In memory of Herbie - supporting community mental health and creating a lasting legacy of kindness, connection and care.

We were heartbroken to share that Herbie, the much-loved son of our colleague Tara and volunteer Dean, died this week in tragic circumstances.

Tara and Dean have been overwhelmed by the kindness, love and messages of support they have received from the community. Many people have asked how they can help, and whether they can send flowers or make a donation.

In response, Tara and Dean have asked us to create this page.

They would like any donations, or contributions in place of flowers, to be given to Revival, a place that meant so much to Herbie and to their family - so that together we can create something meaningful and lasting in his name.

About Herbie:

Herbie was a charming, funny and deeply kind young man who was known and loved by many at Revival and across the Whitstable community. He had a natural warmth, thoughtful, forgiving and full of empathy for others. He was someone who quietly looked out for people, stood up against unkindness, and made others feel seen and supported.

Herbie was also hardworking and determined. He had been a valued member of the Revival staff team from when we reopened in 2023, before moving on to build a future for himself in carpentry and construction, something he was genuinely proud of.

He was surrounded by love, with a close and enduring circle of friends and a family who supported him completely. He was deeply valued, and his loss is being felt profoundly.

What your donations will support:

Tara and Dean would like to create a legacy in Herbie’s name that reflects both his character and their deep connection to Revival.

All donations will support Revival’s community mental health work, with a particular focus on:

• Mental health peer support: Including our Mentalk men’s support group, creating safe, open spaces where people can talk, connect and support one another.

• The Revival Youth Café: A welcoming, non-clinical space for young people to come together, build confidence, access support, and feel part of a community.

• A Young Person’s Mental Health Ambassador Programme (in Herbie’s name): In partnership with East Kent Mind and our local secondary school, we will work to develop a youth-led ambassador programme inspired by Herbie’s kindness and empathy.

This programme will support young people to:

*promote positive mental wellbeing among their peers

*check in on others and offer support

*challenge unkind behaviour and stigma

*act as advocates for compassion, inclusion and mental health awareness

This reflects the values Herbie lived by, looking out for others and quietly making a difference.

Living Legacy:

As part of this legacy, we will also be planting a tree in Herbie’s memory in the Revival community garden at Salt Marsh Lane, with a plaque in his name. This will be a place for reflection, remembrance and continued growth, something living that will carry forward his memory within the community he was part of.

A small gathering will take place in the garden at a later date, in line with Tara and Dean’s wishes.

Tara and Dean are an integral part of Revival, not just colleagues, but family, and we will continue to stand alongside them with care, respect and compassion.

If you would like to honour Herbie’s memory, any donation, no matter how small, will help create a lasting and meaningful legacy in his name.

Thank you for your kindness, your support, and for holding Herbie, Tara, Dean and their family in your thoughts.