Volunteers who go out of their way to raise much-needed funds or provide vital services for Kent schools could see their work recognised at a special awards ceremony.

Organised by the KM Charity Team, the Kent Volunteering Awards are designed to celebrate and reward the work of the thousands of people who work selflessly and unpaid every day to provide invaluable community services across Kent, Medway, Bexley and Bromley.

And KM Charity Team acting manager Karen Brinkman says they provide the perfect opportunity to recognise the input and sacrifices of people doing unpaid work for the county’s schools.

She said: “With frozen budgets and the burdens of regulation and assessment, many schools would struggle to operate without the help of a broad range of individuals providing support and services entirely for free.

“That includes people acting as school governors, serving on parent-teaching associations, helping coach and taxi sports teams, supporting pupils with their reading, organising walking buses and taking part in fundraising initiatives such as fetes.

“I’m sure that the schools who benefit from that support would share our delight in seeing some of these people nominated for and winning Kent Volunteering Awards.”

The awards are backed by third-sector support group Stronger Kent Communities, the EKC Group, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Educational Life CIC, the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Pfizer R&D UK Limited, the KM Group and National Lottery Awards for All England.

Anybody can submit nominations for either individuals or teams of volunteers, and the deadline for doing so is October 18. Find out more and submit entries here.