Shepherd Neame has been praised for helping to raise £30,000 for good causes in 2015 through its longstanding support of the KM Big Charity Quiz.

This is the ninth anniversary of the Kent brewer taking a leading role in making the popular wine and wisdom style evenings such a success.

Shepherd Neame donated stock for the Spitfire charity bar for each of the four heats in Medway, Canterbury, Maidstone and Ashford along with the grand final which will be staged on Friday, January 15, 2016. Funds raised through the sale of alcoholic and soft drinks at each heat provide a significant boost to the overall charity pot which goes directly to good causes in Kent.

This year’s beneficiaries included Abigail's Footsteps, Maidstone Mind, Heart of Kent Hospice, Catching Lives, Canterbury Hospital's League of Friends, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Kent MS Therapy Services and road safety services for children.

KM Group chairman Geraldine Allinson formally thanked Shepherd Neame by presenting its chief executive Jonathan Neame with an engraved silver salver.

“The Big Quiz is a great community collaboration from the people who attend the quizzes to the people who help with the food on the night. We are delighted that Shepherd Neame have been so generous in supporting it for so long," she said.

Mr Neame said: “Shepherd Neame is delighted to support Kent Messenger on this really worthwhile project. Huge sums of money have been raised for Kent good causes. Both the KM and Shepherd Neame are two great Kent businesses and really believe in the power of the people and supporting our communities so it couldn’t be a better partnership.”

Shepherd Neame will once again provide the liquid refreshment for next year’s KM Big Quiz events. Other key partners for 2016 include Barclays bank, Specsavers, MHA MacIntyre Hudson and Hallett and Co.

The 10 anniversary Medway Quiz, staged on March 11, 2016, and the Canterbury Quiz, staged on April 22, 2016 are now open for booking at www.kmbigquiz.co.uk. Use the booking discount codes MED16 and CANT16 respectively.

Charities or good causes can team up with the KM Charity Team at www.kmcharityteam.co.uk.

• Companies interested in supporting their local KM Big Quiz heat through sponsorship, raffle prizes or submitting quiz teams should contact Simon Dolby at sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 07989 164 752.