Volunteers dedicated to giving their time to help others have been recognised for their efforts at a special awards ceremony.

The Kent Volunteering Awards, organised by the KM Charity Team, shone a light on the often unseen acts by dozens of people who help those who are in need of support across the county.

Held at Ashford International Hotel, the ceremony saw recipients of all ages honoured.

Kent and Medway Charity Team chief executive Mike Ward said: "It’s been a couple of years since we have delivered the Kent Volunteering Awards but this year we thought it was far too important to miss. So many people and organisations have just done so much and truly deserve some recognition.

"I think all of the winners, nominees and the thousands of other volunteers out there are amazing. There has been a lot of talk about funding to the social care sector but what people forget is that the situation would be so much worse without these amazing people and organisations doing what they do."

The awards were sponsored by Golding Homes, Pfizer's, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Ashford International, Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Blessings by Ble and Ashord International Hotel.

Overall Kent Adult Volunteer of the Year

Isabel Hack who volunteers for Crossroad’s Care Kent started volunteering in 2015 after a long career in education. The judges said of her: "Volunteering in a very emotional and difficult environment she kindly supports people through the most difficult time of their lives, often people with both dementia and cancer. She has been described as truly caring but also a great advocate for everyone she is supporting; especially those who just can’t find the their own voice...She is a true believer that people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and care."

Overall Kent Youth Volunteer of the Year

Lacie Ingram, a police cadet, army cadet, vice chair of Kent Youth County Council and a member of Headstart, among many other positions, Lacie was honoured for her "dedication, drive and willingness to help others every single day." She also teaches piano for free; takes part in litter picks and has been part of and ran campaigns about mental health, bullying, hate crime and discrimination, fast fashion, plastic and air pollution, keeping Kent safe, knife crime and more.

Overall Kent Voluntary Sector of the Year

The Child's Vision Charity Team has not only survived the pandemic but have been there for each other and the charity beneficiaries during the most difficult of times. They have diversified into providing the freedom programmes and support services online to enable them to reach the most vulnerable during lockdown. The charity is also a partner in the Maidstone Domestic Abuse Forum and presented the children's section of the Cradle to Grave Domestic Abuse Presentation given by the forum. Not only have they supported children and women in Kent, but services online for children and women in Wales, Scotland and the north of England.

Individual Kent Volunteering Champions Winners

Amanda Sidwell - founder of the charity Making a Difference to Maidstone

Anna Firth – co-founder of the Invicta National Academy.

Denyse Twome – letter writing volunteer extraordinaire

Eliza Ecclestone - Care for our Community, Sevenoaks

Jill Scanlon – Creative Minds Group

Isabel Hack – support volunteer

Jill Hills – support volunteer

Judi Bolton and Nicola Sykes - East Kent Unit for Breast Screening

Kellie and Michael Milano Head Teacher of the Year - Charity Club Ausome

Lacie Ingram – community volunteer

Mary Tornai – SATEDA volunteer

Mick Cranfield - Practical Support Volunteering Team

Sharon Gambell - Child's Vision volunteer

Tom Randell – children’s support volunteer

Kent Voluntary Sector Awards

Changing Minds Kent - The Lodge volunteer team

Child's Vision Charity Team

Communigrow – volunteering team

Cruse Bereavement Support

Dover Smart Project

Homestart - Thanet

Kent Hospice Dementia Team

Hypo Hounds

One Big Family

Our Kitchen on the Isle of Thanet

Fegans Parenting Support

SATEDA

Service by Emergency Response Volunteers SERV (Kent) Organisation

To find out more about the charity team's work click here.