VCSE January Newsletter

January Updates

As the new year begins, voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across Kent and Medway continue to support wellbeing, develop skills and create opportunities within their communities. This January edition focuses on mental health and resilience, skills and training opportunities, sector insight, funding, employment vacancies, and a celebration of the volunteers who make such a difference across our work.

Beating Blue Monday: Supporting Wellbeing

Blue Monday, often described as one of the most challenging points of the year, falls in late January and can act as a useful reminder of the pressures many people experience at this time. For those working and volunteering in the VCSE sector, January can be particularly demanding. The festive period has passed, energy levels may be low, finances stretched, and the year ahead can feel uncertain or overwhelming.

The impact of poor mental health is not only personal. Research from Deloitte estimates that poor mental health costs UK employers around £51 billion each year, with presenteeism, stress and financial pressures among the biggest contributors. For VCSE organisations already operating under significant pressure, this reinforces an important truth: wellbeing is not a “nice to have”  it is essential to sustaining teams, services and communities.

While it is not possible to remove all the pressures people face, small, practical actions can make a meaningful difference. Encouraging movement and connection, even in simple ways, can help lift mood, reduce stress and support both physical and mental health. Regular activity strengthens the heart, muscles and bones, boosts immune systems, and can support the management of anxiety and low mood.

Healthy Eating and Everyday Activity

Building activity into daily life plays an important role in maintaining both physical and mental wellbeing. Simple, accessible opportunities for movement can help reduce stress, improve mood and support healthier routines throughout the winter months.

VCSE organisations may wish to share the following free local resources with staff, volunteers and communities:

• Everyday Active – discover accessible sports and physical activities available in your local area 

• Kent Country Parks and Medway Country Parks– enjoy a walk, run or cycle in one of Kent and Medway’s many green spaces 

• Explore Kent and Explore Medway– find walking and cycling routes to enjoy the countryside at your own pace 

As January progresses, Blue Monday can serve as a useful prompt to check in with one another, share support, and prioritise wellbeing across organisations and communities. Small actions, taken collectively, can have a lasting impact.

Boost Client Spotlight: Green Skills and Community Action

A recent piece shared by a Thanet Social Enterprise Boost client highlights inspiring work taking place across Margate and Ramsgate, showcasing how green skills, community action and local engagement can create positive change.

The work demonstrates the value of locally led initiatives that connect skills development, environmental awareness and community wellbeing, while supporting people to build confidence and contribute positively to their local areas. It provides a strong example of place-based social enterprise impact through collaboration and innovation.

Read more:

LinkedIn article

Vote for SEK at the Smiley Charity Film Awards

Social Enterprise Kent (SEK) has submitted its Breast Cancer and Screening Awareness Campaign video to the Smiley Charity Film Awards, which celebrate films that raise awareness, inspire action and create positive social impact.

The film was developed as part of SEK’s Cancer Smart programme, delivered in partnership with the Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance. It focuses on increasing awareness of breast cancer and the importance of screening, using accessible, community-led messaging to support early diagnosis and reduce health inequalities.

Public voting plays an important role in the awards, and SEK is encouraging partners, VCSE colleagues and community networks to support the campaign.

Vote for the SEK Breast Cancer and Screening Awareness Campaign:

https://smileycharityfilmawards.com/films/sek-breast-cancer-and-screening-awareness-campaign

NatWest SE100 Impact Pioneer Awards 2026 – Applications Now Open

Applications are now open for the NatWest SE100 Impact Pioneer Awards 2026, delivered by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital.

The awards celebrate individuals and organisations delivering pioneering solutions to social and environmental challenges, recognising positive impact across the business, public and social sectors.

Social enterprises, entrepreneurial charities, mission-driven businesses and impact investors working in communities across the UK are encouraged to apply. This is an opportunity to gain national recognition, showcase impact, and join a network of pioneers driving meaningful change.

