Celebrate the tireless work of local volunteers, trustees and charities with the Kent Charity Awards.

Nominations for the annual awards are now open, with categories such as Community Charity of the Year, Children’s Charity of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.

You can find out more about the categories and how to submit your nominations here.

The Kent Charity Awards has been recognising the hard work of volunteers, charities and trustees in the county since 2015.

The ceremony celebrates both large and small charities across Kent, as well as the dedicated individuals who give their time to help others.

Head judge Susan Robinson, who is also a partner at Kreston Reeves, one of the award’s sponsors, said of this year’s awards: “These awards are an opportunity for charities to highlight the great work that they are doing. The judges are looking for those charities that have done something different be it in the services that they deliver or the way that they are delivered.

“Without trustees and volunteers the sector will struggle to deliver and we take this opportunity to value their contribution by including them in the awards. We look forward to reviewing all the nominations.”

Last year, the Rainbow Centre in Folkestone was crowned Charity of the Year, while other charities such as the Romney Marsh Community Hub, the Heart of Kent Hospice and Wildwood Trust also received awards in their respective categories.

“The Folkestone Rainbow Centre is honoured to have received such a prestigious award,” said Dr. Peter Le Feuvre, Chair of Trustees of the Rainbow Centre. “The amount of deprivation and hardship in our towns and villages is rising during these challenging economic times, but we are inspired by the trust that has been placed in us by the award.”

The Kent Charity Awards are free to enter. You must submit your nominations before Friday, May 19 to be eligible for this year’s awards.

The Kent Charity Awards are sponsored by Kreston Reeves, Kent County Council, Medway Council, CCWorks, Kent Community Foundation, AMEY, CAF Bank, Financial Advice and Services, the KM Group, Brachers and A-Plan Insurance.