Compassionate Community Awards 2022
The Compassionate Community Awards 2022 recognise and celebrate the work of unsung heroes from across the borough of Maidstone.
These awards have been introduced to highlight and celebrate the positive and compassionate work that individuals, community groups and organisations have done by going above and beyond - particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, to help and support their local communities.
The Heart of Kent Hospice and Maidstone Borough Council have collaborated to introduce these inaugural awards and are working with the Kent Messenger to showcase the important and selfless work that people in our borough have done to help improve the lives of people living and working in and around Maidstone.
You have until midnight on Wednesday 5 October to nominate individuals, groups or organisations who always put others first and deserve to be recognised for their efforts.
Nominations can be either a few words (no more than 250) to describe their work, a short video (maximum of 3minutes) telling us about them, or a recorded message and some photographs to reflect how they have supported their community. They must either live or work, or have a connection to the borough of Maidstone. .
However big or small you think their contribution has been, if they go that extra mile for the benefit of others, make sure you nominate them for one of the six Compassionate Community Awards below:
Award Categories
Click on the award below to find out more In this category we are looking for a workplace or business that is based in the borough of Maidstone that went out of their way to ensure they supported their colleagues and customers. Whether it be helping employees, by allowing them to work differently whilst maintaining a compassionate and valued approach. Perhaps, they invested in training for their colleagues and teams; put measures in place to ensure wellbeing for everyone or encouraged their furloughed employees to participate in community activities and supported them to do that. Or, it may be that they helped their customers by literally delivering the goods when they most needed them.
In no more than 250 words (in writing, video or voice recording), please give us some examples of how local workplace/business has:
- Gone above and beyond to help and support their community during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Extended and adapted their services to meet the needs of the community they are based in
- Helped to support their employees or customers when they needed it most
- Took on the responsibility to help others who needed support
In this category we would like to hear about care and residential homes that have gone above and beyond or out of their normal ways of working to maintain the wellbeing of the residents; particularly when they couldn’t see their loved ones and have visitors.
In no more than 250 words (in writing, video or voice recording), please give us examples of their work including:
- Demonstrated compassion and commitment to the individuals that they are supporting and caring for
- Maintained contact with an individual’s loved ones and kept them updated
- Supported their residents through the isolation
- Invested in the quality of their care through colleagues learning and development
In this category we are looking for a neighbour or volunteer who has made a significant impact on their community, to help, support and care for others. Please tell us about that shining light in your local neighbourhood who has really made a difference.
In no more than 250 words (in writing, video or voice recording), please give us examples of how they may have:
- Made a direct difference to someone’s life
- Responded to the needs of their neighbourhood and brought people together to build on the community spirit
- Given up their own time to help others
- Supported the local community by finding ways to resolve issues and support those in need
In this category we are looking for a school or teacher who has gone above and beyond their traditional ways of working to meet the needs of the community and who has had a positive impact on tackling inequality and increasing student and community resilience.
In no more than 250 words (in writing, video or voice recording), please give us examples of how they may have:
- Made a direct impact on their community, or on an individual student
- Adapted their ways of working to help students maintain a sense of normality
- Committed to supporting key worker families throughout the pandemic
- Extended their services across holidays, extra hours, and the wider school environment
In this category we are looking for a young person who has made a significant impact on their community, to help and support others. Please tell us about that shining young light in your local neighbourhood who has really made a difference.
In no more than 250 words (in writing, video or voice recording), please give us examples of how they may have:
- Made a direct difference to someone’s life by giving up their time to help others, work with voluntary groups/charities
- Responded to the needs of their neighbourhood and brought people together to unite and build on the community spirit
- Supported the local community by finding ways to resolve issues and support those in need
- Is a role model - has demonstrated leadership skills, shown creativity, or used innovation to resolved issues and provide support
In this category we are looking for a community, parish or large group that have come together to provide a service or project to others, who have tackled issues such as loneliness and social isolation. Or who have created community involvement and cohesion for the benefit of all.
In no more than 250 words (in writing, video or voice recording), please give us examples of how they may have:
- Developed or adapted a significant project or service for the benefit of others
- Innovated, co-ordinated and harnessed the communities mixed skill set and experiences
- Delivered an initiative particularly supporting vulnerable people
- Fostered a strong sense of community spirit to make an outstanding difference to their community
Click here to read the full terms and conditions
Compassionate Community Awards Terms and Conditions:
Please be aware that by submitting a nomination to the Compassionate Community Awards 2022 you are agreeing to the terms and conditions below:
- All nominations received should meet the criteria of one of the six award categories. The nominees must either be living in the borough of Maidstone, working with residents/organisations/charities associated in the borough or have contributed to voluntary projects, charitable organisations or campaigns supporting the residents, businesses or voluntary groups based in the borough.
- Multiple nominations are permitted for individuals or groups for each category and will be accepted by any age group.
- Nominations will be accepted for individuals associated with the three supporting organisations (Maidstone Borough Council, Heart of Kent Hospice and the Kent Messenger), but not for anyone connected to the Judges or their immediate families.
- The decision of the Judges’ will be final.
- We are unable to take responsibility for nominations that are not received or arrive after the deadline of Wednesday 5 October at midnight.
- All text, images, video content and voice recordings submitted as part of the nomination are subject to use within social media, online, marketing material and general press. By submitting these details within the nomination you are agreeing for them to be used.
- Any personal data relating to entries will be held securely in accordance with the GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018 for a period of 12 months from 5 October 2022.
- To withdraw your consent for this data to be used, please email: compassionateawards@maidstone.gov.uk
- Please be aware that the Compassionate Community Awards 2022 may be subject to change in line with any possible government guidance required regarding Covid-19.
