A CHARITY which has helped hundreds of some of the county's worst-off families has won the £10,000 top prize in the KM Group's Get Kent Giving competition.

Thanet Early Years Project is run by local people for local people. Among the services it provides are pre-school groups, a toy library, after school clubs and play and learn schemes.

The £4,000 runner-up prize went to Deal Pathfinders Club, which helps adults with mental health problems and learning disabilities.

The two winners have already won £1,000 by being among the 10 local winners of the competition.

CAF, the Kent-based (Kings Hill) Charities Aid Foundation, funded the competition. The county winners will collect their cheques at the CAF HQ on Monday, October 17, to mark the start of National Giving Week.

John Thurley, Director of National Giving Week, said: "The response to Get Kent Giving has been excellent and we are extremely grateful to the KM Group for supporting this campaign - the first of its kind to be tried anywhere in the UK.

"We would also like to thank the many readers who nominated their favourite local good causes."

"As the lead up to National Giving Week October 17 - 23, Get Kent Giving aims to motivate Kent people and businesses to make regular, tax-efficient donations to their favourite good causes, and to challenge fundraisers to convert their donors into effective givers.

"Thanks to the KM Group campaign, more awareness has been made of these issues and the challenges charities face to raise funds."

Thanet Early Years Project manager, Carol Smith, said: "I can't believe we've won. I was just pleased to be in the top 10 and never expected this.

"It will be so useful. As a charity, we are always struggling for money, so this is wonderful."

* A dedicated webesite - www.nationalgivingweek.org - to support the week outlines the best ways to give to charity. Alternatively call 01732 520 088.