The selflessness and dedication of young people doing unpaid but invaluable work for Kent charities will be celebrated at an awards ceremony taking place this autumn.

And one of the county’s leading providers of further education has said it is delighted to be involved in choosing the winners of the awards.

The EKC Group is one of the judging organisations for the Kent Volunteering Awards, which aim to celebrate the efforts of the thousands of individuals doing unpaid work for charities and good causes across the county.

The group said it was particularly keen to see nominations for young people aged under 18.

EKC Group director of safeguarding and student wellbeing Lauren Anning said: “With more than 12,000 students at five colleges across the county, our staff have a front-row perspective of just how talented, enthusiastic and engaged Kent’s young people are.

“As an organisation which is committed to enhancing the communities we serve, we’re passionate advocates of the power of social action.

“All of our students and staff play an active role in delivering social action projects across east Kent, and we have a significant number of students who act as volunteers for charitable organisations operating in all sorts of sectors across the county.

“It would be great to see their work, and that of the legion of other youth volunteers in Kent, recognised with plenty of nominations for these awards.

“The awards are such a fantastic idea, as voluntary work often goes uncelebrated, so we are delighted to be involved with them.”

The awards are organised by the KM Charity Team, whose acting general manager is Karen Brinkman.

Mrs Brinkman said: “We are so pleased to be collaborating with the EKC Group in giving young people the recognition they deserve for the invaluable volunteering so many of them do for good causes across the county.

“The group’s insight will be indispensible when it comes to shortlisting candidates in the awards’ youth-volunteering category.”

The awards aim to celebrate the work of volunteers across Kent, Medway, Bexley and Bromley.

Beside the EKC Group, they are supported by the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, the Kent Community Foundation, Pfizer R&D UK Limited, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Stronger Kent Communities, National Lottery Awards for All and Maidstone Borough Council.

Anybody can submit awards nominations for either individuals or teams of volunteers, and the deadline for doing so is October 18.

See Kentvolunteeringawards.co.uk for more information or to submit a nomination.