We believe that everyone has the right to live their lives to the fullest of their potential. We will work together to raise expectations within the Down’s syndrome community and to empower those around us to promote inclusion and achieve aspirations.

Founded 37 years ago in Tunbridge Wells, 3H helps around 500 disabled children, adults and their carers every year to get a break away from the confinement and stresses and strains of their everyday lives.  A short break can be a lifeline to help them cope.  3H arrange group activity holidays and give grants to individuals, families and carers on low incomes towards holidays they have arranged themselves.

Based in Faversham, the Abbey Physic Community Garden believe in the therapeutic benefits of horticultural activities.  Whether to pass on knowledge, learn a new skill, make friends, enjoy outdoor activities their members and visitors can all share this wonderful city-centre garden.  In addition to the horticultural activities the centre offers a variety of informal learning such as : plant propagation, cooking, willow basketry and pottery making.

Abigail’s Footsteps was launched in 2010 by parents Jo and David Ward following the death of their daughter Abigail Ward who was stillborn at 41 weeks gestation.   Jo and David had two primary objectives when they launched the charity, firstly to improve the bereavement training that midwives and care staff received, and to improve the quality of supportive information that families received if their family suffered a stillbirth.

Action for Children works in local communities to protect and support the young and vulnerable as they grow up.  The Folkestone Early Years Centre works with parents/carers and children under 5 by offering support through play opportunities, training courses, drop in sessions and nursery provision.

Age Concern Deal Centre is a well-being community hub that provides health and social care for older people.  The Centre offers health and social opportunities for older people who often feel isolated and lonely.

Age UK North West Kent provides a wide range of services for older people, including day and community services, advocacy, fresh cooked meals and dementia support.  In 2014 the charity is commemorating both World Wars and are hoping to develop the garden of their Gravesend facility making it more client-friendly, enabling clients to grow their own vegetables.

Age UK Sevenoaks & Tonbridge is an independent charity working solely for the older people within the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge area.  their aim is to help the older people in the local community to remain as independent as possible, promoting their well-being and helping to make later life as fulfilling and enjoyable as possible.

Age UK Whitstable is a charity whose primary objective is to promote and support the welfare of all older people within Whitstable and the surrounding areas.  They provide a wide range of services at both their Day Centre and out in the Community.  Some users of the services are referred by professional bodies, others by family or friend or indeed self-referred.  Among other services, the Day Centre offers 35 people a day a chance to have a hot lunch in a lively and positive environment.

AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE IN SOUTH EAST ENGLAND AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

Alzheimer’s Society is the leading support and research charity in the UK for  people with dementia and those who care for them.  Staff and volunteers provide both local information and over 2,000 services across the country to people affected by dementia.  Local services include day care, home care, support and befriending services.

Angels for Dogs is a small, non-profit organisation based in Thanet.  They rescue dogs who have been abused, traumatised or are simply unwanted.  All the rescued dogs are cared for by dedicated foster carers who work hard togain their trust and to teach them basic command and good manners.  All dogs are spayed/neutered, chipped, de-fleaed and wormed.  The organisation personally house checks all prospective owners and works hard to make sure they get a perfect match.

The Ashford Charity Funds works along-side registered charities by putting on events to help raise money.  Their most recent event was a charity football match held at Gallagher Stadium in Maidstone where they raised £5,500 to be shared between the Heart of Kent Hospice and The Pilgrims Hospice.

Beanstalk, founded 1973, helps children who are falling behind with their reading and need extra help to enable them to catch up with their peers and fulfil their potential.  Their vision is a nation of confident children who can read and grow up to lead successful lives.

Bechange is a charity that works with adults needing support to make lasting changes in their lives and reach positive futures.  Their work is targeted in the most deprived areas of Dover District and they deliver home visiting and group sessions providing support with skills and employment, finance and housing, families and relationships.

Books2Africa is a registered charity that is committed to reducing environmental waste in the UK and improving the quality of education in Africa through the collection and distribution of books.  Established in 2012 by 4 African students whilst studying in the UK, the organisation now has Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Today, Books2Africa collects and sends thousands of books from the UK to projects across 20 African countries. 

www.books2africa.com

Breast Cancer Kent raises money for state of the art equipment for the detection and treatment of breast cancer in the breast care units of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals.  This is the sort of equipment that the NHS couldn’t possibly afford.  They also raise money for well-being programmes for aftercare.

Breathe Easy Dover is one of around 230+ British Lung Foundation support Groups in England, Scotland and Wales. They meet once a month for a 2 hour session during which they share information and knowledge and experience of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). They often have a guest speaker on subjects related to lung health and treatment and the wider scope of social and health care.

They aim to raise awareness of the condition as it is estimated that 1 in 5 people in the UK are affected by chronic lung disease and a significant number of people are not diagnosed.

This charity helps children and their families across East Kent through a range of programmes that provide the tools and mechanisms to ensure parents and children work together better as a unit.  They treat a whole range of family problems in a holistic manner, in ways that reinforce parents’ capabilities and self-esteem and help them through their various problems.

Canterbury Oast Trust (COT) supports 161 adults with learning disability throughout Kent and East Sussex to live more independently.  COT provides personalised care, 24 hour supported care in family style living accommodation as well as through our commercial enterprises which all have a training project facility.

Canterbury Rugby Football Club is run by over 70 volunteers who give their time to drive the club forward, to the extent that over the past four years they have doubled the number of 6 to 18 years old members within the club.  The club runs five senior men’s team, a veterans side, a Ladies team and an under 18 girls team.  In addition there are Mini and Junior age grade rugby ranging from U6 to U18’s.

Canterbury Street Pastors is part of the Ascension Trust and is one of 12 groups in Kent and over 250 across England.  With an ethos of helping, caring and listening, they patrol the streets of Canterbury every Sunday night between 10pm and 4am assisting those in need.  They are keen to increase their profile in Canterbury but also on a national level.

The Cardiomyopathy Association is a charity that provides information and support to families affected by the heart muscle disease, cardiomyopathy.  Their services include a team of cardiomyopathy support nurses, information days around the country, support groups and a network of affected volunteers who provide support to others.

Carers FIRST objectives are to relieve the needs of carers of persons who are sick, infirm or disabled by
the provision of respite care, information, advice and support.  The organisation supports both Adult and
Young Carers, providing support to some 5700 Adult Carers in Kent and Medway. They provide a range of
services to those that care for someone in their family who has an illness, a disability, a mental health
problem or a substance misuse problem.

The C4C was formed in 2013 to help support the family of Connor Olsen, a little boy who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  This is a rare and incurable disease that is sadly always fatal.  Connor is 5 years old and because of this disease he can expect to be wheelchair dependent by the age of 9 or 10 with a life expectancy of about 20 years.  The C4C campaign is helping support vital research into DMD with the hope of finding a cure.

Catching Lives is a small, independent charity that supports local homeless populations of rough sleeper and vulnerably-housed individuals.  These are people who, for various reasons, fall through the gaps in society and feel they have nowhere else to turn.  Their open centre offers immediate respite in the form of hot meals, showers, laundry facilities, clothes bank and care-of address.  They work with their clients on an individual basis to help them resolve issues, access accommodation and find the motivation to take steps towards personal recovery and independent living.

www.catchinglives.org

The Centre for Creativity and Enterprise (CCE) is a craft centre and gallery that supports the local community by providing creative workshops, courses, opportunities for creative networking, designing and delivering events and festivals for the benefit of Ashford and its residents.

