From community events and youth programmes to charity golf days and fundraising initiatives, here’s a look back at some of the highlights from a busy and inspiring summer.

Supporting Young People Through Good Vibes Only

One of the standout projects this summer was Good Vibes Only, a North Northants Leisure initiative designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 12 to 16.

Delivered across Corby, Kettering, Rothwell, Wellingborough and Rushden, the programme provided a safe and welcoming space where participants could express themselves, build confidence, form new friendships and take part in a range of wellbeing activities. Sessions included yoga, journalling, colouring, games, icebreakers and group discussions designed to encourage positive conversations.

Kelly’s Heroes was delighted to be invited to contribute to the programme. Throughout the summer, we engaged with young people on topics including mental health, online safety, school life and wellbeing, creating opportunities for open and honest discussions about the challenges young people face today.

We would like to thank North Northamptonshire Council and North Northants Leisure for including us in such an important initiative and allowing us to support young people across the county.

Reaching Families Through Community Events

This summer also saw us attend one of the county’s Active Family Fundays, a series of free community events designed to encourage families to get active together while discovering the many charities, groups and organisations available to support them.

We attended the Wellingborough event, where despite the soaring temperatures, thousands of families enjoyed a fantastic day of activities and community engagement. Across the four venues, more than 3,000 families attended.

Events like these provide invaluable opportunities to raise awareness of mental health support and ensure that more people know where they can turn when they need help.

Balloon Festival Returns Bigger Than Ever

This year marked our fourth consecutive year attending the Northampton Balloon Festival at The Racecourse, Northampton.

With great weather bringing out huge crowds, the festival once again offered the perfect opportunity to meet members of the community, reconnect with familiar faces and introduce new people to the work of Kelly’s Heroes.

One of the most rewarding aspects of attending community events is hearing the personal stories people share with us. Whether someone is learning about our services for the first time or returning to update us on their journey, these conversations reinforce the importance of raising awareness and ensuring support remains accessible to those who need it.

Chinfest Continues to Make a Difference

We were honoured to once again be invited to attend Chinfest, the annual charity music festival and community fun day held in Corby in memory of Tracey “Chin” Chinnock.

The event raises funds and awareness for mental health and suicide prevention and continues to have a significant impact on the local community. This year’s chosen charities included Kelly’s Heroes, Mind, Youth Works and Andy’s Man Club, with all funds raised being distributed directly to the supported organisations.

Alongside fantastic entertainment, family activities and community engagement, the event created another opportunity to break down stigma, encourage conversations around mental health and connect people with support.

A huge thank you to the organisers, volunteers, performers, sponsors and everyone who attended and contributed to another successful Chinfest.

Fundraising Heroes Making a Difference

Glazerite Charity Golf Day Raises £30,000 A huge thank you to everyone involved in the 20th Annual Glazerite Pro-Am at Wellingborough Golf Club.

The event brought together supporters, businesses and members of the local community for a fantastic day of fundraising and generated an incredible £30,000 for Kelly’s Heroes.

This vital funding helps us continue providing our Listening Ear Service and supporting people when they need us most. Events like these demonstrate the incredible impact that corporate partnerships and community fundraising can have in helping charities deliver life-changing support.

Whitworths FC Supports Local Charities

On 1 August, Whitworths FC welcomed Northampton Town FC for the Hillier Cup in front of more than 280 supporters.

Whitworths secured a 3-0 victory, while supporters raised £1,000, which was shared between Kelly’s Heroes and the Maxwell Mallows Foundation Brighter Future Fund.

Whitworths FC has supported Kelly’s Heroes since our early days, and we remain incredibly grateful for their ongoing commitment to mental health awareness and fundraising.

Graeme McKim’s Fourth Charity Day

We are fortunate to have many supporters who champion Kelly’s Heroes year after year, and Graeme McKim is certainly one of them.

This summer, Graeme hosted his fourth Kelly’s Heroes Charity Day at Burton Latimer Cricket Club. The Caribbean-themed event featured fantastic food, great music, a hugely popular hamper raffle and a memorable wacky shirt competition.

Graeme’s enthusiasm, dedication and ongoing commitment to the charity continues to inspire us. While fundraising totals are still being finalised, we would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Graeme and everyone involved in making the day such a success.

Kelly’s Heroes Golf Day & Party Night

Our annual PHA Pro-Am Golf Day & Party Night returned to Wellingborough Golf Club and once again proved why it is such a special event in the Kelly’s Heroes calendar.

More than 150 golfers took part throughout the day, supported by our headline sponsors Arolite and Premier Windscreens. Despite a few passing showers, spirits remained high as golfers, sponsors and supporters came together for another day of fundraising and fun.

The evening featured a fantastic hog roast, entertainment from returning favourites Pure Genius, and a memorable performance from award-winning magician and host Andrew Tunney.

Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, the event raised an incredible £10,324.06.

To the sponsors, golfers, volunteers, professionals and staff at Wellingborough Golf Club, thank you for helping make this year’s event another outstanding success.

Marshall’s Ink Charity Flash Day

Earlier this year, the team at Marshall’s Ink in Wellingborough approached us with an idea: a dedicated Charity Flash Day to raise funds for Kelly’s Heroes.

From the very beginning, their enthusiasm and commitment were evident. Following a successful promotional campaign and plenty of excitement online, the day finally arrived and exceeded all expectations.

Supporters old and new came together to enjoy a fantastic community event that generated great conversations, raised awareness and delivered an incredible atmosphere throughout the day.

In total, 57 tattoos and piercings were completed, raising £570 for Kelly’s Heroes.

We would like to thank everyone who attended, donated, shared our message and supported the event, and especially the team at Marshall’s Ink for their outstanding effort and generosity.

ACS & Decathlon Charity Golf Day Raises £3,680

We were delighted to attend a charity golf day organised by ACS and Decathlon, two organisations that have become valued supporters and advocates for mental health awareness.

From expertly organised fundraising activities to generous raffle donations and meaningful conversations throughout the day, the event showcased the power of partnership and community support.

The day also highlighted the kindness of organisations such as Carbon Neutral Vending, who donated unused refreshments to support our upcoming Mental Health Awareness Day.

The event raised an incredible £3,680 for Kelly’s Heroes, helping us continue to provide vital mental health and suicide prevention services across our communities.

Congratulations to the winning team, Houghton Hams, and thank you to every individual and organisation who contributed to the day’s success.

Whether you attended an event, donated, organised a fundraiser, volunteered your time, shared our message or simply stopped to have a conversation with us over the summer, thank you.

Behind every fundraiser, every awareness event and every pound raised are people choosing to support better mental health and help ensure that nobody has to face their struggles alone.

Together, we are creating more opportunities for people to access support, speak openly about mental health and find hope when they need it most. We are incredibly grateful for every person, organisation and community that continues to stand alongside Kelly’s Heroes.