As the big day for the Kent Charity Awards comes ever closer the final batch of nominations has been released.

Charities which are up for a gong at the Gala Evening on Thursday, March 16, include:

Rotary International is an amalgam of 32,000 clubs internationally.

The Medway Rotary Club has supported many charities in Kent and areas in south London.

One of its main roles is to organise and fund holidays for disabled children.

The primary purpose of Choices, which is formerly known as North Kent Women’s Aid, is to ensure the safety and security of anyone who is impacted by domestic abuse.

Choices was founded in 1996 and through its refuges it now provides a place of safety for up to 17 women and 35 children at any one time.

Stride4Life is a brought together by a group of volunteers working with the Fundraising Office at Darent Valley Hospital.

This dedicated team raise money to help men, women and children who are fighting cancer.

The Manage Your Mind programme is offered by the International Association for Human Values in Medway.

It is a community-based service which is designed for adults suffering from mild to moderate stress, anxiety and depression.

Hospital Radio Medway was founded by Brian Faulkner in 1970.

The station is very popular with patients as well as other charities which often visit the studio to chat and promote their work to the listeners.

Maidstone and Mid Kent Mind is a mental health charity offering a range of services to support anyone with a mental health condition.

During the past year it has expanded its services and extended the support available to young people.

It has also continued to form partnerships with other organisations.

Kent MS Therapy Centre, which is based in Canterbury, was set up 32 years ago by people with multiple sclerosis for people with the condition and offers a wide range of therapies and specialist support.

The centre aims to be the next point of contact after initial diagnosis to help people live their lives with this disabling and unpredictable disease.

Children and Families is a charitable organisation based in Sheerness that provides a range of services, directly to children and families across the county.

It offers its services through its children’s centre, nurseries and family support work, as well as providing a food bank for families at crisis point.

Slide Away was launched in 2002 by Denise Ross and offers bereavement support to children and young people in west Kent.

The charity provides support in many ways including encouraging youngsters to take on creative activities that can help them manage the grieving process.

Pegasus is a small organisation delivering a vast range of services for disabled young people in Dover and Deal.

Volunteers there offer many activities for disabled children and also bring able bodied and disadvantage children together to socialise and share activities and experiences.

Established in 2009 SATEDA, Swale Action to End Domestic Abuse, works to end domestic abuse in Swale.

It provides direct access to support, advocacy and advice for victims of domestic abuse, whether they are male or female through a range of service provisions.

Kent Foundation is a charity supporting Kent’s young people to start or grow a business in Kent. This is mainly through two services, one to one sessions which are often coupled with business mentoring.

Kent Marrow is a volunteering society working on behalf of Anthony Nolan to help save the lives of people living with blood cancers such as leukaemia.

Individuals will also be celebrated at the annual celebration including volunteers who give their time to charities from across the county. Nominated this time around are:

Steve Langdon who is an unsung hero who spends more than 25 hours a week volunteering at the Riverside School (SEN) in Bromley.

Steve is also a keen swimmer and, as well as setting up his own swimming club, he is also hoping to represent Team GB at the Special Olympics in 2017.

Jo Cocker is a selfless individual who devotes practically all her free time supporting the Moat View Horse Riding Club and championing its members.

Jo is also chairman of British Riding Clubs Area 10 and through her work she continues to improve horse welfare by increasing the standards of horsemanship in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Pat Wade’s husband died at the Wisdom Hospice in Medway a few years ago.

Since then she has made it her mission to support the hospice in any way she can.

She is the first person to put her name to help out with fundraising events and her nominator said it is people like Pat who help give the hospice such a great name.

Sarah Grant is an image specialist who volunteers for Look Good Feel Better, a national charity dedicated to improving the well-being and self-confidence of people undergoing treatment for cancer.

Sarah has helped so many people in Kent and recently put together a cancer charity calendar using 12 ladies who have been affected by the disease.

Susan Hancock is a lady who really does make a positive difference to the families she supports.

Since joining Swale Action to End Domestic Abuse in 1996, she has provided a calming and empathetic approach to her role.

She is now a role model for new volunteers joining SATEDA.

Mike Wilson started volunteering at the Kent Wildlife Trust more than 20 years ago.

He is one of its longest standing volunteers and has been instrumental in creating a diverse range of habitats at both the Tyland Barn in Maidstone and Sevenoaks Nature Parks.

A group of volunteers working at the Activity Loft Community House in Gillingham have been nominated in the Volunteer of the Year category for their invaluable work in helping residents and young people within the house.

And finally Trustee of the Year could go to Sally Howells who is a trustee at Making Miracles.

The Medway-based charity supports women who face high-risk pregnancies, premature babies and those who have suffered a baby loss.

Sally works tirelessly promoting the charity, was the driving force behind the Baby Memorial Garden and also helped the charity receive Big Lottery Funding.

The awards are supported by sponsors Furley Page Solicitors, Kent County Council, Kreston Reeves, Medway Council, MidKent College, The KM Group, Diggerland, Kent Reliance, Southeastern and CC Works.