Beacon Bingo in Margate annually support the Gaming Industry Charity CHiPS to raise funds to buy electric wheelchairs for local disabled children who otherwise would not be grated one from the state.  Last year Beacon’s parent company Praesepe Plc raised £100,000 for the charity and it they would love to continue to do this.

chYps is Maidstone’s local children’s hospice at home service.  chYps has a very clear focus: to enable children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions to receive full hospice care in their and their families’ place of choice, which is overwhelmingly their own home.

For nearly 30 years Compaid has provided opportunities for disabled and elderly people in and around
Kent and their aim is to ensure that everyone they work with can achieve their aspirations. More than
1,200 disabled and frail elderly people in the South East rely every month on their support.

The Maidstone outreach service supports people of all ages who may be isolated within the community
within which they live due to their disability or lack of transport.  The outreach computer assessment and one to one sessions assist
individuals to use technology effectively to realise their creative potential and goals. One particular area
that Outreach has been working with over the last year is with the Royal British Legion village in
Aylesford.

www.compaid.org.uk

Computers 4 Africa is a Kent-based charity that provides safe, ethical, easy and cost-effective solutions for schools, organisations and individuals to dispose of redundant IT equipment which goes on to transform the lives of people in digitally excluded communities and protects the environment.

Computers 4 Charity

Computers 4 Charity, is a ‘Working Name’ of Digital Pipeline, an independent registered charity based in Kent. We receive donations of IT equipment from corporate donors which is tracked and traced, 100% securely data-wiped, with environmental compliance to government standards, refurbished and given-away to charities and their beneficiaries to improve their services and lives.

Established in 1739, Coram is the UK’s first children’s charity.  Today, they continue to support the most vulnerable children and young people in society, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.  Their objectives are to help children feel safe and loved, help them lead healthier lives, support their education and learning and protect their legal rights.

Campaign to Protect Rural England, Kent is an independent charity that fights to protect and preserve the Kent countryside for future generations and for our rich flora and fauna that make our countryside so unique and special.

Although the organisation comes under the umbrella of CPRE National, they are solely self-funding and survive because of the kindness and generosity of their members and supporters.

CPRE Kent are experts in planning, tracking, water, transport and ecology, and they help and empower local communities to take back control from decision makers who threaten their peaceful way of life.  They actively campaign and seek to influence policy from the top down, giving the little person a voice.

Cyclopark Trust operates Cyclopark, the largest cycle sports park in Europe on behalf of KCC.  They provide affordable, accessible, inclusive cycling sports facilities for the communities of Kent.  Cyclopark has the larges range of adaptive cycles in the South East making it a national centre for disability cycling.  Local families are also given the chance to rediscover the fun to be had on two wheels in a traffic free environment.

Dandelion Time helps restore hope to young lives.  This charity helps families fragmented by trauma, abuse and neglect.  It provides troubled families with an individually focused therapeutic programme.  Given time and space in the natural environment that Dandelion Time offers enables families to work together to find ways to restore trust, gain strength and make positive and sustainable changes in their lives.

This group of volunteers work with the Fundraising Office at Daren’t Valley Hospital who give support to an event called Stride 4 Life which benefits the hospital’s Cancer Fighting Fund.

The aims of Stride 4 Life are to raise money to help men, women and children who are fighting cancer, to celebrate and remember the life of a loved one, to celebrate the recovery of someone and give thanks for a saved life and to celebrate new  life.

Dartford & Crayford Sea Cadets Unit is a long established charity and youth organisation that is part of the National Sea Cadets Corps.  They have trained at the unit since WWII and many of the cadets went on to join the Royal Navy.  They train Cadets of all abilities and gender, able bodied and disabled from any ethnic group.

Davington Primary School PTFA raises funds to support and advance the education of the children in the school.  They do this by holding fundraising events which involve not only members of the school but the local community too.  The PTFA has a packed calendar of events in the coming months.

Demelza support children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.  They provide respite, palliative and end of life care to nearly 800 children and their families.  They are able to offer children, young people and their families the chance to build memories in the family unit.

DGSM yourChoice is a charity providing support for people with learning disabilities, their families and carers.  They provide housing, care, training, education, employment, leisure and recreation and their vision is the inclusion and acceptance of people with a learning difficulty.

Diabetes UK provides information, help and peer support so that people with diabetes can manage their condition effectively.  There are currently 3.8 million people in the UK with diabetes, including and estimated 630,000 people who have Type 2 diabetes but aren’t aware that they do.

Founded in 1891, Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare charity in the UK.  Their mission is to bring about the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.  Through their nationwide network of rehoming centres they care for around 17,000 dogs each year.  Dogs Trust Canterbury opened in 2001 and has 37 kennels, 2 of which are specially for puppies and their mums.  The charity also run campaigns, education programmes and community projects to improve dog welfare.

Dover Smart Project promotes community cohesion through the use of art and community event.  They encourage people to help others in their community using art as a starting point.  They have a Gallery donated by Dover Harbour Board that they use to promote local artists and they believe everyone has a talent.

This charity support adults and children with learning disabilities in East Kent.  They help them to live full and valued lives and to have the same choices and opportunities as everyone else.  They listen to people with learning disabilities and present the issues and dilemmas to government via their district partnership groups. East Kent Mencap also support the families and carers of people with learning disabilities giving advice, information and respite.

SANDS WORKS TO ENSURE THAT, WHEN A BABY DIES, ANYONE AFFECTED RECEIVES THE BEST BEREAVEMENT CARE AND SUPPORT FOR AS LONG AS THEY NEED IT. SANDS OFFERS A FREE UK HELPLINE AND NETWORK OF SUPPORT GROUPS, WORKS WITH HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO IMPROVE BEREAVEMENT CARE, AND INVOLVES BEREAVED FAMILIES IN RESEARCH TO SAVE BABIES LIVES.

We provide the best hospice care and support to families facing terminal illness in Kent. We’re the only charity in the county who provides hospice care for people of all ages. Our care includes pain and symptom relief, palliative care, end of life care, respite, bereavement support and emotional and spiritual care.

EllenorLions Hospices are proud to be North Kent’s local hospice service, helping seriously ill people and their families to live with dying and enjoy the best possible quality of life.  They provide hospice care for adults across Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley.  Patients and their families receive care in their place of choice – whether their own homes, at the EllenorLions Hospice in Northfleet or in local care homes.

Eva’s Angels was created in April 2017 after the loss of the founder’s 5-year old daughter to a rare paediatric brain tumour. With the money that was raised for Eva’s treatment, a caravan was purchased at Seaview Holiday park in Whitstable to allow families a break away from hospitals, scans, and the stress of living with a cancer diagnosis. Eva’s Angels are currently working hard to raise money for a second caravan in 2019. 

www.evasangels.org

The Sheppey Event Marshalling Unit (EMU) is a group of individuals, from all walks of life, who volunteer their services to provide a professional and competent service to all events and organisations.

The EMU works on all kinds of events from carnivals, long distance bike rides, bonfire events, car shows and military events.  The Unit relies solely on donations that are used to replace old uniforms and radios and help towards travel costs to and from events.

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Find A Voice is a Kent based registered charity which helps and supports people of all ages with speech, language and communication difficulties throughout Kent, Medway and beyond. They are the only charity in the country that provides this service.  Find A Voice visit schools, hospitals and do home visits with their equipment as a mobile resource library.  Their service is used by parents, teachers, speech and language therapists and various other professionals.  They estimate there are 25,000 people in their area who would benefit from their help and expertise.

Folkestone & District Mind’s mission is to improve the quality of life for those experiencing mental distress in Shepway, and to support positive mental health and wellbeing.  They do this by providing a wide range of high quality services which are responsive to the needs of our service users, and by raising awareness of mental health issues and, ultimately, promoting good mental health.

Fresh Visions supports children, young people and adults who face extreme disadvantage as a result of poverty, domestic abuse, lack of education and social exclusion. We operate in some of the poorest neighbourhoods in the UK. Our projects help people gain control of their lives by developing the confidence, motivation and skills to achieve their potential and build brighter futures.

Five Acre Wood School is a special school for children with profound, severe and complex needs based over two sites in Maidstone and Aylesford.  The main site is in Boughton Lane, Maidstone and the 6th Form unit is attached to Aylesford Sports College.

Friends of Five Acre Wood School was st u in 2013 to support the children at the school and to provide for them over and above the statutory provision.  Their current fundraising focus is on play equipment and communication aids.  The charity have a packed fundraising calendar.

Gillingham and Medway Towns Scout Districts provide adventurous and fun activities through the national Scout training programme designed to develop young people mentally spiritually and physically for a member of approximately 2,500 young people between the ages of 6 and 25 years together with additional adult leadership.

Gillingham Local Roots are a local group who have transformed a disused Council playground into a a new community eco garden and allotment for all ages, young, old from all backgrounds.

Their  idea was to create a place where everyone can work together and learn new skills and also bring back community spirit.

Otway Steet, Gillingham is located in the social-economic ward of Gillingham North, this is ranked very high on the national “indices of multiple deprivation”.

The Golf Road centre was set up in 2011 to support the community in various ways by providing space for activities and support groups.  They especially try to support the vulnerable, hard to reach and isolated members of their community by encouraging them into the centre.

They have a cafe that supplies a 2 course meal for under £5. The cafe is managed by East Kent College who place vulnerable students here for invaluable work experience and life skills.    They are also breastfeeding and dementia friendly and have a policy of being Eco friendly and they support Fairtrade.

The centre has facilities for hearing loop, telesensory equipment for the visually impaired and also have a computer with Wifi for public use.

Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice is a registered charity that provides free, specialist, end of life care to approximatey 2,500 adults with life-limiting illnesses living in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley each year.

It is the only provider of specialist palliative care in Greenwich and Bexley and, for the last 20years, has championed quality and choice in end of life care.  The catchment area covers approximately 40 square miles and a population of 500,000.

The Hospice staff and volunteers care for adult patients with a wide variety of chronic and terminal conditions.

Guide Dogs for the Blind is a charity which will not rest until blind and partially sighted people enjoy the same freedom and independence of movement as everyone else.  The charity aims to deliver a world-class guide dog service as part of a range of mobility services and they work to break down barriers. Their aim is to prevent 180,000 people feeling isolated and alone.

Guide Dogs for the Blind provide mobility for blind and partially sighted people through the UK.  In Ashford there is a fundraising group who not only arrange regularly fundraising activities but are also working to raise awareness of the charity, particularly with schools and young persons groups.  As an organisation with no government funding, it would be a huge boost for the profile of the charity to win the Kent Charity Awards.

Happy Endings Rescue was set up in 2007 when it was realised that there were not enough spaces in existing rescue organisations across the country for the hundreds of animals that were being neglected and abandoned every day.  In November 2011, Happy Endings move to a permanent site in Faversham with fantastic facilities for the animals.  Since it was founded, Happy Endings has been able to provide homes to hundreds of animals, the fate of which would otherwise have been unthinkable.

Holding On Letting Go support bereaved children and young people (agree 6-16) and their families and carers, in Kent, who have experienced the death of an important person in their lives.  They run bereavement weekend workshops with crafts, music and memory boxes.  At the end of the second day the children release balloons outside to symbolise that they are letting go of the pain and holding on to the love and special memories.

Home-Start Medway is a charity that provides a voluntary home visiting scheme for families with children under five. The service is non-judgemental and confidential. The families visited will be experiencing some kind of difficulty such as mental health problems, postnatal illness, drug or alcohol misuse, bereavement, multiple births, isolation or just finding parenting a struggle.  Home-Start volunteers have all had parenting experience themselves and attend a 40 our preparation course run by the charity, to get them ready to support families.  Volunteers offer a personalised, tailored support to families in their own home.

www.home-startmedway.org

Home-Start offer individual, confidential, home-visiting support to young families within the Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells borough council areas.
This is done through a team of trained and supervised volunteers who are all parents themselves and offer weekly visits to families to offering the following;
Emotional support, practical help, mentoring, advice and guidance on the following areas;
Parenting, debt management, engagement with local resources, access of health appointments for themselves and or their children, child development, healthy eating.

HOPE provides support to women of all ages who have low self-esteem, feel isolated and depressed. They offer social activities to give them a chance to be confident within their community. HOPE takes into account religious needs and values and is open all women, regardless of race, religion or disability. They run 2 yoga classes a week and take their members on day trips as well as lunches and dinner. It has helped many women feel a sense of belonging and being valued

Hospice in the Weald provides compassionate, individualised, holistic and supportive care for all patients with a terminal illness, their families and carers.  This year they launched a brand new fundraising project, The Weald’s Biggest bake Off, and managed to secure 15 celebrities who each donated a recipe. This along with many other great fundraising ideas helps them to raise the £6 million needed every year to ensure their services can continue.

HRM broadcasts to the Patients and Staff of the Hospital 24/7 and is run entirely by volunteers. They support local charities by allowing them to come into their  Studios and be interviewed in order to raise awareness with their listeners.

Hypo Hounds is an Assistance dog charity training pet dogs to save the lives of Type 1 Diabetic children and adults in the Kent community. A dog trained by Hypo Hounds can make a huge difference to their owners’ lives, increasing both their confidence and independence.  

www.hypohounds.co.uk

Imago aims to promote, develop and facilitate social action, supporting independence and empowering communities. They deliver a range of community services across Kent, working with Young Carers, disabled children, young people, schools and vulnerable older people.  Through Imago’s projects and services across Kent they have provided interventions for some of the most vulnerable within the country and last year supported over 3000 young carers aged between 5-18.

It’s My Life Trust Fund is a small charity, run exclusively by volunteers, to provide conductive education to help children with neurological disabilities to reach their full potential and live fulfilled and independent lives.  They run 4 classes for children (the majority of whom suffer with cerebral palsy) every Saturday during term time.  Over the past few years the charity has seen 3 of their young people reach their ambition to walk independently.

K9 Rehoming (Kent) rehome dogs that would otherwise be euthanised through no fault of their own.  All Dogs are placed into foster homes for assessment before rehoming to the correct home after completion of a satisfactory homecheck.  Dogs are Wormed, Flea Treated, Vaccinated, Microchipped and Spay/Neutered (if old enough or rehomed on neutering contract) prior to rehoming

Regiments of Yeomanry were formed in East and West Kent in 1794 when the county was in the front line of a possible invasion by the French. They have had a distinguished history since then, including action in the Boer War, Gallipoli in WW1, Dunkirk, the Western Desert, and Italy in WW2. Now merged with the Sharpshooters Yeomanry, we continue to serve as part of the Reserve Army, Our story is one of service both at home and abroad. We tell the story not just of a regiment, but local people and our communities, men, women and children for over 200 years.

Kent Association for the blind was created after WWI to support returning soldiers who had lost their sight from the effects of mustard gas. Today there are over 11,500 people registered as blind or sight impaired in Kent and the Association supports all of them, and many thousands more who are not registered, to live independent lives.

Kent Christian Radio is a christian organisation that believes in community help.  Through their community initiatives they help people find their direction.  Winning this award would help them implement numerous events they have lined up to support Kent, including leadership factory, value added life, prayer summit.

THE HOLDING OF AN ANNUAL SHOW FOR THE EXHIBITION OF LIVESTOCK, FARM & HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE, MACHINERY & OTHER THINGS PERTAINING TO AGRICULTURE.  THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF RURAL EDUCATION & THE IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURE GENERALLY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF AWARDS AND FINANCIAL HELP TO STUDENTS.
RAISING AWARENESS OF AGRICULTURE TO SCHOOL CHILDREN VIA SCHOOL VISITS AND THE LIVING LAND SHOW

Kent Enterprise Trust is a well-established charity based in Herne Bay.  They are recognised for changing people’s life by getting them into or back into employment or training.  They run a number of projects and events through the year and winning the Kent Charity Awards would help raise the profile of the work they are doing to improve the future for people in Kent.

Kent Family Mediation Service is a 31 year old charity that helps separated families and children across Kent by offering a legally aided and private family mediation service in 13 locations across Kent.  During the process  a qualified and trained mediator will help clients to openly negotiate and discuss issues with the aim of guiding them to an agreement.  Issues can include family home, finances, pensions, maintenance and arrangements for children.

Kent Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs is a business support charity that is dedicated to promoting, encouraging and supporting business start-up and growth amongst Kent’s young people.  They actively engage with all your people who seek their support and specifically target young people i the area of Kent with the highest levels of youth unemployment.

The University of Kent is one of the region’s largest employers with around 3,252 full-time equivalent jobs and a further 4,234 jobs in the region resulting from the impact of their activity and student spending.  The Kent Law Campaign is a £5 million fundraising project to build a new home for the Kent Law Clinic and the Kent Law School’s Mooting Programme.  Winning the Kent Charity Awards would enable them to widen their fundraising area whilst promoting the important work of the Kent Law Clinic to people within their community who may need their help.

Kent Marrow are a group from the University of Kent working on behalf of the charity Anthony Nolan, the pioneering charity that saes the lives of people with blood cancer.   Marrow is a network of 41 student groups across the UK all of whom volunteer for Anthony Nolan to help fundraise and recruit people to the stem cell register.

The Kent Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre supports people living in Kent with MS through a variety of complimentary therapies and support clinics.

Their brand new centre is  due to open in the winter of 2014 and in addition to the existing therapies, that some visitors say have changed their lives, it will offer new facilities such as hydrotherapy and a gym.

The Kent Multicultural Community Association (KMCA) is a community centre based in Chatham, Kent. It is intended to serve Kent, in particular the Medway area.

The aim of KMCA is to provide a range of cultural and social activities, advice and information especially to the ethnic community. At the centre there is a resource centre; and translations are also undertaken. The main languages catered for are Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.

KMCA wants to help ethnic minorities, old, disabled, retired people to improve their quality of life and build up a multicultural community centre where events could be held.

Kent Scouts is the umbrella body for all Scouting in Kent and Medway.  They provide training and support for adults and young people to enable them to offer and partake in a full programme of activities including adverturous activities such as climbing, canoeing, boating, mountaineering etc.  Kent Scouts own and manage an activity centre in Sandling which offers a whole host of opportunities for all young people in Kent from schools, youth groups and community groups.  They provide the infrastructure support for Scouting in Kent and Medway to enable their 20,000 plus members to be assured that they are safeguarded, fully insured and being offered the very best Scouting opportunities.

Kent Search and Rescue is a voluntary organisation which helps search for vulnerable missing people. They are called upon by Kent Police and last year attended 70+ call outs. They are also a member of the Kent voluntary emergency sector and as such get called out in times of need to local community and major incidents such as the flooding events.

The Kenward Trust save lives….and make them better.  Kenward provides residential treatment programmes throughout Kent for people with severe substance misuse problems.  Their professional staff and trained volunteers help men and women transform their lives from addiction to recovery.  Residents are referred from all over Kent (and other parts of the UK) and staff work with them via one-to-one counselling, group work, art therapy, basic skills training and including in their social enterprise initiatives.

Kissing it Better is about sharing simple healthcare ideas.  It is also about harnessing the energy of the most dynamic group in a local community and inviting them to use their specialist skills to make a difference to the care of patients and their carers within hospitals and care homes.

We rescue and rehabilitate large breed dogs. We work with the dogs that receive such a bad press. Rotties, Mastiffs, st Bernards etc. we are entirely run by volunteers so all donations go towards the care of the dogs. We are a non-destruct charity. We home and foster dogs across the United Kingdom.

Life Charity provides supported accommodation through a network of 24 Houses to pregnant women and young mothers and their babies.

The Houses and their Floating Support Service support these young women to achieve independent living.  Life Charity also Work in partnership with schools to provide young people with up-to-date, evidence-based information. Inspiring students to think for themselves on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, reproductive technologies and relationships.

Little Baby & Co provides precious keepsakes boxes containing a candle, a poem and knitted teddy and seeds to plant for parents who have experienced early miscarriage.

They also provide pet memory boxes for owners who have lost their beloved animals.

The Lord Whisky Sanctuary Fund is a lifeline for animals of all kinds. They provide sanctuary, permanent if necessary, to animals who have become homeless or who have been injured or abused. No animal accepted is ever put to sleep unless it in their best interests. Animals are re-homed to carefully vetted new homes, and any that cannot be re-homed will remain at the sanctuary for the rest of their lives. They also provide low cost veterinary care to people on low incomes.

When you have cancer, you don’t just worry about what will happen to your body, you worry about what will happen to your life. 
At Macmillan, they know how a cancer diagnosis can affect everything and they are there to offer support. From help with money worries and advice about work, to someone who’ll listen, they’ll be there. 

Macmillian can help you make the choices you need to take back control, so you can start to feel like yourself again.  No one should face cancer alone and Macmillan want to reach and improve the lives of every one of those people..

Every day, in Kent a staggering 24 people hear the devastating news that they have cancer, and 12 people die from the illness.

We are a registered charity and voluntary organization. We have 4 part time staff and 35 volunteers who are dedicated to restoring peace in the community in Maidstone and district and in Tonbridge and Malling. Our team members visit people in their homes, listen to their concerns, contact the other party ( parties,) and then offer services as appropriate. This can be a formal mediated meeting on neutral territory, shuttle mediation wherein the mediators go between the households clearing up misunderstandings and helping people reach agreements. To assist the mediation process we also offer one to one anger management courses and group sessions in mindfulness meditation.

www.maidstonemediation.co.uk

Maidstone Mencap Charitable Trust believe in “Making a positive difference to the lives of all with learning disabilities, their families and carers, within Maidstone and the surrounding areas”.    The aim to achieve this by enabling and empowering all children and adults with a learning disability and their families and carers to achieve their full potential, providing the best possible start and support and provide quality social and leisure activities.

Established in 1969, Maidstone Mind is a mental health charity that offers a range of services to support anyone with a mental health problem.  They provide informal, discreet and accessible support for people suffering from mental and emotional distress.  Maidstone Mind works with people to assist them in coping with life and focuses on dealing positively with depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, anger, assertiveness and general wellbeing

Maidstone Cadets started in approximately 1925.  Cadets attend event where they assist the adult Division in helping the public who may be in distress.

Making Miracles provides emotional support to pregnant mothers (and their families) who are experiencing high risk pregnancies, or premature babies which could result for many in their baby dying or having ongoing medical issues.  There is very little emotional support available in these circumstances and Making Miracles steps in when women may feel isolated and scared.

