Chat Rooms offered a blend of online and in-person sessions to combat loneliness, build resilience, and provide safe spaces for meaningful conversations. Facilitated by volunteers and Wellbeing Workers, clients were supported to grow in confidence and re-engage with wider opportunities. Many participants progressed into volunteering, training, work, or longer-term West Kent Mind programmes, strengthening wellbeing, purpose, and community.
Led by our Wellbeing team activities were shaped by client interests, and encouraged confidence, connection, and resilience. Several groups took steps towards independence, organising their own meetings and fundraising through creative sales. Many went on to join further programmes, demonstrating the lasting impact of arts in building wellbeing, community, and personal growth.
The group offered parents the opportunity to connect, share experiences and find understanding in a safe space. Attendees told us how valuable it was to speak openly with others who ‘get it,’ reducing feelings of isolation. Through shared experience and mutual support, parents felt heard, supported and better equipped to look after both their own wellbeing and that of their families.
The hybrid model ensured accessibility for those working, isolated, or unable to attend in person. Members attended regularly or dropped in as needed, benefiting from shared experiences and resources. A WhatsApp group offered additional connection between sessions. As one participant described: “The group is a real lifeline… talking to people that understand exactly what I am going through.”
Gardening has immediate and long terms effects on mental health outcomes by reducing stress, improving mood and reducing loneliness. During the year, the group benefited from physical activity and interacting in a communal space, sharing their lived experiences, “I forget about my problems and can just be myself in this garden”. The garden provided a calm outdoor space for clients and staff alike.
The group supported participants to help process their emotions, find comfort in community, and rebuild a sense of hope at their own pace. This year the service introduced ‘Open Meets’ for the programme, a new, drop-in style service. The structure offered a more flexible and fluid approach, which allowed individuals to access support without the pressure of having to confirm attendance in advance.
