Charities celebrate at the 2026 Kent Charity Awards!
At a glittering ceremony held on Thursday, 3rd September at the Ashford International Hotel, charities from across Kent gathered to celebrate the 2026 Kent Charity Awards.
Hosted by Sangeeta Bhabra, presenter of ITV Meridian news, the awards recognise the tireless work of Kent charities and their volunteers and the difference they make to communities across the county.
IMAGO COMMUNITY win Kent Charity of the Year.
Imago is a social action charity which works alongside individuals, families and communities, providing compassionate, person-centred support that empowers people to live healthier, more independent lives.
A delighted Director of Development at Imago, Louise Griffiths, said: “We’re so thrilled to have been named Kent Charity of the Year at the Kent Charity Awards!
“It was such a privilege to be in a room with so many brilliant charities and inspiring finalists, all working every day to make a difference for people and communities across Kent. To be chosen as the overall winner is a huge honour and means so much to everyone at Imago.
“For us, this award is a wonderful reflection of the commitment, compassion and hard work of our brilliant staff and volunteer team, who go above and beyond every day to support some of the most vulnerable in our communities and help create positive change.
“It is also a particularly special moment for our CEO, Caroline Shaw MBE, who has led Imago for the past 25 years and is now in her final year with the charity before her retirement. Her leadership has shaped Imago in so many ways, and we’re delighted to celebrate this achievement with her.
“Most importantly, this award belongs to the people who use our services and inspire what we do every day. In the last 12 months, we supported over 19,000 children, young people, adults, carers of all ages and families in Kent to improve their health and wellbeing. We are so grateful to them all for sharing their journeys with us.
“A huge thank you to the Kent Charity Awards, the judges and sponsors, and to our staff, volunteers, trustees, partners and supporters. We’re incredibly proud, very happy and feeling very grateful.”
Volunteer of the Year went to Jordan Chan, who tirelessly volunteers to raise money and awareness for LGBTQ+ charities across Kent, despite having a demanding full-time job. Jordan said: “I’m so happy to win this award. There were so many fantastic finalists, and it’s an honour to be in the same category as them. This really means the world to me.”
Trustee of the Year was a difficult category to judge, and, after much discussion, the judges couldn’t separate their top two finalists. For 2026, the judges announced joint winners.
Lyndsey Stukalov-Stone, Trustee at North Kent Mind, and Katie Dove, Trustee of The Evie Dove Foundation, were each awarded a trophy and named Trustee of the Year. Both winners are dedicated to their charities and, through strategic thinking and compassion, have helped their organisations grow into the successes they are today.
The Community Cupboard won the Best Use of Volunteers Award, recognising the important role its volunteers play in supporting the charity and its community.
Tracy Wood, the charity’s manager said: “Winning the Best Use of Volunteers award is a huge honour and a wonderful recognition of the incredible volunteers who make The Community Cupboard what it is.
“Our volunteers give their time, skills and compassion so generously, with people of all ages working seamlessly together to support our community.
“As an independent charity, recognition like this raises our profile, strengthens our credibility and helps us reach more people who may be able to support our work. Most importantly, it can help us secure vital funding and partnerships, enabling us to continue investing in our volunteers and providing essential support to those who need us most. We are truly grateful and honoured to receive this award. Thank you.”
Susan Robinson, Head Judge, said: “We had a wonderful evening last night celebrating the incredible contribution the charity sector makes to Kent. We had an opportunity to congratulate all our finalists before announcing each category winner, culminating in announcing our overall winner, Imago Community.
“This year we saw an increased number of applications, and the high quality resulted in an increased number of finalists. We had one special award this year recognising the special support Louise Cairney has provided to give lasting memories for families who have experienced great loss.
“Well done to all our finalists and winners. Your work in an increasingly difficult environment is incredible. You showcase the best of Kent.”
The evening also raised just under £3,000 for 2025 Kent Charity of the Year, Heart of Kent Hospice, with guests supporting a raffle held in aid of the charity.
Team Tutsham Charitable Trust took home the Animals & the Environment for Wellbeing Award.
New for 2026, this award celebrates charities that bring people together to connect with, work with and learn from our environment and animals. Rooted in compassion, inclusion and respect for the natural world, Team Tutsham demonstrates the powerful role animals, and the environment can play in transforming lives through equine-assisted intervention.
Jo Considine, Director of Equine Assisted Services at Team Tutsham, said:
“We work each day supporting vulnerable young children with our horses as co-educators. It’s everything to us; we are so passionate about what we do it doesn’t feel like work. Our team is the heart of everything, and we are grateful for all the recognition the awards have given us.”
Nikki Dorkings, General Manager at Kent County Agricultural Society, said on winning Animal & Environment Charity of the Year: “We are absolutely delighted and genuinely touched to have won the Kent Charity Award for Animal & Environment Charity of the Year. This recognition means so much to everyone at the Kent County Agricultural Society, particularly because much of our charitable work happens quietly behind the scenes.
“We are perhaps better known as the home of the Kent Event Centre, and many people don’t realise that behind the events venue is a charity working hard to support agriculture, the environment, education and Kent’s rural communities.
“To have that work recognised in this way is incredibly special and a real moment of pride for our whole team. This award is dedicated to the past and present team, Board and all our amazing volunteers. Thank you so much!”
The full list of 2026 winners:
KENT CHARITY OF THE YEAR : Imago Community
Trustee of the Year – joint winner: Lyndsey Stukalov-Stone – North Kent Mind
Trustee of the Year – joint winner: Katie Dove – The Evie Dove Foundation
Volunteer of the Year: Jordan Chan – charities across Kent
Best Use of Volunteers: The Community Cupboard
Disability Charity of the Year: Kent Association for the Blind
Mental Health Charity of the Year – joint winner: Kenward Trust
Mental Health Charity of the Year – joint winner: Waterside Parents’ Centre
Large Charity of the Year: The Caldecott Foundation
Community Charity of the Year: Fusion Maidstone
Children’s Charity of the Year: My Shining Star
Animal & Environment Charity of the Year: Kent County Agricultural Society
Care Charity of the Year: Rising Sun
Animals & the Environment for Wellbeing: Team Tutsham Charitable Trust
Judges’ Special Recognition Award: Louise Cairney – Demelza
The event could only take place because of the support of its sponsors. Without them, the Kent Charity Awards would not be possible.
Thank you to Kreston Reeves, Medway Council, Maidstone Borough Council, CAF Bank, Brachers, Countrystyle Recycling, Financial Advice and Services, Fallow Management, Primech Building Services, GrainLNG, Savills, RP Connections, AAA Civil & Building Engineers Ltd and MS Webb, together with supporting sponsors Kent Community Foundation and KM Kent Online.
Entries for the 2027 Kent Charity Awards will be announced in February 2027.