Find out more and submit an application:

NatWest SE100 Impact Pioneer Awards 2026

Stronger Kent Communities Event – Making Connections Dover

10.00-12.30, 28th January 2026. Whitfield Village Hall, Dover, CT16 3LY.

In partnership with Imago, Stronger Kent Communities are running a half day networking event for charities and social enterprises in and around Dover.

Making Connections is your chance to chat to other people in the not-for-profit-sector and hear Spotlight case studies on projects and initiatives that have been making a difference locally. The event is free and open to everyone, whether you’re working in the Dover district, neighbouring areas or across Kent. Book here.

SE Kitchen and the Household Support Fund

SE Kitchen continues to support households across Kent to make their money go further during the cost of living crisis. With two Social Supermarket shops, SE Kitchen offers affordable food and essential household items, helping residents stretch their budgets while supporting a local social enterprise rooted in the community.

Applications are now open for the Kent County Council (KCC) Household Support Fund, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions. Eligible households can receive a £90 supermarket food voucher or energy voucher to help with food and essential household costs.

SE Kitchen is encouraging both existing and new customers to consider choosing SE Kitchen as their retailer when applying for a food voucher. The £90 voucher can go further in a Social Supermarket, while supporting the local community.

About the Household Support Fund

You may be eligible if you:

• Are aged 16 or over
• Live in Kent (excluding Medway, Bexley or Bromley)
• Receive means-tested benefits or have a household income of £33,000 or less
• Are not eligible for free school meals

If eligible, households can receive:

• A £90 supermarket food voucher, or
• A £90 energy voucher (for named bill payers with email and smartphone access)

Vouchers are usually issued digitally, with postal options available for those without digital access. SE Kitchen staff can support customers who need help with registration or using vouchers.

How to Apply

Apply online via Kent County Council:
https://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/cost-of-living-support/urgent-financial-help-and-extra-support/household-support-fund

Those unable to apply online can contact Citizens Advice on 03003 048 003 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm), or ask a trusted professional, friend or family member to apply on their behalf.

By choosing to spend Household Support Fund vouchers at SE Kitchen, customers can access affordable essentials while helping sustain a local social enterprise that reinvests back into community support.

Social Enterprise Kent continues to deliver a wide range of practical and accredited training opportunities to support individuals, teams and VCSE organisations across Kent and Medway.

• Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid training
• Mental Health First Aid and Supervising Mental Health First Aid
• Safeguarding training (Levels 3 and 4)
• Health and Safety and IOSH courses
• Digital skills, Excel and social media training
• Fundraising, finance and governance for non-finance leaders
• Health, care and community support training
• The AI Skills Accelerator, including AI Prompt Engineering and AI Governance
• Health & Social Care and Employer-Led Skills Bootcamps

Find out more and book courses:

SEK Training

Exclusive VCSE Offer: Safeguarding Level 3 (FAA Award)

VCSE organisations can access our accredited Safeguarding Level 3 (FAA Award) course at a reduced rate, offering a cost-effective way to meet higher safeguarding responsibilities for less than the cost of an awareness course.

Course details

• Cost: £90 per person (usually £152 – save 40%)
• Format: Full day (accredited)
• Date: 28 January 2026

The course is designed for professionals with safeguarding responsibilities and is ideal for supervisors, team leaders and frontline practitioners. It covers safeguarding for children, young people and adults at risk, and builds confidence to recognise concerns, respond appropriately and report effectively.

Places are limited and available exclusively to VCSE organisations.

Book online using code: SAFE3V
Book here:

Course

VCSE organisations may wish to explore the Grow Wild Community Programme, delivered by Grow Wild in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The programme supports community-led projects that connect people with nature, encourage participation, and improve wellbeing through growing, sharing and celebrating plants and green spaces.

Find out more and apply:

https://growwild.kew.org/community-programme

Crowdfund Kent Public Health Fund

Crowdfund Kent is dedicated to giving local organisations and groups the opportunity to take forward projects and ideas to improve their local area. Eligible projects can receive up to £10,000 in pledges, covering up to 65% of your crowdfunding target. If your project is based in the Kent County Council area, this is your chance to bring your vision to life.

