Kenward Trust Wins Mental Health Charity of the Year at the 2026 Kent Charity Awards
Kenward Trust is celebrating after being named Mental Health Charity of the Year at the 2026 Kent Charity Awards, sharing the honour with Waterside Parents Centre.
The award recognises Kenward Trust’s commitment to supporting people across Kent to rebuild their lives through recovery from addiction, improved mental wellbeing and support for those experiencing homelessness and other complex challenges.
Following a record-breaking year for entries and Kenward Trust’s announcement in July that it had been selected as a finalist, members of the team attended the Kent Charity Awards for an evening celebrating the extraordinary contribution charities make to communities across the county.
It proved to be an unforgettable evening for Kenward Trust when the judges announced that, rather than choosing between two outstanding organisations, they had decided to name two winners in the Mental Health Charity of the Year category: Kenward Trust and Waterside Parents Centre.
The award is a significant recognition of the dedication, compassion and professionalism shown every day by Kenward Trust’s staff and volunteers, as well as the strength and determination of the people the charity supports.
Left to right: Adam Colthorpe, Natalie Parish, Michael Bourne, Penny Williams, Simon Webster, Kenward Trust Team.
Penny Williams, CEO of Kenward Trust, said:
“And we did it! Kent Charity of the Year in the Mental Health category. I am so proud of our team and the work that we do. To have that work recognised means so much to all of us.
“This award belongs to the incredible people across Kenward Trust who bring compassion, commitment and hope to their work every day, and to the people we support who show such courage and determination throughout their recovery journeys.
“We were delighted to share the Mental Health Charity of the Year award with Waterside Parents Centre after the judges decided to recognise two winners. Congratulations to their whole team and to all of the charities recognised on such a special evening.”
For more than five decades, Kenward Trust has helped people overcome addiction and complex life challenges, providing residential rehabilitation and recovery services alongside support, education, training and opportunities to build more positive futures.
The Trust believes recovery is about far more than overcoming addiction. Stable housing, positive relationships, improved mental wellbeing, meaningful activity and connection to a supportive community can all play an important role in helping someone move forward and sustain their recovery.
Winning the Mental Health Charity of the Year award is also an opportunity for Kenward Trust to recognise the many people who make its work possible – from staff and volunteers to commissioners, partners, fundraisers, donors and supporters across Kent and beyond.
Kenward Trust extends its congratulations to Waterside Parents Centre, its fellow finalists and all of the charities celebrated at the 2026 Kent Charity Awards.
By opening its doors, supporting the Open Houses Campaign, Kenward Trust hopes to encourage greater awareness of the specialist support available, challenge misconceptions surrounding addiction, and demonstrate that recovery is possible with the right care, compassion and opportunity.
