The Isle of Sheppey is celebrating a clutch of top awards announced during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Both Sheppey Matters and the Sheppey Sea Cadets are basking in the glory of each clinching a coveted Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

Swale Stroke Group chairman Stewart Kitching, who lives in Sittingbourne, has won a Platinum Award from the Royal Voluntary Service. The group meets in Sheerness.

And Becki Breiner's Sheppey Song Signing Choir won the SME News Magazine's business elite awards for best signing and music community group in the UK.

Leisse Gambell, the commanding officer at the sea cadets' headquarters at Barton's Point, Sheerness, said: "The award is a tribute to our amazing volunteers, both past and present, for dedicating their time. I am a very proud commanding officer. It is a fantastic achievement."

The cadets have more than 30 adult volunteers helping run the unit from uniformed and civilian instructors to the administration team, chaplain and executives.

Vice-chairman Andy Willmore said: "We are all blown away by this award. It is the equivalent of receiving an MBE. It's incredible that two organisations on this little Island can be so successful."

He added: "We were all sworn to secrecy and couldn't mention it to anyone before the official announcement. It is a great boost for everyone and won't do any harm as we seek money to upgrade our headquarters."

The unit, which needs to raise £6m to replace its ageing premises with a state-of-the art club house and boat store, was nominated by Cllr Ken Ingleton.

It had letters of recommendation from MP Gordon Henderson and Vice-Admiral Sir Adrian Johns who has visited the unit in the past along with the Lord Lieutenant of Kent Lady Colgrain and her deputy Paul Auston.

On Saturday, the cadets were hard at work washing cars at £6 a time to add to the coffers. The weekend before, they entertained visiting Rotarians from Germany, Holland, France and Belgium as part of a twinning trip with Minster-on-Sea Rotary Club and taught them to drum.

Despite the run-down premises, the cadets boast a state-of-the-art ship simulator. Mr Willmore said: "It is very popular with our visitors."

The charity Sheppey Matters also clinched the award for its 80 volunteers who run its services, including 40 behind community radio station Sheppey FM.

In February, Sheppey Matters received a visit from Prince Charles and Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall at its base at the Healthy Living Centre in Beachfields, Sheerness.

Chief executive officer Nigel Martin said: "We are delighted and honoured to receive this honour in recognition of our volunteers. It is the highest in the land.

"For Sheppey to win two at the same time speaks volumes about the Island. It is nice to get the recognition the Island deserves."

Sheppey Matters was formed in 1994 but has expanded considerably after the healthy living centre was built in 2003. It is seeking five more volunteers to help with its Isle Connect You project which seeks out lonely over-65s.

Swale Stroke Group chairman Stewart Kitching has won a Platinum Award from the Royal Voluntary Service.

He was selected from more than 3,000 after being nominated by his partner Janet Avery, who is the group's secretary. Stewart was one of 490 winners who have been dubbed the "backbone of our country" by Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

Janet said: "He was thrilled and honoured to be chosen from so many nominations and so many other very hard-working volunteers.

"I am so very pleased that his hard work and dedication to the group has now been recognised at this level.

"He is totally committed to making the group a welcoming place for all and is so supportive of everyone who walks through the door and reaches out."

As a result of his win, he was entered into a ballot to attend the Platinum Jubilee Party at Buckingham Palace on Saturday - and won that, too!

Janet said: "We were very lucky to get two of the 140 seats allocated to Platinum Jubilee Champions. We had a fabulous night, surrounded by other winners.

"It was great to share stories and hear what other winners had been doing. It was very humbling. The atmosphere was brilliant. We were honoured to be invited."

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, headed a judging panel which included Alex Jones, Felicity Kendal, Gethin Jones, Myleene Klass, Ade Adepitan, Tom Read Wilson and Gyles Brandreth. She described the volunteers as “the backbone of our country”.

Stewart, 65, a former Royal Engineers Sergeant Major who lives in Jessica Mews, Sittingbourne, suffered a stroke in 2010 and had to teach himself to walk and talk again.

He founded the Swale Stroke Group, which meets at the Methodist Church in Hope Street, Sheerness, on Thursday mornings, with Bill Evans.

Members celebrated the Queen's platinum jubilee with cream teas, union flags, patriotic songs and a life-sized cut out of Her Majesty.

Sittingbourne mum-of-two Becki Breiner, who is profoundly deaf, formed the Sheppey Song Signing Choir after becoming a hit on social media recording This Is Me from The Greatest Showman using British Sign Language.

The choir, which helps boost the confidence of its members, many of whom are vulnerable, has become a popular attraction. Members gave several displays across Swale to celebrate The Queen's jubilee. They have also performed at the Sittingbourne and Sheerness Christmas lights switch-ons.

Becki lost most of her hearing following a childhood accident when she stumbled into a family barbecue and burning coals damaged her ears. She said: "I was so proud to receive this award. The choir seems to have developed a life of its own."