The judges for the inaugural Kent Volunteering Awards are urging people not to be put off from nominating potential winners by eligibility fears.

Josephine McCartney, chief executive of awards judging organisation the Kent Community Foundation, said: “We would encourage any organisation from any sector.

“You don’t have to be a registered charity. You can be a local organisation who are doing great work. You can also be a volunteer for the police, the ambulance service, any of the emergency services.

“Or if you’re an employer and you actively support your employees to volunteer for organisations during office time, then we are looking for nominations from you.”

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

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

Ms McCartney added: “The Kent Community Foundation is delighted to be sponsoring the Kent Volunteering Awards.

“Volunteering is hugely important to organisations who are heavily reliant on people who give up their time in order to support good causes right across Kent and Medway.”

Based in Ashford, the Kent Community Foundation works to improve the lives of vulnerable, isolated and disadvantaged people across the county.

Anybody can submit awards nominations for either individuals or teams of volunteers, and the deadline for doing so is October 27.

Find out more and submit nominations at Kentvolunteeringawards.co.uk, and watch a video in which Josephine McCartney talks about the awards here: