Mindfulness is a process of learning how to live our lives more in the present moment, rather than being on ‘auto-pilot’ or living in ‘our heads’ with our thoughts, worrying about the past or the future. Mindfulness was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979, and from this time has been developed for improving mental and physical wellbeing.
Becoming
more aware of the present moment can help us to enjoy the world around us more
and understand ourselves better. When we become more aware of the present
moment, we begin to experience afresh things that we have taken for granted.
Mindfulness teaches us to pay attention more, to be kind and non-judgmental
towards ourselves, and to foster a healthy curiosity in everything we do.
Mindfulness teaches simple forms of meditation to focus on the breath and bodily sensations and uses everyday tasks and activities to help you to focus on present moment awareness.
Sessions are held:
Swanley: St. Peter’s Church, College Road
Monday 10:00—12:00pm
Dartford: St. Anselm’s Parish, 89 West Hill
Wednesday 2:45—4:15pm
Gravesend: Riverside Community Centre, Dickens Road
Friday 12:00—1:30pm
These sessions help to improve the health and happiness for those 55 and over, or living with complex health conditions.
For further information, please contact NORTH KENT MIND – 01322 291380, select the registration link above or email – wellbeing@northkentmind.co.uk.
Here at North Kent Mind, we have lots of different Wellbeing Groups including Men’s Group, which encourages openly speaking about mental health and combining that with different activities. As well as Mindfulness, which teaches techniques for looking after your mental wellbeing.
Check out the attached posters to find out all information on those groups, along with venues and timings.
See our new ‘Mindfulness’ page. We invite you to use this page to share photos that you feel have a mindful effect on you, and that create opportunities for mindful awareness, in the present moment. Whatever creates a space for calmness and peace for you that you would like to share with others’
Take
notice – take time
to be aware of the world around you, whether it’s while exploring your local
area for your daily exercise, out in the garden looking at plants and wildlife,
while preparing and eating a meal, spending time with your pets, a picture or
an object you may find … Pause to take
photos of something beautiful.
If you would
like to share your favourite photos of ‘Mindful Moments’ you have had please
e-mail them to juliemoss@northkentmind.co.uk
Welcome to our new ‘Mindfulness’ page. We invite you to use this
page to share photos that you feel have a mindful effect on you, and that
create opportunities for mindful awareness, in the present moment. Whatever creates a space for calmness and
peace for you that you would like to share with others’
Take
notice – take time
to be aware of the world around you, whether it’s while exploring your local
area for your daily exercise, out in the garden looking at plants and wildlife,
while preparing and eating a meal, spending time with your pets, a picture or
an object you may find … Pause to take
photos of something beautiful.
If you would
like to share your favourite photos of ‘Mindful Moments’ you have had please
e-mail them to juliemoss@northkentmind.co.uk
‘Flowers in the Rain’ – taken by Julie
‘By the river in Dartford’ – taken by Julie
Sunlit Swan – taken by Rebecca
‘A poem that reminds me of my Grandad and to slow down and take notice for some time each day.’ Submitted by Julie
Sunlit Swan – taken by Rebecca
by Aileen
‘The Evening Sky – Harvel Kent’ , photo taken by Sue C
Mindfulness is a process of learning how to live our lives more in the present moment, rather than being on ‘auto-pilot’ or living in ‘our heads’ with our thoughts, worrying about the past or the future. Mindfulness was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979, and from this time has been developed for improving mental and physical wellbeing.
Becoming
more aware of the present moment can help us to enjoy the world around us more
and understand ourselves better. When we become more aware of the present
moment, we begin to experience afresh things that we have taken for granted.
Mindfulness teaches us to pay attention more, to be kind and non-judgmental
towards ourselves, and to foster a healthy curiosity in everything we do.
Mindfulness teaches simple forms of meditation to focus on the breath and bodily sensations and uses everyday tasks and activities to help you to focus on present moment awareness.
At North Kent Mind the Wellbeing Service provides Mindfulness courses throughout the year.
Mindfulness Meditation Practice Tracks
These Are tracks you can use for Mindfulness. Click on the name of the track to access them.
North Kent Mind was my biggest inspiration for my town, as you will see from my map and my pen picture below. My primary idea was to base on it one of those town maps you find in a Ye Olde Town Square telling you where you are and where things are and then it was my my creative licence and my ideas which just ran amok. Here’s a whistle stop tour of my town…
Tranquility Park and Zen Corner:
It’s a really big park area, with lots of trees, a lake in the with benches beside to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. There are picnic areas for people to enjoy on those on those beautiful long summer days. Zen Corner is an outdoor area where people can gather and do activities relating to mindfulness and well-being like yoga, tai-chi, meditation. Zen Corner is also enclosed within trees so that there is privacy for people to enjoy their mindful activities in peace without too much distraction from what is happening in the park. You will notice that below this there is area where there are hills to go and explore the narrow winding paths and somewhere you can take your mountain bikes to enjoy the stream that flows down from the main river.
