An awards ceremony was staged to thank organisations teaming up with a leading educational charity aiming to make Kent a better place to live and work.

Fifty organisations that are critical partners of the KM Charity Team in delivering its charity fundraising and educational events and services were honoured at the KM Charity Partnership Awards this week.

The charity stages collaborative fundraising events including the KM Big Bike Ride, KM Colour Run, KM Charity Walk and KM Dragon Boat Race as well as multiple heats of the KM Big Charity Quiz around the county, all raising £200,000 for a host of local good causes.

Many of the partners help the charity with its educational work which includes removing more than 250,000 school-run car journeys from Kent roads each year through its walk to school campaign. Children taking part in the charity’s Buster’s Book Club initiative collectively read more than two million minutes at home last academic year.

Representatives from businesses that had supported the charity’s work past and present received a KM Charity Team Partnership Award trophy and framed certificate.

Viscount De L’lsle Lord Lieutenant praised the charity; "The winners help this charity do a great job. The whole idea of getting local government, the private sector, and charities together is a real team a approach. Some initiatives like the Walking Bus scheme is a demonstration of good practice and has been taken up all over the country.”

Jessica Pearmine, who accepted an award on behalf of Kent Reliance, said: “It means a great deal to win this award, we love working with the KM Charity Team and all the work they do. It’s great to be a part of it supporting both their children's literacy work and also the KM Dragon Boat Race.”

John Giles of Benenden Hospital Trust said; “Benenden Hospital is always very keen to work with the local community and the KM Charity Team gives us an opportunity to help reach out and do what we can to improve the lives of others. We encourage people to take part and make life better for everybody,”

Malou Bengtsson-Wheeler, Beanstalk's area manager for Kent said: “I am so delighted to be here today on behalf of Beanstalk, it is absolutely fantastic to win at the KM Partnership awards, it means so much to us and it really does help raise our profile across the county.”

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, said: “We are thrilled to officially recognise and thank our key partners. Their support enables us to run highly successful fundraising events for good causes as well as help to improve health, fitness and literacy in hundreds of schools.”

The KM Charity Team Partnership Awards ceremony was held at Rowhill Grange Hotel on Wednesday March 1.

For more information, visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk.

• Businesses interested in supporting the KM Charity Team’s work with schools or charities should contact Simon Dolby on 07989 164752 or emailsdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk.