Kentish Express Ashford & District
Trust wins top prize
An organisation that supports and helps people through alcohol and substance addiction has been crowned this year’s Charity of the Year.
The Kenward Trust was awarded the prize at the gala dinner for the Kent Charity Awards on Thursday, March 16, at Maidstone’s Mercure Great Danes Hotel in front of more than 260 guests.
The charity fought off strong competition from more than 70 entries to scoop the top prize.
Chief executive of the Kenward Trust David Philpott said: “It was a totally unexpected honour.
“We are delighted. We move into our 50th year next year and thousands of men and women over those years have received healing and support in their recovery journey from addiction to alcohol and drugs.
“So for my team, my fantastic staff and brilliant trustees to be recognised in this way for leading a cause which is not particularly popular and very difficult to raise funds for speaks a lot about the people of Kent, the judges and the appreciation of what so many charities do with unpopular causes like addiction, homelessness and all those associated challenges.”
Meanwhile the other accolades went to Big Cat Sanctuary for Animal Charity of the Year, Kent Scouts was awarded Voluntary Charity of the Year, Supporting Services Charity of the Year went to Rising Sun Domestic Violence and Abuse Service and Porchlight took away Community and Environment Charity of the Year.
Children’s Charity of the Year was awarded to Dandelion Time and the Trustee of the Year for 2017 is Mo Tutty.
Mr Tutty, who has been a trustee for the ellenor hospice since 2010, said: “I work as much as I can but I actually always feel like I don’t do enough.
“It is the dedication of the hospice staff which really makes our service so fantastic.”
Volunteer of the Year went to dementia sufferer Lorraine Brown who received a standing ovation as details of her work with The Alzheimer’s Society were revealed to guests.
She said: “They give me the tools to go and fight against stigma and stereotyping against dementia.”
As well as scooping Charity of the Year the Kenward Trust was named Care Charity of the Year.
Entries for 2018 will open later this year and can be made through the Kent Charity Awards website www. kentcharityawards.com. The awards will be held in a different area of Kent and venues are currently being looked at.
The event was sponsored by Furley Page, The KM Media Group, Kent Reliance, Medway Council, MidKent College, Kent County Council, Kreston Reeves, Diggerland, SouthEastern and CC Works.