The KM Group is proud to have received a number of nominations for this year’s Regional Press Awards and we are dependant on your support to win one of them.

Four campaigns that we have run are up for the Making A Difference Award and members of the public will get to vote for their favourite from 9.30am today.

It has been organised as part of Local Newspaper Week and readers will be able to vote until 5pm on Wednesday.

Our Kick Start Kent Campaign helped create 105 new apprenticeships at 88 companies across our county.

We worked alongside IPS International, the Kent Association of Training Organisations and MidKent College to help create these positions.

The highlight of the campaign saw Prince Andrew chair a lunch at Maidstone Museum attended by colleges and training providers.

Our next campaign in contention is Missing: Patrick Lamb.

This saw KM reporters join search teams in the hunt for 28-year-old Pat Lamb, who disappeared during a night out in Maidstone with friends in December.

We created a video reconstruction of Mr Lamb’s last known movements and covered the search extensively online and in print.

We also produced missing person posters which were displayed in shop windows across the county town.

Both key witnesses in the case came forward as a result of the coverage and were able to give in depth statements to police.

Sadly Mr Lamb’s body was discovered at Cuxton Marina nearly a month later.

In the wake of the tragedy Kent Search and Rescue who led the effort saw a record number of applications from people wishing to volunteer with them.

Next up is the The Feast for the Flooded campaign.

This saw around 50 Yalding residents attend a belated Christmas meal following the devastating floods at the end of 2013.

Many of them did not get a chance to celebrate Christmas so we organised a full Christmas dinner complete with drinks, live music and transport - all for free.

The fourth initiative vying for votes is Elf Service - an idea from the Kentish Gazette.

It aimed to bring some Christmas joy to those most in need. It peaked when cricket star Kevin Pietersen visited a Canterbury youngster who had lost his father. Vote here.

For more information on Local Newspaper Week click here