Holiday workshops

During the school holidays, our team organise a range of fun activities across the region for young people aged 9 to 18. These are a great way to overcome isolation, meet like minded people, learn something new, have fun, build confidence and ultimately improve wellbeing.

Depending on the activity, sessions are held at our Maidstone Wellbeing Centre or at leisure centres, local halls or community centres across the region. We endeavour to choose venues which can be easily accessed by public transport. We arrange activities for a wide range of hobbies and interests including chess, water sports and calligraphy.  Our own Wellbeing Coaches are available throughout to provide any additional mental health signposting and identify further support.

Please note our Watersports, Woodland Adventure and Calligraphy workshop (ages 9-13) are now fully booked.

Summer holiday programme!

24th July – Woodland Adventures *FULLY BOOKED*

10am to 1pm at Wild times, Howe Court Woods, Bearsted

Children aged 8-12 are invited to join us for this fun woodland session exploring nature and trying their hand at weaving, whittling, fire making, toasting marshmallows and building dens!  Parents are welcome to stay and take part for the duration or join their children at the end.

28th July to 30th July – Creative Story Making Workshop

12:30pm to 2pm at Kent History and Library Centre, James Whatman Way, Maidstone

Across three workshops, children aged 8-12 will come together to explore how to make a story, creating their own props and characters using inspiration and resources from the library. Learn a new skill, make new friends and go home armed with all the props to tell your story to family and friends!

  • Session 1: Coming up with idea, creating characters and getting to know each other.
  • Session 2: Creating vision boards for the background of the story
  • Session 3: Finishing up stories and presenting them to each other.

 Please note, parents do not need to stay but we do ask that you collect your children promptly at 2pm.

30th July to Wednesday 27th August – Managing Me course

2pm to 3pm every Wednesday at Mid Kent Mind Wellbeing Centre, Maidstone

This is a 5-week, structured course, designed for young people aged between 13 and 16.  Over the course of the programme, participants will learn more about anxiety and stress and how to challenge negative thinking. We will explore healthy coping strategies and proactive ways that they can maintain their wellbeing. Our Wellbeing Coaches use interactive and engaging activities throughout the course and each participant receives a handbook to keep with them.

30th July to 27th August – Bounce Back course

3:30pm to 4:30pm every Wednesday at Mid Kent Mind Wellbeing Centre, Maidstone

This is a structured, 5-week emotional resilience course for young people aged 13 to 16. The sessions will help participants develop coping strategies which will enhance their resilience and ultimately help them manage the challenges they are facing. It can help them combat stress, process their emotions, and reduce anxiety. Our Wellbeing Coaches use interactive and engaging activities throughout the course and each participant receives a handbook to keep with them.

30th July – Aquatic Art

2pm to 4pm at Oad Street Food and Crafts, Oad Stree, Borden.

Using a variety of different mediums, children will be working on their own canvas based masterpieces which they will be able to take home with them.  The theme is aquatic and they will be able to add plenty of sparkles and metallic finishes to their painting! This session is suitable for children aged 9 to 13. Due to limited space, parents are not able to stay for this session; please collect your child promptly at 4pm.

31st July – Paint, plant, play!

10am to 12pm at Singleton Environment Centre, Wesley School Road Off Cuckoo Lane, Ashford.

This session is packed with fun activities! Firstly, children can decorate their own flowerpot to take home with them filled with wildflower seeds. Then they will be going on an exciting scavenger hunt and decorating the amphitheatre with chalk flowers. The morning will end with children toasting marshmallows over a fire.

This session is suitable for children aged 8 and over. Please note, parents are expected to stay with their child at all times.

6th to 7th August Calligraphy workshop ages 9-13 *FULLY BOOKED*

13th to 14th August Calligraphy Workshop ages 14-18

10am to 12pm at Mid Kent Mind Wellbeing Centre, College Road, Maidstone.

This popular activity is back again! In the first session the children will be taught how to write in a calligraphy style, learn new techniques and different writing styles, they will then create keyrings and cards to take home with them. In the second session, they will develop this new skill further and create tote bags or pencil cases and coasters to take home with them.

Due to limited space, parents are not able to join in with this activity; please collect your child promptly at 12pm.

20th August – Family Dance Party!

10am to 11am at YMCA Maidstone Sports and Community Centre, Melrose Close, Loose, Maidstone.

Led by a certified Zumba instructor, this one-hour session is a fun, accessible workout where you will learn a new dance routine set to well-known music. The session is suitable for children aged 8 and over with parents joining in. No previous experience is necessary and people of all fitness levels will be able to join in!

28th August – Watersports *FULLY BOOKED*

10am to 12pm at Mote Park Watersports Centre, Maidstone ME15 7SX.

Back by popular demand – we will be ending the summer break with our fun watersports event! Children will be given the opportunity to go on canoes, paddleboards and race each other on the pedaloes.

This is open for children aged 9 – 18 years and whilst parents are not expected to join in, they are required to stay on site at all times.

For all of our activities, places must be booked in advanced using the form below and are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

If your child would benefit from more intensive wellbeing support, please take a look at our Wellbeing and Resilience Action Plans.