Please note this is a revenue fund, designed to support projects which improve the quality of life of Kent residents, particularly those most disadvantaged and cannot be used to fund capital projects. Deadline for applications: 25th February 2026. This involves having your project page created, your pitch completed and your project verified by this date, ready to start your crowdfunding.

The Radcliffe Trust

The Radcliffe Trust offers grants to registered charities, CICs and other not-for-profit organisations based in the UK. Grants are given with the aim of promoting traditional craft, heritage, and classical music in the UK by supporting people to access training, education and skill development.

The Radcliffe Trust has two grant making programmes: 1. Under their Music Scheme, The Radcliffe Trust supports projects that involve classical music performance, training, and education for children and adults with special needs, youth orchestras, and projects at secondary and higher levels. Music grants are in the region of £2,500 – £5,000.

Under their Heritage & Crafts Scheme, the Trust will support projects that involve craft and conservation projects and training, practical projects, capacity building projects, and special needs projects focusing on the benefit of skills development. Heritage and Crafts grants are generally in the region of £2,500 – £7,500.

Grants will only be given for specific project costs, but the Trust will accept ‘proportional and limited’ costs of overheads and full cost recovery to be included in budgets. Deadline for applications 31st January 2026 for consideration by the Trustees in July.

Young Cooks

Our popular Young Cooks competition invites pupils to showcase their culinary skills, creativity, and understanding of healthy, affordable eating. The initiative promotes life skills, confidence, and awareness of nutrition and sustainability through hands-on cooking challenges.

Entries are still open for the next competition cycle, with regional heats leading to the county finals in early 2026. Prizes include a share of £600 and the chance to take part in a professional cookery masterclass.

Enter now: Young Cooks Competition – Find Out More

Kent Education Awards

The Kent Education Awards return to honour the incredible teachers, support staff, volunteers, and school teams who make a daily difference in classrooms and communities.

Nominations are open until 31 January 2026, with categories for teachers, early-career staff, non-teaching roles, and volunteers. Schools are encouraged to take part and recognise the individuals and teams shaping the future of education in Kent.

Last year’s event at the Ashford International Hotel was a wonderful celebration of collaboration and dedication across the education sector, and this year promises to be even bigger.

Nominate someone who deserves recognition: Kent Education Awards – Enter Now

Celebrating Our Volunteers

Our volunteer festive celebrations were a highlight of the year, bringing people together to share joy, gratitude and community spirit. Across our Social Kitchens, volunteers and staff came together to decorate spaces, enjoy festive music and games, and share delicious seasonal treats.

The celebrations reflected the diversity and warmth of our volunteer community, with dishes from a range of cuisines enjoyed by all. The events were filled with laughter, conversation and a strong sense of belonging – a chance to pause, connect and celebrate together.

These celebrations are our way of saying thank you to our incredible volunteers for the dedication, kindness and hard work they show throughout the year. Their contribution makes a real difference to SEK’s work and the communities we support, and we are deeply grateful to have them as part of our community.

A range of leadership, fundraising, communications and specialist roles are currently open across the VCSE sector:

• Senior Manager – Post Award Grant Compliance – The Francis Crick Institute
• Principal Programme Manager – National Cycle Network – Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
• Marketing and Communications Manager – London, (Hybrid)
• Retail Relief Manager – Willow Foundation (Remote)
• Community Project Lead – IPSEA (Remote)
• Senior Legacy Development Officer – TPP Recruitment
• Fundraising Manager – Just Finance (Remote)
• Product Delivery Lead – Marie Curie (Remote)
• Advice and Guidance Officer – National Deaf Children’s Society (Remote)

Stay Connected

Stay informed with the latest updates from the VCSE sector across Kent and Medway. Our monthly newsletter shares sector news, wellbeing resources, training opportunities, funding updates and employment opportunities to support strong, resilient communities.