"Creating a space where all can be"
Gardens of Hope 2025
The gardens of hope was set up during the Baton of Hope Tour for Kent and Medway in 2025. This is a UK-wide suicide prevention campaign aimed at bringing suicide to the front of every discussion.
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In collaboration with our local NHS. Keep Talking Services created 3 spaces across our local area. Gardens of Hope. Spaces designed to make way for conversation and allow a space for reflection.
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Our spaces were dedicated to individuals lost to suicide. It is our hope that these gardens will raise awareness and bring the community together to Keep Talking.
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It was so much more than just creating spaces. It was about collaboration, networking and working together. Local charities, NHS staff, individuals themselves struggling with their mental health, as well as the families of those lost to suicide, all played a huge part in this. We are immensely proud of these spaces.
Herne Bay FC
Our local Garden is designed within Herne Bay Football Club. This is one of the first suicide prevention initiatives held within a football club. An extremely emotional day created by local social prescribers, sporting charities and the family of the individual the garden is dedicated too.
Enchanted Gardens CIC
Our second garden is based at a local community interest company called The Enchanted Gardens. This is already a tranquil space with heaps of nature, and it seemed fitting to create a garden within their area dedicated to those lost to suicide.
Priority House
Our final garden was held at Priority House in Maidstone. There is already an amazing garden space designed and maintained by the fantastic Health Heart Hope team. To be able to have a space dedicated to all those lost to suicide within a mental health hospital meant everything.
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A great day with clients from neighbouring wards as well as local organisations, all coming together to build something meaningful.
Award winning!
The gardens took home gold at the Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards, winning wellbeing space of the year for 2025. It was also awarded overall champion in its category.
It is our hope that through this, more doors will open for expansion or the spaces so that more may visit in their time of need.
Want to help with our gardens?
We are always looking for volunteers to maintain the spaces, as well as donations to build these spaces even bigger!
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The gardens were created with a small pot of funding, and currently all maintenance and materials is being covered by Keep Talking Services. If there is anyone out there who wants to help, then please email Alex at alex@keeptalkingservices