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Time To Talk day - Let's start talking about mental health

On Time to Talk Day the nation is encouraged to start talking about mental health

The Time to Talk campaign aims to change the way we think and act about mental health. Statistically, 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience issues with their mental health in any given year and during the pandemic there have been added concerns about the increased number of people needing support.

One of the many mental health charities that Kent Community Foundation supports is West Kent Extra who recently received funding for a mental health early intervention scheme for disadvantaged young people.

The Foundation awarded West Kent Extra £5,000 for their new early intervention mental health project aimed at disadvantaged young people living in Edenbridge and the surrounding areas. This mental health project will address emerging issues identified during the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown. The Time Out project will offer mental health support programmes for three groups of vulnerable young people aged between twelve and nineteen.

Kevin O’Reilly, West Kent Extra, said, “We are delighted to have received Kent Community Foundation funding which will allow West Kent Extra to give young people in the Edenbridge area strategies to reflect on and manage challenging behaviour and situations. Each group will be supported by two experienced members of our youth team and will use arts and crafts, songs, films, and TV programmes to explore the challenges they are facing over a twelve-week programme.

“Time to Talk on 4 February is an important date and I would encourage everyone to get involved so that together we can try to change the way we all think about mental health and improve attitudes and behaviour.”

Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation, said, “This week Kent Community Foundation will be using our social media platforms to celebrate some of the fantastic work being done across the county by mental health organisations, and will hopefully encourage more people to get involved.”

MASSIVE 'thank you ' to everyone at Kent Community Foundation. Your funding support is HUGELY appreciated and has enabled us to get into the heart of local communities with REAL, affordable, healthy and tasty food that does so much more than feed people.

Community chef Mike Spackman, Sheppey Matters

KCF's enthusiasm for what we are doing and hoping to do, coupled with helpful advice, gave us the confidence to take this daunting step which has paid off.

Liz Turner, Octopus Foundation

It's great having a foundation that empowers organisations and charities in our community to make real positive differences and changes!

Tom, MMK Mind