Two Thanet organisations have been awarded grants from the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Programme to support work aimed at reducing self-harm and improving mental wellbeing.
Who has received the funding?
The overall fund, administered by Kent County Council and Medway Council and financed by NHS Kent and Medway, has allocated a share of a £90,000 pot to 12 local projects. From Thanet, SpeakUp CIC and the Red Rebel Collective were confirmed as successful applicants.
- SpeakUp CIC (Thanet) – will establish an ADHD peer support group for adults aged 18 and over in East Kent. Meetings will be led by a staff member with lived experience alongside a trained volunteer, with a mix of wellbeing activities, information and structured peer-to-peer discussion to help reduce isolation and share coping strategies.
- Red Rebel Collective (Margate-based) – will pilot a training programme to help identify early signs of cyclical suicidal ideation linked to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). The project aims to improve early diagnosis and interventions and to reduce repeat crisis care.
Why the funding matters locally
The grant scheme has run for eight years and supporters say it targets frontline activity that can help prevent self-harm and save lives. Small, community-led projects such as peer support and targeted training can reach people who might not access statutory services and can provide earlier, more tailored help.
“Once again we received an incredibly high number of strong applications for this long-running fund. It underlines the impressive work going on across Kent and Medway to help individuals and families dealing with poor mental health. Congratulations to all our successful applicants and I look forward to following everyone’s inspiring work.”
The comment came from Jamie Henderson, Kent County Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for environment, coastal regeneration and public health.
Practical implications and next steps
Recipients will use their grants to set up or expand services aimed at vulnerable groups: adults with ADHD and people affected by PMDD-related suicidal ideation. The projects are expected to focus on early identification, peer support and reduction of crisis episodes, though exact start dates and the size of each award were not disclosed by the council.
| Fund total | Number of projects funded | Thanet recipients |
|---|---|---|
| £90,000 | 12 | SpeakUp CIC; Red Rebel Collective |
Over the past eight years the annual scheme has supported more than 130 organisations across Kent and Medway. For local residents wanting information about the new groups or referral routes, contacting SpeakUp CIC or Red Rebel Collective directly, or enquiring via Kent County Council’s public health team, will be the quickest way to find out times, venues and eligibility once projects are under way.
The awards reflect a continuing emphasis by NHS Kent and Medway and the councils on funding community-based initiatives that complement statutory services and reach people at risk earlier in their difficulties.