Marie Curie Cancer Care is the UK national charity dedicated to delivering the right care, in the right place at the right time for people with terminal cancer and other terminal illnesses.  They provide specialist care to their patients during the end of their lives, along with supporting their families and carers at a very difficult time.

Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS) can offer training up to RYA standard in activity such as First Aid, the principles of the diesel engine and how to use a radio.  The Thanet unit offers help with environmental protection on the River Stour and around the coast of Thanet.  They provide a safety advisory service to other water users.  The MVS works alongside contemporaries in the voluntary sector to assist the frontline, blue-light services in incidents requiring a civil contingency response.

Martha Trust is a unique and inspiring charity that supports young people and adults with profound physical and multiple learning disabilities.  They provide lifetime care in a safe and loving environment, respite and day care, as well as support and advice for their families and carers.

The charity would like to raise awareness of the Martha Trust and the needs of people with profound disabilities.

A local charity, MASH has been helping the people of Medway in Kent (UK) since 1996 with information and support for people with asthma. Our doors are open to everyone and all our services are free.

MAGIC was started as a parent-led information sharing support group.  Their aim was to ensure consistency of approach for all agencies that work with children on the Autistic Spectrum.  At the same time they wanted to ensure that children and families affected by autism could have access to activities that other families in the community take for granted.

MAGIC arranged activities for the purpose of social skill development with various opportunities for children with autistic spectrum disorders to access activities otherwise unavailable to them.

The Medway Engagement Group and Network CIC (MEGAN) was established in 2009 and became an independent Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2013.  They aim to provide a voice for mental health service users – giving opportunities for people to who have or have had mental health issues to share views and experiences of mental health services and participate in local service planning and development.

The Medway Queen Preservation Society, legal name New Medway Steam Packet Co Ltd reg charity 296236, has worked for the last thirty years to restore and preserve the Paddle Steamer Medway Queen. We have been supported by a corps of some thirty volunteers, supported by a membership of around 900 people locally, nationally and internationally. We have just returned the ship to her berth at Gillingham Pier after being re-built in Bristol, to a great homecoming and welcome by people and ships and boats in November last year. With EU funding and support from Medway Council, we have employed some 9 apprentices and four instructors, though now we have some two instructors and three apprentices, the others having left for full jobs post their training with us.

Whitstable National Coastwatch is part of a national charity which keeps a visual watch on the coastline around England and Wales. In Kent there are watch-stations in Whitstable, Herne Bay and Folkestone. Whitstable NCI works from a converted “beach hut” on Tankerton Slopes, where they have volunteer watch-keepers working shifts on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, all through the year.

New Leaf Support was set up to help women and children who have suffered domestic abuse.  They provide refuge space in a homely self-contained flat giving victims valuable space to build a new life away from abuse.  The organisation also offers extensive support and counselling.  Winning the Kent Charity Awards would help raise their profile and as a result would increase awareness enabling more victims to come forward and receive help.

North West Kent Life Group raises funds to support the Life House in Dartford which houses young women who are pregnant and unsupported.  Residents are given Life Skills training by two support workers so that they will gain the skills to take care of themselves and their babies.  As well as learning bout healthy living, childcare and first aid, they are taught how to manage their finances and encouraged to complete education and training so that they can find work in the future.

Nourish Community Foodbank is an independent organisation that provides emergency good and support to people in crisis in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas.  The charity relies on food and monetary donations from local people and fundraises as much as it can.

The NSPCC Childline talks to children about abuse and how to get help. Their ground-breaking ChildLine Schools Service uses specially trained volunteers to talk to primary school children about abuse, giving them the skills to protect themselves as well as showing them where to go for help. From 2016 they hope that volunteers will speak to every primary school child and continue visited each school every two years.

Nucleus Arts is a charitable arts organisation, focusing on making the arts affordable, accessible, approachable and excellent.  They work to help everyone enjoy the arts through workshops, festivals and events, many of which are free to all.  They have a particular interest in promoting health and wellbeing through the arts and using art of promote social inclusion.

Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey is driven by a powerful set of beliefs which aspires to treat everyone equally and recognises the importance of a holistic approach to education.  As well as continuing to build a strong school and deliver a first-class education, it is also our desire to build an interconnected community, recognising that educational needs do not exist in isolation from the needs of the whole person.

Founded in 1994, Oasis is a registered charity providing temporary and safe refuge accommodation and 24 hour accessibility for families escaping domestic abuse. Oasis provides practical and emotional support and information to those affected by domestic abuse in community, youth intervention and refuge services.

The Parents Consortium is a charity originally set up by parents providing services to disabled young people, children and their families.  Their services include support, advice, leisure activities, training and overnight breaks.  It was established in 1996.

We’re the Parkinson’s support and research charity. Help us to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s.

We bring together people with Parkinson’s, their carers and families together via our network of local groups, our website and free confidential helpline. Specialist nurses , our supporters and staff provide information and training on every aspect of Parkinson’s.

As the UK’s Parkinson’s support and research charity we’re leading the work to find a cure. And we’re closes than ever. We also campaign to change attitudes and demand better services.

Our work is totally dependent on donations. Help is to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s.

Pegasus Playscheme delivers a scheme for all, bringing able-bodied teenage volunteers and disabled or disadvantaged young people together to work and play, sharing experiences to the benefit of all. The ambitious programme of activities could not be delivered without the support provided by their army of young volunteers – the able-bodied teenagers who provide one to one support for each of the disabled young people. 

www.pegasusplayscheme.com

Peter’s Place aims to unite young people aged between 16-30 with life-limiting illness and their families.  They hold drop-ins that provide a space for them to come and socialise with others in their situation, get information about what’s available to them and simply take a little time to relax and forget about their worries.  Tailored individual support is also available and the charity’s major goal for the future is to offer hospice services.

Pilgrims Hospices has been providing end of life care and support for patients with a range of life-limiting illnesses and their families across East Kent for more than 30 years.  Pilgrims Hospices is a registered charity which gives its services entirely free of charge.  They have hospices Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford.

Porchlight supports vulnerable people in Kent with housing issues.  Established 40 years ago, Porchlight has grown from a single hostel in Canterbury to a charity now supporting around 4,000 individuals at any one time. Their services include a 24 hour rough-sleeper helpline, supported housing, community support services and an adolescent support services working with 10-18 year olds and their families and schools.

www.porchlight.org.uk

PSA Kent supports sufferers of prostate cancer, their partners and carers.  With the help of Macmillan nurses and urology consultants, they have support groups in Canterbury, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Orpington.    They invite specialist speaks to their meetings to update members on current treatment and services.  Winning the Kent Charity Awards would help raise awareness of this male only cancer which could help save the lives of men in Kent.

Relate provides relationship counselling to individuals and couples, sex therapy and children/young persons’ counselling for 10-18 year olds in East Kent.  They have an education and learning department that provides workshops and courses for individuals couples, parents and professionals.  Their main centre is in Canterbury with an outpost in Ashford as well as operating in local schools and colleges.

Richard Watts Charities, founded in 1579, provides for those in need within the boundaries of what was the City of Rochester. The Charities provide almshouse accommodation and offer support through awarding of grants and the provision of services to assist those in need within Rochester.

This organisation supports mainly women and children who have, or are living with domestic abuse.  They are there for those who need to free their lives from abuse and offer weekly drop-in centres in both Canterbury and Herne Bay as well as a dedicated team offering support and advice.  Men are welcome to attend these drop-in centres too.  Rising Sun offers free counselling and recovery programmes to women and children helping them rebuild their lives.

The Riverside Active Lives Network is a Gravesend based user-led charity for adults with physical disabilities, promoting independence through their activity-focused day centre.

They are located at the Riverside Community Centre, Gravesend, in which they hire a number of rooms on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and is fully wheelchair accessible.

The Rochester Bridge Trust was founded in 1399 to provide crossings of the River Medway. Its commitment to this role has continued for 615 years and today the Trust provides two major road bridges and a service bridge, free of charge, to the public. It has also supported other road crossings of the Medway from Tonbridge to the estuary and delivers engineering educations projects. The Trust provides grant funding to other charities for education and heritage building conservation.

Rosina Animal Centre is a family run rescue centre based in Wrotham Heath.   It has been running for 6 years and take in all kinds of animals including ponies, pigs, birds, dogs and rabbits.   This small team of volunteers work 24/7 making sure the animals are cared for and when necessary re-home them through advertising on their website or on their popular Facebook Page.

The charity is well known in the area and receives indispensable assistance from local stores such as Sainsbury’s, Walkies Pet Supplies and local newsagents.

In May each year, 6 families from Demelza and Chyps Children’s Hospices are taken to Disneyland Paris by the Rotary Children’s Hospice Family Holidays organisation.

Each family is accompanied by a member of the hospice are team and a Rotarian.  These holidays create memories for a lifetime for the families.

RBLI is a national charity supporting the Armed Forces Community & those affected by disability, health conditions or social welfare needs. Established in 1919 to provide rehabilitation, training and employment to wounded and sick Armed Forces personnel.

With a mission of ‘improving lives every day’, the RBLI is based at the Royal British Legion Village in Aylesford where it offers a range of activities with the core aim of supporting beneficiaries and/or the local community.

Safe Anaesthesia Worldwide is a charity founded in Marden 4 years ago in order to reduce the needless pain, suffering and death that occurs in many parts of the world whenever there is no satisfactory anaesthetic service. In the UK we take a safe anaesthetic for granted, but unfortunately this service is still unavailable to any patients in the poorest and most isolated parts of the world leading to life-saving operations being delayed when urgently required with devastating results. Safe Anaesthesia Worldwide was set up to enable anaesthesia to be available in even the most isolated hospitals in the poorest counties.

This is a local charity affiliated to the national Samaritans movement.  They supply a contact point through telephone, email, text and face to face for people in distress.  Their aim is to reduce the incidence of suicide  by providing a contact opportunity at times of concern and distress.  They have 75 local volunteers who provide the service to Maidstone and Weald as well as nationally as part of the 24/7 service offered.

SAMPHIRE is a registered charity that works in solving some of the problems caused by immigration detention. It provides emotional, practical and legal support to immigration detainees held at the Dover Immigration Removal Centre (DIRC).  They help to facilitate integration and ease the effects of destitution on ex-detainees who have very limited ( 36 p/w on section 4 support) or no support from the government.

Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) was started in 2011 by John Ranger. Setting up a rescue of this type has always been John’s dream. As a young lad he tried to help injured animals and birds and rescued many wild animals over the years.

In 2011 a plot of land was found in Crockenhill where the rescue could really get started and he has built up the reputation of the rescue as it is today. The rescue survives solely on donations and help from their team of volunteers.

Wherever possible they try and find a new forever home for the rescued animals they take in. Should they not be able to re-home any animal then they are allowed to live out there life at the Rescue.

SeeAbility supports adults and children with sight loss and complex disabilities.  People with disabilities are ten times more likely to have a serious sight condition, but these conditions are often overlooked because the main focus is their disability; for example a learning difficulty.  SeeAbility provide specialist rehabilitation, physiotherapy and speech and language therapies, focusing on individual goals and achievements to increase independence.

Assisting young people from poor rural families with payment of school fees without which schooling would be denied as well as providing small grants for the improvement of school facilities

Sevenoaks Area Mind is a mental health charity covering Tunbridge & Malling,  Sevenoaks District and Edenbridge.   They support those with mental health problems living in these communities.  Their mission is to ensure that no one suffers alone.  They do this by providing group activities, workshops, counselling and drop in sessions.

Share a Star is run by a girl, Jessica, who has been bed bound for eight years and is herself seriously unwell. She helps seriously unwell children and teenagers across the UK by making them into special ‘stars’ to give them hope and special memories. There are many different parts to Share a Star from sending a box of gifts to children in hospital to supporting a family through palliative care.

Sheppey Matters is a health and well-being group based on the Isle of Sheppey.  It provides ten health and well-being based outreach projects around the island, plus manages the Sheppey Healthy Living Centre which incorporates the Sheppey Community Health Hub and Waterfront Cafe.  The projects address the health and well-being of the community through activities, trips, classes and indirect learning.

Shepway Chariots was formed in 2017 with an ambition of bringing the community together through our ongoing project of transforming a piece of disused and unloved land into a community garden and wildlife corner, growing fresh fruit and vegetables. In an aim to reduce social isolation and build inter-generational relationships as well as strengthening pride in the local area, Shepway Chariots regularly holds fun filled activities, such as fun with food day, gardening activity workshops, coffee and friendship mornings for the elderly residents as well as seasonal events. 

Herne Bay based SNAAP have worked tirelessly for the past 11 years helping to improve the quality of life of disabled children and young people. It provides support, advice and successfully runs activities such as family days out, Youth Holiday Schemes as well as regular after school clubs.

South East Dog Rescue take in unwanted or abandoned dogs and rehome them.  They specialise in dogs that others have given up on due to either medical or behavioural issues.  They work with an on-site behaviourist to rehabilitate these dogs so they can be placed into homes.  Dogs that may be unsuitable for rehoming will live a happy life with the Rescue.

Spadework is a charity, which provides life skills, training and work experience for over 90 people with learning and other disabilities.

SSAFA Kent is the local branch of a national charity which offers lifelong support to our Forces and their families. Founded in 1885 the charity has been supporting service families ever since. The help offered today is different in practical terms from 129 years ago, but is still the one to one support offering help in whatever circumstances our clients find themselves. It may be debt (in Kent we pay for professional debt advice which is free to clients), it may be homelessness (we work with other charities to fund deposit and first month’s rent), it may be the need for furniture or furnishings, help with Disabled Facilities Grants (stairlifts and bathroom conversions), it may be help for prisoners’ families – whatever the need our volunteers do all they can to help on an individual one to one basis.

St. George’s Community Children’s Project has over 30 years’ experience in providing independent quality childcare which is both affordable and accessible to all.  They provide over 30 subsidised places every week to families who find themselves in need of childcare through illness, hardship or other unforseen circumstance.

A charity for Kent Kids & Adults who want freedom through knowledge.

Step and Learn is a charity dedicated to assist the physical and educational improvements of children with Cerebral Palsy and associated motor difficulties. Our aim, like Andras Peto the Hungarian founder of Conductive Education, is to view the child holistically, educating and motivating the child through play to become active participants throughout their daily lives.

Stride 4 Life is an annual charity event with Sponsored Walks and a family Fun Day held at Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, Kent.

Strode Park Foundation provides a range of high quality services to meet the changing and individual needs of children and adults with disabilities. Their services include long-term residential care, respite stays, home care, independence skills training for young adults, day care centre for adults, play day care scheme and a neuro-rehabilitation wing for people with brain injuries.