The Weekend Arts & Crafts Fair and New Hope Community Centre:
The arts and crafts fair is a Saturday and Sunday run fair which encompasses so many things from painting for beginners right up to the experienced, rock painting, tie-dyeing, candle making to knitting and crochet. This fair only runs outdoors in the spring and summer and then reverts to being in the community centre in the autumn and winter only breaking for Easter and Christmas. The Community Centre is also used a summer creche for young kids and can also hold many social events like bingo, quiz nights and parties.
The Riding School and down south:
The area down south is again covered in greenery, woodland and has a lake. There is a riding school which has a paddock and stables with access to the woodland to have a trek with the horses and ponies.
New Hope Ecology Park and Wind and Solar farm:
The use of renewable energy and solar power is important as we need to drive down our Carbon footprint. So when my mind is swirling round and I don’t know what to do I can take a tram ride down to the Ecology Park and watch the wind turbines go round and round as they gather up energy to source my town.
Middletown Hope
So in the heartlands of ‘A Town Called Hope’ lies so many lovely things like a mini housing estate that has solar panels so that each house gets an even share of renewable energy. There’s the New Hope All Saints church for those who love attending regular church on Sundays and also a nearby medical centre for any emergencies.
The Town Market Square
The town market square clock is the distinguishing feature here as there is an arch way that leads into the cobbled market square where there is a small mix of shops like a butchers, bakers, a craft shop, a small café and restaurant as well as a few other shops selling homemade things like preserves, candles and little ornaments. In the middle of the town square is a fountain. To the west of the town market square lies a rotunda where there is sometimes live music going on and during every weekend in December there is a lovely band that play Christmas carols to entertain shoppers and provide a real festive feel. In the summer the rotunda hosts events later into the evening to enjoy the longer hours of daylight and warmth.
The Multi Faith Centre
The Multi-faith centre is situated to the north of the Town Market Square and is two adjoining buildings. To ensure total equality and respect to all of the major faiths that are represented in this building everyone is all on the same floor. To the rear of the MFC there is a small lake and trees providing a tranquil and relaxed atmosphere to anyone needing a moment of total peace and quiet contemplation.
The Cinema and office blocks
New Hope Cinema is a 12-screen multiplex with a variety of films being shown and is always a hive of activity when it comes to movie premieres. The office blocks nearby are the main source of jobs in this town called Hope.
New Hope Mall
New Hope Mall contains at least 30 major retailers under one roof and is near the Silver Link tram drop-off point so there’s no need for cars and traffic jams getting in and out of the complex.
New Hope Tavern
Last but certainly no means least is the New Hope Tavern situated in the heart of the town and is a lovely sized pub with a real welcoming and homely feel to it. It serves some gorgeous food which caters for everyone with a seasonal menu, and on Sundays, customers can enjoy a good old Sunday roast. It has plenty of outside seating for when the weather is lovely and usually in summer there is a barbecue going on every fortnight.
New Hope Water Taxi
The New Hope Water Taxi offers a relaxing and ideal way to see some of the sights of the town and is best enjoyed on lovely warm days. Each water taxi can seat up to a maximum of 5 people and charge £5 per adult and £2.50 per child (with an adult) for an hour’s ride going from east to west (and vice versa).
Silver Link Trams
The Silver Link Tram service is the ideal way to travel around A Town Called Hope it has many drop-off points, is disabled friendly as it’s front three carriages are more roomier and accessible for people with impairments. It is a great way to enjoy the town and also being green and reducing pollution at the same time.
Following a successful grant application via Early Help at Kent County Council, North Kent Mind are able to support 3 secondary schools and 4 primary schools throughout academic year 2020/2021 and 2021/2022. We will deliver 2 bespoke interventions as outlined below:
Recovery Action Plans (RAPS) designed to allow individuals to take a holistic look at their life and identify areas where they can take action to help their wellbeing.
Empowered Voices group courses, designed for young people to learn how to cope with life. They will look at areas such as managing stress, understanding anxiety, an introduction to emotional resilience and the importance of positive support networks.
North Kent Mind is committed to achieving positive outcomes for children and young people, underpinned by the promotion of wellbeing and the prevention of mental health issues. In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we value the requirement to deliver services more flexibly, particularly by telephone or other digital modes (i.e. email communication). In the event of future school interruptions, we have the ability to digitalise this service and will continue to provide the support as outlined in this offer.
If a project like this would benefit your school, North Kent Mind can offer support with grant applications to access our Youth Support programmes. Our team will identify the most relevant source of funding to your institution, helping through each stage of the application process.
Mind Pilot Project (Medway virtual schools funding)
(This project has now ended. )
An exciting new project that sees us working with 6 local Secondary schools and 5 local primary schools for school years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022. Our work aims to deliver a mixture of individual, group and drop-in support to suit all student needs.
For secondary schools:
Trained schools coaches’ work 1-1 with students* to increase self-awareness through solution focused conversations, psychoeducation and guided support activities. This is a safe, reflective space to discuss current challenges concerning peers, school, personal wellbeing and general life experiences.
Group work focuses on topics such as self-esteem, stress, anxiety and low mood, providing a place where students can come together, express themselves and talk about problems in a safe, comfortable environment. They are highly participative and activity based and teach young people coping strategies to help them manage their symptoms and conditions.
Additionally, we offer a drop-in service for students as a general support, information and advice giving and signposting service. This includes promotion of positive mental health through mindfulness activities, arts, peer support, safe spaces for expression or additional schoolwork.
For primary schools:
Trained primary school coaches work 1-1 with children* using various positive interventions such as solution focussed conversations, problem solving, arts (drawing & talking), creativity, interactive activities and Lego therapy. It is a safe, reflective space to discuss current challenges concerning peers, school, personal wellbeing, emotional awareness and general life experiences.
Group work will be facilitated by North Kent Mind to introduce children to a range of topics such as emotions (including anger), stress & anxiety, low mood, relationships and resilience. Each session will provide an opportunity learn about a specific topic through age appropriate discussion and activities, reflection and enable the child to take away practical tools or coping strategies to support wellbeing.
Where appropriate, structured drop-in style sessions can be scheduled and age-appropriate advice, information and positive mental health promotion will be facilitated.
*Please note this intervention is not clinical therapy, should this be required, a subsequent referral will be discussed with the school
If a project like this would benefit your school, North Kent Mind can offer support with grant applications to access our Youth Support programmes. Our team will identify the most relevant source of funding to your institution, helping through each stage of the application process.
North Kent Mind were commissioned by Porchlight and Kent County Council to deliver a series of perinatal courses relating to wellbeing.
The course ran over 6 weeks and covered you and your baby’s wellbeing, understanding worries and anxiety, managing low mood as well as your support circle with signposting. Support was offered in two separate groups –
Pregnant mothers and fathers-to-be.
Post-natal parents/caregivers for babies aged 0-2.
Courses are for adults only, no children will be permitted to attend the session; this is so we can fully support your individual needs and you can focus wholly on your own wellbeing!
Whether you’re looking for support in-person, or remotely by video, there are options available!
For more support,you can also call 0800 107 1060 or text KENT to 85258.
‘Next Steps’ Project
(This project has now ended. )
Are you 15-18 years old and not in education or training?
The next steps project offers 6 weeks, free, individual and tailored support to suit your needs. Whether this is to gain more confidence, better understand your mental health, set meaningful goals or make positive changes in your life -we’re here to support you.
Social Media Resilience (Mind/Co-op funding)
(This project has now ended. )
Social Media Resilence Coaching Social Media Resilience Coaching is a service that aims to promote and encourage a dialogue about the impact of social media on the mental health of young people, via young people.
Utilising the experience of older students (16+), North Kent Mind will explore topics such as self-esteem, body image and anxiety in relation to social media; drawing on collective experience to develop guides and workshops that are then delivered to the younger students (11-14).
Using a peer support model we will empower young people to improve their wellbeing when online. This service is part of the partnership between Co-op, Mind, SAMH and Inspire to bring communities together to improve mental wellbeing.
For referrals to Wellbeing Services (Medway) please use the Self-referral form
Mental Health Recovery Programme
Our Wellbeing Courses help people to learn and develop coping strategies using cognitive behavioural techniques and psychoeducational methods. 2 hours a week over 6 weeks with tasks to complete at home.
Managing Depression
Our 6 week Managing Depression course will focus on understanding depression and its interrelationship with our emotions, thoughts and behaviours, what we can do to challenge our negative thoughts and tips to staying well and maintaining our mental wellbeing.
