subscription to the Dispatch in August and you will save 20% on the full rate. Producing this newsletter is only possible thanks to the support of our paid supporters, and if you join them you will help secure the Dispatch’s long-term future.

🚧 Traffic lights at Radnor Park roundabout will now be in place until the end of August after issues with “unpredictable” underground utilities caused delays to work in the area. In an update published last week, the engineers carrying out the work said: “Due to these factors, and in order to safely complete the works needed in the area, it has been necessary to extend the three-way lights until the end of August. This extension is naturally disappointing, but we aim to complete these works as quickly and safely as possible.”

🌊 Sea Scrub Sauna—the firm behind the beach spa opened in Folkestone earlier this year—has had its plans for a new venue in Deal approved. But why are you sharing this with us, we hear you cry. Well, because the council debate over the proposals featured an absolute corker from one sceptical councillor. KentOnline reports that, during a planning committee debate, Cllr Helen Williams expressed concerns over sea water quality and said: “I dislike the idea of people sweating in the sauna then washing the sweat off in the sea.” Given the coastal waters at Deal were recently hit with a ‘do not swim’ warning over pollution, it’s probably fair to say the sweat of a few sauna-goers would be but a drop in the ocean.

✍️ A residential home caring for older people and people living with dementia has been told it ‘requires improvement’. A report published by the Care Quality Commission last week states that an inspection at Highfield Residential Care Home in Seabrook Road, between Folkestone and Hythe, identified that “potential risks to people’s health and welfare had not always been consistently identified and mitigated”. Inspectors concluded: “Although staff were kind and caring and people and relatives confirmed this, improvements were needed to the environment and the provider’s systems and processes to ensure safe and good quality care.” You can read the report on the CQC website here.

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