The Stroke Association provides support for stroke survivors, their families and carers in Kent.  The organisation meets with survivors and their families when they leave hospital following their stroke and try to help them achieve the best possible recovery.  Many stroke survivors are faced with speech and mobility problems, anxiety and loss of confidence; this, combined with feelings of isolation and anger, struggles with loss of income can be very distressing.  The Stroke Association’s specially trained staff provide information and advice to help survivors understand what has happened and identify what their needs and goals are.

SOBS exists to meet the needs and break the isolation of those bereaved by suicide. They offer emotional support, help and information in a number of ways; telephone helpline, information, support group meetings, support days and residential events.

Swale Action to End Domestic Abuse (SATEDA) exists to assist those affected by domestic abuse and their families.  Through advocacy and support they aim to reduce their risk and make their lives safer.  The charity want everyone to know that there is help available for those affected by abuse and winning the Kent Charity Awards would help them do this.

The aim of the Switch Youth Cafe is to provide support with personal and social developmental opportunities that advance or enhance skills in order to promote wellbeing and raise the expectations and capabilities of those involved. Central to their service is an ethos of informal education, learning through experience and collaborative partnerships with other agencies and charities leading to both individual and community growth and understanding.

T.E.A.L

Therapeutic Equine Assisted Learning involves specially selected and trained horses and specialist staff, highly experienced in various special educational needs, particularly in autism. Lucy is qualified & trained in therapeutic equine assisted learning, counselling, mental health awareness, health and social care level 3, and first aid. TEAL staff have over 25 years combined experience working with children with SEN needs, and over 16 years working with horses, mostly using natural horsemanship techniques.

Tag Pet Rescue rescues and re-homes unwanted pets in and around Thanet.  Wherever possible, they try to help people who cannot afford vet bills.  There is much more that the charity would like to do.  The Charity has a sanctuary that is in need of repair work and winning the award would give recognition and publicity thereby enabling more animals to be re-homed.

Team Run 12 is a group of seven runners, founded by Rebecca Beard from Walderslade in Kent.  Becky is aiming to not only complete 12 marathons in 2014, but also host numerous fundraising events in a bid to raise £25,000 for Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK.

Becky is suppported by six ‘guest runners’ who will complete one or two marathons with her through the year and commit to £2,000 additional fundraising each.

But it doesn’t stop there 0 Becky would like to continue fundraising by completing the Marathon De Sables across the Sahara Desert and attempt the female world record for the fastest John O’Groats to Lands End in 2015-16.

The Teddybears Biker Picnic is a two day music festival with all the proceeds being donated to Kent Air Ambulance. Everyone involved donates their time and skill on a voluntary basis.  Winning the Kent Charity Awards would give the Teddybears Biker Picnic much deserved recognition for the work they do.  It would also help publicise next year’s event so more people hear about it and attend.

Tenterden Folk Day Trust is a registered charity formed in May 1994 to preserve and advance public education and appreciation of traditional and contemporary folk music, song, dance and other related traditions, crafts and folk arts as a part of the living heritage.  The Trust is supported by Tenterden Town Council, Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council and an increasing number of local and folk related businesses and other community organisations.

Thanet Community Transport is a charity that helps elderly and disabled people who are unable to use public transport to get out and about.  The scheme was created in 1999 with just one minibus and has now grown to 11 vehicles undertaking over 40,000 journeys.  As well as shorter journeys, Thanet Community Transport also provide a shopping service and a trip and holiday programme.

transport@transportinthanet.co.uk

The Big Reveal is a young organisation which was set up in 2012 with the sole purpose of facilitating better access to performing arts opportunities for children, young people and adults of all abilities. Today, the charity enables lots of people to be part of high-quality performances and arts activities which impose no limitations in terms of race, religion, background, physical or mental health or financial situation.  

www.the-big-reveal.com

The Bridge Trust has been supporting single homeless people in West Kent since 1991.  Based in Tonbridge the Trust has accommodation for 24 people at any one time, and over the past 24 years has housed over 700 people from the Kent region.  They offer one to one support which helps their clients overcome barriers they may have to getting their lives back together and becoming ready and able to copy with sustained and fulfilled independent life once again.

The Canterbury Umbrella is a centre that provides information, social support for adults with mental health issues.  Anyone who is feeling isolated or lonely can access the support the centre offers.  The Canterbury Umbrella helps users enjoy life and develop skills despite challenges that they may come across.  They run regular activities and training courses.

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF) exists to enable individuals with severe learning difficulties, whose behaviour is described as challenging, to exercise their rights to participate in ordinary life opportunities through proper understanding of their behaviour and appropriate support.  To this end, the CBF has two main areas of work, described as ‘information and support’ and ‘national influencing’.

The Fifth Trust

The Fifth Trust supports adults with learning disabilities. Students attend two skills centres in the beautiful Elham Valley in East Kent where they take part in a huge variety of educational and creative activities including horticulture, art and design, life skills, photography and pottery. They can also gain rewarding work experience in the Vineyard Garden Centre and Café, baking cakes, serving customers, looking after the plants and going out on the log delivery and garden maintenance teams. Visitors can buy students’ work such as ceramics, woodwork and greetings cards, plus homemade chutneys, jams and wine produced from the Elham Valley Vineyard.

The Freedom Centre works with disabled people and encourages and helps them to live a full life through broad range of social activities. From gliding to dinners, art and craft to computer skills, the Freedom Centre has proved to be a valuable and necessary part of the life of those who attend.

The Friends are a charity who exist to support the care provided by the team at The Wisdom
Hospice. The Wisdom Hospice in High Bank, Rochester was opened by The Queen on 31st October
1984. It was built following a successful community fundraising campaign started by Molly Wisdom and
coordinated by The Friends. Molly’s vision was for a hospice to serve the local community; she began the
fundraising with a donation of £2,000 and today the Friends have a daily fundraising target of £2,000.

The Harmony Trust provides free NHS approved holistic therapy for the people of Kent who are suffering from life-altering illness such as cancer, MS, MD, MND, COPD, Parkinson’s Disease, cardiac and renal conditions and stroke.  They are able to enjoy the benefit of reflexology, Indian head massage, massage, hypnotherapy, shiatsu and reiki from qualified therapists.  Winning the Kent Charity Awards would help the charity spread the word about what they can do to help.

The Heart of Kent Hospice provides an exceptional level of specialist end of life care for patients and their families.  This care is local and free and is offered to everyone who needs it.  Their services cost over £4m each year to run with 70% being raised by the generous local community and business partners.

The Hygiene Bank gives hygiene and personal care essentials to those living in poverty in the UK, to help restore their dignity and well-being.

The John Graham Trust is a charity that aims to empower adults with special learning needs by developing  their independence and life skills.  The Charity aims to do this by providing equipment and others services to people with a specific need.

The Charity was established with students at The John Graham Centre in mind, but are also committed to helping any adults with special learning needs in the Kent area.

The Milly Foundation was started Jon Reeve and his wife Donna a year after their daughter Amelia ( Milly ) died from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. A.M.L is incurable. Milly passed away on the 7th of May 2010 aged 3 years and 5 months old. She had spent the last 6 months of her life in hospital with her mum and dad living with her. They would have liked to have been able to take Milly on one last holiday, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. They now wish to help other families in the same situation. We are a local charity for children up to the age of 18, suffering from life threatening diseases. The idea is to provide a holiday home, a caravan, on the Allhallows Haven Caravan Park. Should the children be allowed out of hospital and their families would like to, we will provide them with a break from the hospital environment free of charge. A break like this also helps families to build memories. Donna and Jon know first hand what these people are going through and how much it means to get away, even for just a little while.

This charity has improved the quality of life of residents by providing a venue for educational and recreational activities and organising community events.  They provide trained staff and volunteers to help those in need including some of the most vulnerable members of our community.  At least one third of the Centre’s service users are disabled or have health problems and nearly 40% are single people living alone or with dependent children.

The Nick Cotton Founation was set up in Otober 2013 in memory of Nick, who sadly passed away from a brain tumour.  The aim of the foundation is to support research into brain tumours, the biggest cancer killer of UK children and young adults.  During their first year, the foundation has raised over £25,000 – all of which goes to Brain Tumour Research – a registered charity.

The Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust fundraise to buy extra equipment and fund training to ensure the sick and premature babies of Medway get the best possible care.  The Charity has a full calendar of fundraising events throughout the year and this year has run the Hippo Appeal to raise £100k for a refit of the high dependency nursery making it the best it can possibly be.

Medway Sunlight Rotary Club is one of 34,000 Rotary Clubs in the world with over 1.2 million members.  Members of the Club are men and women of all ages who are business and professional people or community leaders keen to utilise their skills and resources and help others.  Members volunteer their time to serve their local communities through such activities as supporting community events, running projects to promote the achievements of young people, running educational programmes and supporting local businesses.

This appeal raised critical awareness and funding for Stacey Mowle.  Stacey is 8 years old and has neuroblastoma cancer stage 4.  Stacey’s treatment in the UK could be coming to an end and she may be referred to the United States for pioneering treatment at a cost to the family of approximately £500,000.  The appeal has already raised £220,000 and is working hard to raise the remainder.

This organisation makes financial awards to local people in distress.  This could be in the form of train fares to visit sick relatives in hospital in London, school educational trips for children whose families can’t afford them, small equipment to help elderly or inform people who find themselves struggling with everyday tasks.  Winning the Kent Charity Awards would shine a spotlight on this very small, little known charity.

The Word on the Street (Gravesham) is a Christian charity, which runs the Christian Fields Community Hub, a youth and community centre running a variety of activities for children, youth people and the local community on the Christian Fields and Kings Farm housing estates. The project provides a safe haven for children and young people offering after school clubs, youth clubs, school holiday activities and community events. We run four weekly youth clubs, meeting regularly with approximately 100 children and young people.

We are an independent Christian charity which helps individuals, organisations, charities, faith and community groups to protect vulnerable people from abuse. 

Volunteering Matters develops and delivers high impact volunteer-led solutions to some of the most difficult challenges facing individuals and their communities today.

Since 2005 the volunteering programme – renamed Time2Give –  has been embedded in Kent Libraries,  Registration and Archives.  They fully support Volunteering Matters’ belief that everyone can play a role in their community and should have the chance to participate.  Time2Give strives to offer volunteering to everyone who applies, providing they can safely do so.

Tomas has Pelizaeus Merzbacher Disease, a rare generic condition where the fatty tissue of his brain didn’t grown.  PMD can affect vision, hearing, communication, motor skills and intellectual ability.  In extreme cases, suffers can die before reaching adolescence.  There is currently no charity for PMD in the UK and Triumph for Tomas aims to become a registered charity to help raise awareness of PMD and create a fun for people to use to buy specialist equipment and toys.

This organisation works with men and women from 18-65 years old with mental health difficulties. They support them to maximise their potential within their own lives, and with their own local community.  Their aim is to promote social inclusion and equal opportunities for adult with mental health issues and promote awareness and understanding of these issues.

Unlock is an independent, award-winning charity providing information, advice and advocacy for people with convictions.  The charity was set up by former prisoners and the staff and volunteers combine professional training with personal experience to help others overcome the long-term problems that having a conviction can bring.  Winning this award would mean an injection of hope for Unlock who, as a traditional small charity, do not received government funds and work with people who do not attract public sympathy and operate without fundraisers or marketing budgets.

The Urban Blue Bus is an icon in Maidstone Town Centre on Saturday nights, strategically placed to act as a calming influence in the centre of the Night Time Economy activity.  The bus is run entirely by volunteers and operates from 9pm Saturday evening until 4am on Sunday and the volunteers deal with all eventualities that can and do occur in Maidstone during the busiest time of the week.

Victim Support is a national charity that supports victims of crime both in the community and at Court.  Through a network of trained volunteers, they provide emotional and practical support and a high proportion of their volunteers are previous victims of crime.  The Kent Division of Victim Support consists of  21 staff members and approximately 140 volunteers who between them support any victim or witness of crime within the county.

Voluntary Action Maidstone (VAM) was established in 1975 to recruit and place volunteers in the Borough of Maidstone.  Since then, it has developed projects in response to local needs.  VAM has worked effectively with voluntary, community, statutory and public sector organisations.  They manage a number of projects offering services in the Maidstone and Malling area with some spreading across the rest of Kent.

Voluntary Action within Kent delivers a range of services to individuals, voluntary and community organisations, private and public sector agencies.   2014 sees the 50th anniversary of VAWK, starting in 1964 as the Tunbridge Wells Council of Social Services, and growing over the following half century to the county wide charity it is today.

Voluntary Action within Kent deliver a range of services to individuals, voluntary and community organisations, private and public sector agencies.  They work with children and young people to help them make a positive contribution in their lives, homes and communities, vulnerable and disadvantaged adults to support independence, volunteers to facilitate social action and local voluntary and community organisations to deliver services.

2014 sees the 50th anniversary of VAWK and they want to continue with the vital work offered to a vast range of the local population and go from strength to strength.

Our mission is to provide comprehensive support services to families of children and young people with any form of physical, learning or sensory impairment living in the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley areas.

We aim to support the whole family through a menu of services that directly benefit and assist those dealing with the challenges of raising a disabled child.

West Faversham Community Centre is a community centre based in the town, offering a variety of activities for users of all ages.  Their services include a Youth Club that runs four nights a week, a club for youngsters with disabilities, classes, activities and a nursery.  They also run free ICT lessons for members of the community and are keen to expand these and install an ICT area for the public to use for working on CVs, job searching and the like.

West Kent Mind is one of over 180 local Mind Associations (LMAs) which are affiliated to the national charity Mind.  It is an independent charitable organisation supporting the overall values and vision of the national organisation and is subject to its quality standards.  It provides support to people in its area that are experiencing mental health problems.  West Kent Mind is rated 3, the highest possible level of Mind’s quality assurance scheme.

West Kent YMCA helps at-risk, vulnerable and disadvantaged young people find their foothold in life and build a better future. They do this through supported housing, vocational training, outreach and eco-social enterprise. They often work with social services, education, health, police, families and others to address major safeguarding concerns around vulnerable young people. Their projects link together to engage, empower and equip at-risk and disadvantaged young people.

The Wildlife Heritage Foundation is a charity set in the village of Smarden in a 32 acre site hidden in the heart of the Kent countryside.  It is home to 50 large and small cats.

They are also a breeding centre for endangered cats, both large and small, as well as a sanctuary for older cats who need to retire to the peace and quiet of the countryside after living a life either in a zoo or circus environment.

Wildwood Trust is not just a wildlife park but also a unique project which aims to protect native British wildlife and to bring back the original wild wood through education and conservation. The dedicated team of experts and volunteers works tirelessly on reintroduction programmes for different species at risk of extinction. 

www.wildwoodtrust.org

Cranbrook based Woodpeckers Pre-school is a non-profit organisation providing care to 44 children. The children at Woodpeckers are cared for by five members of staff, all are committed to making each day memorable for the child. Vital fundraising events are held throughout the year with all proceeds going toward daily running costs and larger projects such as updating the facilities.