We caught up with last year’s Children’s Charity of the Year, The Caldecott Foundation.
The Caldecott Foundation, based in Ashford, provides children and young people who have not had the best starts in life with therapeutic residential care, foster families and education. They offer education from age 5 to 18 at their purpose-builtschool in Kent for pupils with specific, identified educational needs and those who require bespoke intervention. Their school offers weekly boarding for pupils and a dedicated environment for Primary provision.
* How did it feel to win Children’s Charity of the Year?
Winning Children’s Charity of the Year at the Kent Charity Awards 2025 was an incredibly proud and emotional moment for everyone at The Caldecott Foundation. As this was our first year entering the awards, the recognition felt even more meaningful for our whole organisation.
The award shines a spotlight on the courage and resilience of the children and young people we support; they are at the heart of everything we do. It gave us a valuable opportunity to celebrate their journeys, alongside the dedication of our staff and supporters who work tirelessly to help them thrive.
* What impact has being an award-winning charity had on your organisation?
Being recognised as an award-winning charity has had a significant and lasting impact. It has strengthened our reputation and helped raise awareness of our work across Kent and beyond.
Since the awards, we have developed valuable relationships with corporate partners, including Amey, one of the event sponsors, who have supported us through volunteer days. We have also been able to invite corporate organisations to our events, helping to build new partnerships and open up further opportunities.
Our social media presence has grown, with increased engagement and support from the wider charity community—many of the organisations we connected with through the awards have continued to follow and engage with us online.
Media coverage, particularly through Kent Online, has also been hugely beneficial in amplifying our message, helping us reach new audiences and attract more supporters and volunteers.
* Would you recommend the Kent Charity Awards to other charities?
Absolutely. We would highly recommend the Kent Charity Awards to other charities. The process provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on your impact, celebrate achievements, and gain meaningful recognition.
It’s also a fantastic way to connect with other organisations, build relationships, and raise your profile within the local community and beyond.
* Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
We are incredibly grateful to the Kent Charity Awards team, the judges, and the local community for their continued support. The ceremony at the Rochester Corn Exchange was a fantastic celebration of the inspiring work taking place across Kent’s charity sector.
For us, this award is truly for the children and young people we support. Recognition like this not only celebrates what has been achieved but also helps create new opportunities to expand our impact even further.
We are excited to continue building on this momentum and working with partners, supporters, and the wider community to make a lasting difference.
