Kent Community Foundation, the Kent Lieutenancy Office, Ashford Volunteer Centre and Kent Volunteers are inviting charities and voluntary groups from across Kent to a special webinar, offering expert guidance about applying for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS), the highest national honour given to local volunteer groups in the UK.
The online webinar, hosted by Paul Auston the Lead Deputy Lieutenant for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service in Kent and television news presenter and broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis CBE, the KAVS Chair, is designed to help groups understand the application process and maximise their chances of success. The hour-long webinar will take place on Monday 15 September at 10.30am.
Often described as the “MBE for volunteer groups,” The King’s Award for Voluntary Service celebrates outstanding work by local volunteer-led organisations that benefit their communities.
Abbey Physic Community Garden, which Kent Community Foundation has been funding since 2007 with grants totalling over £950,000, received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2024. Based in the heart of Faversham the garden has supported people with mental and physical health issues and complex social challenges for over 25 years. Suzanne Campbell the Abbey Physic Community Garden Manager will be speaking at the webinar about their experience of successfully applying for the award.
Suzanne Campbell, Manager of the Abbey Physic Community Garden said: “Receiving The King’s Award for Voluntary Service was a truly humbling and proud moment for everyone involved with the garden. It has shone a spotlight on the incredible dedication of our volunteers, who give their time and energy to support others and nurture our community space. The award has brought a real sense of pride and encouragement, showing our volunteers just how valued they are.”
Catherine Glover, Chief Executive of Kent Community Foundation, said: “Kent has an incredible network of charities and volunteer-led organisations making a huge difference to their communities. We are delighted to co-host this webinar to offer advice about how to navigate the King’s Award application process and help local groups showcase their invaluable work.”
Paul Auston, Lead Deputy Lieutenant for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service in Kent, added: “Volunteers are at the heart of many of Kent’s strongest and most inspiring community projects. The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is a wonderful way to formally recognise their dedication and achievements. I’m very pleased that Kent Community Foundation and the Ashford Volunteer Centre are hosting this webinar with the Lieutenancy to help more local groups apply for this prestigious honour.”
To secure a place on the webinar visit: bit.ly/KAVS-webinar
About Kent Community Foundation
Leading grant-maker Kent Community Foundation has been finding, funding, and supporting some of the smallest voluntary groups in the county for twenty four years. In this time, it has distributed £60 million to support thousands of small charities and deserving causes where a modest sum of money can make a significant impact.
Kent Community Foundation is part of a UK wide accredited network of forty-seven Community Foundations who are committed to improving the lives of local people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged.
Responsible for more than one hundred philanthropic funds, Kent Community Foundation is unrivalled in its knowledge of local causes and assists individuals, families, and businesses who want to help, to establish and administer their own charitable funds.
About Kent Volunteers
Kent Volunteers is the “one-stop-shop for all things volunteering,” a partnership between the Lord Lieutenant’s Office and the Kent Volunteer Partnership. The service aims to connect people with local volunteer opportunities and helps organisations find individuals to support their work. For those looking to volunteer, the platform provides guidance and a step-by-step process, while also highlighting the benefits of getting involved. For organisations, it offers a way to register roles and provides free resources to help them manage their volunteers.
