Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
CELEBRATE THOSE WHO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE
The Kent Charity Awards are back to sing the praises of groups and individuals that go the extra mile in helping others.
There are seven award categories up for grabs – two of which are new this year, Kent Volunteer of the Year and Kent Trustee of the Year.
Both new awards aim to throw the spotlight on individuals who have made a real difference either by raising vital charity funds or by making a valuable contribution as a trustee.
The other five awards recognise charities and organisations.
Last year, Kent Search and Rescue was named Kent Charity of the Year.
Ed Franklin, fundraising manager, said: “For everyone at Kent Search and Rescue it was a great achievement to win but, more importantly, it recognises the efforts of our volunteers to help vulnerable people in their hour of need.
“Respect for the privacy of the missing person means that our work often remains unnoticed by the general public but this award will certainly help to raise our profile, generate vital funding and attract new volunteers.”
Last year’s awards saw more than 160 entries.
The awards are free to enter and the deadline for this year’s entries is Friday, October 23.
The judges will whittle these down to 21 finalists who will attend a gala awards evening in March, where the winners will be announced.
The Kent Charity Awards were founded by event managers Jo Hage and Sarah MacDonald from Rise Communications, who felt the need for a countywide award scheme to honour the work of charities and voluntary groups.