Managing Anxiety
Over the course of 6 weeks, we will be working to understand anxiety, how it affects our daily routine and how we can empower ourselves to regain control over our emotions and challenge our anxiety. We will also be looking at ways to improve our self-esteem, improve our problem solving skills and relaxation skills to maintain mental wellbeing.
Improving Self-Esteem, Confidence & Assertiveness
A 6 week course centred around understanding what causes and maintains low self-esteem, how to improve our own self-worth, gain more confidence and teach strategies to become more assertive, such as learning how to say no and not be taken advantage of. Our course teaches participants how low self-esteem can result in poor mental wellbeing, poor decision making and destructive relationships and the skills we need to break that cycle.
Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques
During our 6 week course, we will be looking at practising relaxation techniques, how we can apply strategies into our daily routine and how to identifying the root causes of our stressors, such as work, family, health, finances, the things that affect us all, and how we can manage stress more effectively.
Let’s Be Mindful
Mindfulness is a concept that allows us to pay attention to the present, rather than being stuck in the past or worrying about the future. Over 6 weeks, we will learn how to apply mindfulness into our everyday life, understanding our thoughts and feelings and learning how to pay attention to the world around us.
Mental Wellbeing Matters
We would go to the doctors if we had a poor physical health, so why do we struggle when it comes to our mental health? Mental Wellbeing Matters is a new course focused around our mental wellbeing, how we maintain good mental health, looking into empowerment, resilience, self-care and self-expression.
Resilience
Over the duration of 6 weeks, we will be looking into understanding resilience, the importance of resilience and overcoming challenges in life. By building our resilience, we are building our confidence, our self-worth and having the tools we need to ‘bounce back’.
Our Wellbeing Courses help people to learn and develop coping strategies using cognitive behavioural techniques whilst all being in person, developing social inclusion further. All of our courses are 1.5 hours weekly over 6 weeks with tasks to complete at home.
For referrals to Wellbeing Services (DGS) please use this form
Our 6-week Managing Depression course will focus on understanding depression and its interrelationship with our emotions, thoughts and behaviours, what we can do to challenge our negative thoughts and tips to staying well and maintaining our mental wellbeing.
Managing Anxiety
Over the course of 6 weeks, we will be working to understand anxiety, how it affects our daily routine and how we can empower ourselves to regain control over our emotions and challenge our anxiety. We will also be looking at ways to improve our self-esteem, improve our problem solving skills and relaxation skills to maintain mental wellbeing.
Improving Self-Esteem, Confidence & Assertiveness
A 6-week course centred around understanding what causes and maintains low self-esteem, how to improve our own self-worth, gain more confidence and teach strategies to become more assertive, such as learning how to say no and not be taken advantage of. Our course teaches participants how low self-esteem can result in poor mental wellbeing, poor decision making and destructive relationships and the skills we need to break that cycle.
Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques
During our 6 week course, we will be looking at practising relaxation techniques, how we can apply strategies into our daily routine and how to identifying the root causes of our stressors, such as work, family, health, finances, the things that affect us all, and how we can manage stress more effectively.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a concept that allows us to pay attention to the present, rather than being stuck in the past or worrying about the future. Over 6 weeks, we will learn how to apply mindfulness into our everyday life, understanding our thoughts and feelings and learning how to pay attention to the world around us.
Mental Wellbeing Matters
We would go to the doctors if we had a poor physical health, so why do we struggle when it comes to our mental health? Mental Wellbeing Matters is a new course focused around our mental wellbeing, how we maintain good mental health, looking into empowerment, resilience, self-care and self-expression.
Recovery Based Activity Groups
In the Dartford, Gravesend and Swanley areas, we offer 2hr weekly in person groups. Within the 2 hour sessions, attendees will be engaging in activities including creativity and self-expression sessions, Tai Chi, bingo, music sessions and open discussions around our wellbeing over the course of 12 weeks. We will the follow up with a 1 hour ‘wellbeing space’, where we will offer more bespoke support around mental health support needs, how we can signpost into different courses we have available and also provide refreshments such as teas, coffees and sandwiches. Our goal is to help reduce social isolation, provide peer support that promotes connectedness, inclusion and a sense of community.
Our wellbeing space will be open to the public and offer the opportunity for chance to sign up and discuss what our groups consist of and any anxieties they may have.
Virtual Weekend Wellbeing Space
Held weekly for 2 hours, the session is hosted digitally on Saturday mornings to enable engagement for the isolated, paving the way for them to join in-person services. Focusing on peer support, engagement, making connections, developing confidence, task-based activities, and social skills.
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